MEA September Newsletter

MEA Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of the Marches Energy Advice (MEA) newsletter. We are delighted to announce our latest new projects, Energy Support for Working Households in Shropshire and Retrofit the Marches across Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Telford & Wrekin. Read on for more details.

Plus why not book onto our free energy efficient home exhibitions happening in Bakewell this autumn. We are also holding a series of free webinars if you cannot make it in person.

Find out the latest information on useful support schemes this winter, including Charis Warm Homes Discount Park Homes and the LEAP boiler replacement scheme. Plus read more about our simple referral form for a quick and easy way to refer individuals in to us for energy support.

Also, take a look at our latest upcoming drop-in Energy Advice Events happening near you, along with the latest People's Emergency Briefing Screenings. Read on to find out more.

Visit Energy Efficient Homes in Bakewell

We are delighted to be running a series of free Open Home Events in Bakewell this autumn, along with online webinars focusing on a series of topics. It's a great opportunity to see low carbon technologies in action, ask questions and receive installer recommendations.

Green Technology

Open Home Event, Bakewell (full address provided after booking)
Saturday 26th September, AM & PM slots available
Online Webinar: Tuesday 29th September, 2.30 - 3.30pm

Whole House Retrofit

Open Home Event, Bakewell (full address provided after booking)
Sunday 18th October, AM & PM slots available
Online Webinar: Wednesday 21st October, 12 - 1pm

Materials and ventilation

Open Home Event, Bakewell (full address provided after booking)
Saturday 21st November, AM & PM slots available
Online Webinar: Tuesday 24th November, 2 - 3pm

Book your place for free below on the event(s) you would like to attend.

Book now

New Energy Support for Working Households Project

STC114 - Cost of Living Marches Energy Advice

We’re pleased to announce that we have been awarded funding through Shrewsbury Town Council's new three-year Cost of Living Grant Fund, enabling us to expand support for local working households struggling with rising energy costs and wider cost of living pressures.

The funding forms part of the Council's £80,000 annual Cost of Living Fund, established to support organisations delivering practical, frontline assistance to residents experiencing financial hardship.

MEA has a long track record of helping households across the region improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty and access support to manage rising energy costs. We provide expert advice, home visits and practical energy-saving measures that help residents make informed decisions, reduce energy consumption and achieve meaningful financial savings.

The new project, Energy Support for Working Households, has been designed to reach people who may not traditionally access support services despite experiencing financial pressures. The programme will focus on low-income working households, including families, older workers and people employed in sectors such as care, retail and hospitality.

Over the next three years, the project aims to support approximately 1,180 households across Shrewsbury, benefiting an estimated 2,700 residents. The programme will deliver a range of tailored services including Home Energy MOT assessments, in-depth energy advice sessions, targeted outreach campaigns and referrals to wider support services such as grants, benefits advice and debt support.

MEA will also work closely with local employers, schools and community organisations to ensure support reaches households that may be unaware of available assistance or reluctant to seek help. The project is expected to deliver significant financial and environmental benefits, including helping households achieve average annual savings of more than £250 on their energy bills, securing around £145,000 in total bill savings, delivering more than £150,000 of energy efficiency improvements and supporting residents to access additional sources of financial assistance.

Davina Allen, Director of Energy Services at Marches Energy Advice, said:

"Many working households continue to face significant pressures from rising energy and household costs. This funding will enable us to reach more people across Shrewsbury with practical advice and support that can help reduce bills, improve energy efficiency and increase financial resilience. We are grateful to Shrewsbury Town Council for investing in services that help residents make lasting savings and stay warm in their homes."

Councillor Emma Micklewright, Chair of Shrewsbury Town Council's Cost of Living Grants Sub-Committee, said:

"Energy costs remain a major challenge for many households. Marches Energy Advice presented a strong proposal that will deliver practical support, help residents reduce their bills and reach people who may not otherwise seek assistance. "Reducing energy costs will not only save residents money but will reduce environmental impacts. We are pleased to support this important work through the Cost of Living Grant Fund."

Retrofit the Marches Project Launches

Advice & Services_What We Offer_Retrofit Advice

We’re delighted to announce that the technical services team at MEA has secured funding for another 2 years of flying the flag for retrofit with the new Retrofit the Marches project, funded through the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.

Building on the success of our Future Ready Homes project, that we have run for the last four years, we have developed this new project from those learnings and integrated it within MEA’s core work, to ensure everyone can access support in improving the energy efficiency of their home, no matter their financial circumstances or living situation.

As with Future Ready Homes, your help will be crucial to our success. Your support would be very welcome, in particular with spreading the word about what we’re up to. We have a broad programme of activities planned and some large targets to hit.

This is just a taster of what we have in store:

DIYer and installer training in retrofit skills
‘Open Homes’ events (dotted around the year, one-off events)
Webinars and live presentations on how to do retrofit well
'Meet the Installer’ events – matchmaking householders with retrofit professionals
Lots of published resources including local case studies

The team will be hard at work giving detailed, tailored retrofit advice to householders over the phone, by video and doing home energy surveys. New for this project is a specific aim to support landlords, so that tenants benefit from more comfortable, healthier accommodation and lower bills. Either landlord or tenant can apply.

All property types are eligible. The only limitation is we cannot make this support available to householders who are receiving Warm Homes Local Grant support or are within social housing. The project covers Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Telford & Wrekin.

Easy referrals through our Contact Us forms

Did you know you can easily refer individuals who would benefit from energy advice, via our online referral form on the referral partners page on our website. We will contact the householder directly to see how we can best support them.

Individuals can also contact us directly for support via our contact page, a simple form where they provide their contact details and we will get back to them.

Organisation Referral form

Householder Contact Us

Useful support schemes this winter

Charis Warm Homes Discount – Park Homes

The Charis Warm Homes Discount Park Homes scheme opens in September. Unlike the normal WHD, the payment isn't automatically applied - residents MUST apply themselves. Funding is limited and processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so residents are advised to apply as soon as it opens.

Residents can apply if they pay the site owner for their electricity, and either receive means tested benefits or have a household income of below £20,328 (could be different for 2026 edition).

'You can apply for the Park Home WHD discount if you are a resident on a park home site and pay for your electricity through your park, or as part of your pitch fees. If successful, customers will receive a one-off payment of £150 towards their energy bills. This scheme is independently administered by Charis Grants Limited' - Ofgem

More details: Park Homes | Warm Home Discount Scheme | Charis

LEAP boiler replacement scheme

LEAP have said that it will be opening on October 1^stand the eligibility criteria appears to be the same as last year.

The scheme supports homeowners with a broken boiler and in a no heat situation and meet the following criteria.

Claiming a means tested benefits:

Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income Support
Pension Guarantee Credit
Child Tax Credit / Working Tax Credit
Universal credit
Housing Benefit

OR

Total annual household income less than £31,000

And

There must be someone aged 65 or over or aged under 5

More details: Our Eligibility Requirements | LEAP

Upcoming People’s Emergency Briefing Screenings

Last November, ten of the UK’s leading experts briefed an invited audience of over 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media. The People’s Emergency Briefing is a 50 minute film setting out the implications of climate and nature breakdown for health, food systems, national security and the economy.

The film has been made freely available to screen in across the country. It is intended as a catalyst for a wider public conversation and a stepping stone towards a live televised national briefing so that the whole country can be fully informed about the risks we face and the solutions available.

MEA have worked with the Local Authorities Energy Partnership to promote 58 (and counting) local screenings through the Climate Change Action Network newsletter and website. 2,400 national screenings are on this screening map where you can also find details of all the local screenings.

Upcoming Events

Join us at our upcoming Energy Advice Drop-ins. No appointment necessary, just come and chat to us about all things energy related - from support with funded home efficiency grants, help with supplier issues, advice on retrofit and renewable energy, tips to reduce energy consumption, ways local organisations can work with us and much more. We hope to see you there!

Derbyshire

Saturday 19^th September, 10am - 1pm
Crich Share & Repair Cafe, Crich Glebe Community Centre, Matlock,
Derbyshire, DE4 5EU

Saturday 26th September, AM & PM slots available

Open Home Event, Bakewell (full address provided after booking). Book here.

Saturday 3rd October, 11am - 3pm
The High Peak Togetherness Event, Glossop Cricket Club, North Road, Glossop
SK13 7AS

Tuesday 6th October, 10am - 2pm
Blagreaves Cares, Newmount Methodist Church, Blagreaves Lane, Littleover
Derby, DE23 1PS

Saturday 10th October, 10am - 3pm

Bolsover Eco Day, Bainbridge Hall, Carr Vale Road, Bolsover, Chesterfield, S44 6JD

Saturday 10th October, 11am - 3pm

Hayfield Apple Day 2026, Hayfield Primary School, Swallow House Lane, Hayfield, High Peak, SK22 2HB

Thursday 15th October, 7pm - 9pm

Transition Crich, Crich Glebe Field Centre, Glebe Field Close, Crich, Matlock,
DE4 5EU

Sunday 18^th October, AM & PM slots available
Open Home Event, Bakewell (full address provided after booking). Book here.

Telford & Wrekin

Wednesday 7^th October, 10am - 12pm
Live Well Hub Woodside, Woodside Park Lane Centre, Park Lane, Telford, TF7 5QZ

Thursday 15^th October, 10am - 12pm

Jobcentre Plus, Telford House, Southwater Way, Telford, TF3 4PD

Shropshire

Tuesday 13^th October, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Whitchurch Library, 13-17 High Street, Whitchurch, SY13 1AX

Thursday 22nd October, 9.30 - 4pm

Oswestry Library, Arthur Street, SY11 1JN

Herefordshire

Monday 19^th October, 11am - 12.30pm

South Wye Foodshare Drop-in, Our Lady’s Catholic Church, 101 Belmont Road, Hereford, HR2 7JR

Our mailing address is:

Marches Energy Advice, The Pump House, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DP. United Kingdom