A new service has launched to offer charities free specialist support to tackle climate change and reduce their energy bills.

It is being launched through a partnership between energy advice charity Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and funders including Social Investment Business.

The new service is aimed at adding to support already available through the £15m Energy Resilience Fund, which launched last year and includes free energy audits and blended grant and loan finance to charities to invest in energy improvements.

The support service will offer help to interpret energy audits, understand accurate costings and guidance on project management on improving community buildings.

“The intention is to make it as easy as possible to gain investment and implement upgrades that could lower bills and help tackle climate change,” said CSE.

Work it will support includes energy efficient lighting systems and improvements to insulation, ventilation and glazing.

Support on solar panels, small scale wind turbines, battery storage systems, electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar water heating is also available.

Last year Social Investment Business found charities are spending as much as half of their budgets on covering utility bills.

“There is huge potential for community buildings to reduce their emissions, cut their running costs, and become safer, healthier community spaces,” said CSE retrofit project officer Robin Bell.

"Retrofitting is an opportunity to make our buildings more affordable to run and more comfortable to use, as well as creating new skilled jobs in every region.

"Working with Social Investment Business on this initiative brings together our expertise in community buildings and energy efficiency to ensure as many organisations as possible can access the right support and funding to put their net zero plans into action.”

Social Investment Business director of grants and investments Rob Benfield added: “Our research has shown that charities care about climate change and are facing huge pressure from rising bills, but as a sector we are falling behind in making much-needed energy efficiency improvements.

“This new partnership will ensure charities have the right support every step of the way as they plan, apply for funding and implement projects to improve their energy resilience.”

Also backing the Energy Resilience Fund are: Big Issue Invest, Charity Bank, Co-operative and Community Finance, Groundwork UK, Key Fund, Resonance Ltd, The Architectural Heritage Fund, and The Ubele Initiative.

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