A new project based in the Rural North Flintshire and Holywell areas is celebrating the start of its energy revolution.
West Flintshire Community Enterprises (WFCE) is a ‘business for the benefit of the community’ social enterprise company which was recently set up with the backing of the Holywell and Rural North partnership boards of Communities First. The company is all about partnership working on various local projects, and is made up of representatives from a range of organisations who are Directors of WFCE.
The communities working together are supporting the growth of the social economy sector in Flintshire, and formed West Flintshire Community Enterprises to provide business support, mentoring, advice services and financial assistance to community groups and organisations looking to develop trading activities. The initiative will help organisations within the area to take the next step towards becoming more sustainable, thus increasing prosperity, reducing poverty and creating a healthier community for the long term.
West Flintshire Community Enterprises overarches two Communities First partnership boards with community trustees from both Rural North and Holywell. Other members from the community are involved and can become members of the company. Limited Company status gives greater protection and can take on assets and liabilities in order to sustain activities into the future. It also gives access to funding sources that are not currently available.
WFCE believes that, with energy prices rising, new ways of thinking about the way we produce, use and waste energy (and therefore money) are urgently needed. They are now able to put that belief into action, having gained a Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) grant of £15,650 to start the process of transforming the local area’s relationship with energy.
The energy project will start by assessing community buildings for energy saving and/or renewable potential, and, for this, West Flintshire Community Enterprises is also working with the committed support of Communities First and Flintshire County Council’s Energy Teams.
The ultimate aim of this particular project – through a process of public engagement – is to change the fundamental way most of us think about energy; and by so doing to stop wasting energy, cut electricity bills, create scores of local mini power-stations, stimulate new training and job opportunities – AND reduce CO2 emissions!
The partners involved all see it as a ‘win win’ situation, and are inviting as many people as possible to the first public engagement event which takes place on Monday March 12 from 5pm – 7pm in the Art and Craft Mill in Holywell.
A second event will take place on Tuesday March 13 from 5pm – 7pm in the Gronant Institute.
