Own part of a renewable future for Liverpool!

We are raising £90,000 to install 100kwp of solar photovoltaics on four community buildings owned by hard-pressed charities and a school.  This will save them £243,000 in energy bills over 20 years which they can use to support frontline services and deliver better education. On top of unlocking these great community benefits you can also earning at least 3.5% interest on your investment annually.  BUT, THERE IS A CATCH, WE HAVE JUST THREE WEEKS TO REALISE THIS AMBITION. If we can raise the funding by 21st of November we can get the PV installed before the change in the Feed in Tarriff, and you as the investor get additional tax breaks.

The organisations we are helping are:

The Kuumba Imani Millenium Centre, working with disadvantaged people, especially women and ethnic minorities: www.kuumbaimani.org.uk

Norman Pannell County Primary School: www.normanpannell.com

Walton Cornerstones, a community anchor providing a home for much-needed local services in a poor part of Liverpool: www.waltoncornerstone.co.uk

Positive Futures North Liverpool, a charity working with young people to give them a better future: www.positivefuturesnorthliverpool.co.uk

Vision

Your investment will help make these organisations financially sustainable and energy secure for years to come, no longer at the mercy of the 'Big 6' energy companies and able to plan their finances better due to lower-priced electricity at known fixed prices.  From this share offer we plan to build a community energy alliance promoting the use of renewables across the third sector in Liverpool and beyond, helping to make vital community organizations financially and environmentally sustainable into the future, working to improve the lives of disadvantaged people and neighbourhoods

The Story so far

Community Energy Merseyside (CEM) has been formed as a not-for-profit community energy co-operative in Liverpool by local community environmental activists. Aware of the need to tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions, increase energy security and the need for a rapid transition to low carbon energy sources, we have formed CEM as a vehicle for locally-focussed action.

Having been working to improve the lives of local people for many years, our main fields of activity have been community engagement, community-led economic development, health and wellbeing but for the last five years we have been working at the grassroots to promote energy security and wealth creation by installing renewables.  One of our members initiated, led and helped plan the successful L8 Living Sustainably Big Lottery application winning £900,000 to deliver food and energy security in a very deprived part of the city.  We also have backgrounds in co-operative working, peer-to-peer learning and green issues such as the Transition Towns movement

Benefits of investing

Your investment will help make three 'community anchors' and a local primary school more financially sustainable and able to devote more resources to helping disadvantaged people.  As pioneer projects locally, a successful project will inspire local people and groups to plan their own energy projects, spreading the benefits of renewables across the city.  With a critical mass of projects it will be easier to engage with and win the support of major institutions such as the local council and housing associations in building a 'green energy' movement and alliance locally.  We will also use the individual projects to promote awareness of climate change, the benefits of renewables, deliver capacity-building and learning.  Adults, young people and children will all be involved in education and spreading the word about environmental responsibility and the power of the people to make things happen.

Share offer details

We hope to raise at least £90,000.  You can invest anything from £250-£20,000.  With this funding we will install 100kWp of new solar photovoltaics on four community buildings (including a school).  if we raise the full target of £148,000 we will also purchase an existing 40kWp PV system (Liverpool Solar 1) which generates 35,000kWh a year.  An investment will earn 3.5% interest annually and investors can get their investment back after 3 years.

If we raise £80,000 we will install on Walton Cornerstones, Positive Futures and Norman Pannell CP School.  If we raise £100,000 we will add the Kuumba Imani Centre site.  And if we raise £140,000 we will purchase the Liverpool Solar 1 system. 

The cost of the installations will be £140,000. If we raise a further £8,000 this will be used for management costs and contingencies.  None of this amount will be used for the benefit of directors of Community Energy Merseyside.

Important documents