Community Programme
Community mapping
We begin by selecting two neighbourhoods in Oldham that are well suited to testing out a new approach to Local Energy Action Planning. Finding places that could benefit from improved local provision, where the communities views are often marginalised from mainstream decision making, whilst having a strong foundation in community organising. After research, zoom chats with local community leaders and walks around the community, Sholver and Westwood came to the fore.
Energy opportunities data analysis
To support the groups to diagnose what the local energy challenges and opportunities are, understand local impact and define community led solutions an online hub of data sources is created. The hub includes a range of maps and data visualisations including open data on housing, travel, energy and emissions. Statistics on fuel poverty, air quality, buildings emissions, cycle routes and more are integrated into the workshop programme.
Recruiting local energy champions
Participants for the project were recruited in many ways; we worked with existing community groups and organisations to amplify the project and opportunities to participate. We also spent time with residents to share the benefits of being involved for both them and the local community. We also engaged and recruited through more traditional methods, with a press release, social media content and localised leaflet drops.
An Introduction: Past, present & future of energy
The first workshop is all about introductions – people, programme and place. We work together to map out places of value, key initiatives, look back in time to explore Oldham’s energy development and learn from inspiring tales from communities leading a local low carbon energy transition.
Diagnosis (1): Energy efficiency in the home
The diagnosis workshops create the space to assess the existing strengths and pitfalls of local energy systems and provision, laying the foundation for an in-depth conversation on what could be improved.
In this first workshop we go on a deep dive into energy in the home. It’s a hands-on session built around our demo ‘Energy House’ for an up close exploration of how our homes lose and use energy. Opportunities to make homes warmer, comfier, healthier, greener and with lower energy bills are shared. We start looking beyond our own four walls and compare the available data for our neighbourhood with our lived community experience.
Diagnosis (2): Energy in the neighbourhood
In this workshop we broaden our enquiry to look at the neighbourhood scale. We explore how the energy demands of homes, businesses, industry and the public sector adds up and it’s associated impacts, like fuel poverty, cost, carbon emissions and health. We link up travel and energy by mapping existing bus, car, cycle and walking infrastructure and discuss existing barriers to active travel.
Diagnosis (3): Connecting neighbourhood energy to Oldham & beyond mapping
They say that no person is an island. The same is true of neighbourhoods in the energy world. In this workshop we explore how our homes and neighbourhoods are connected to a web of energy sources and systems and how shifting towards renewable energy is needed for a low carbon future. This workshop is on the road. We go to visit other initiatives close by to learn from others.
Dreaming (1): What matters?
During the imagine phase we take stock of everything that we have found out in the diagnosis phase. From here we start honing in on particular issues and context specific themes and issues. What are the solutions possible? Who are the stakeholders and who is in a position to implement the solutions found? We will take inspiration from other communities that have introduced low carbon measures, allowing their stories to show what’s possible, push boundaries and provoke debate around what the champions would like to see in their neighbourhoods future. Alongside this we begin to build up skills in running similar projects for the community. We will concentrate on the themes and subjects chosen locally and invite community members and stakeholders to contribute their thoughts and feedback.
Imagine (2): Theme specific
During the imagine phase we take stock of everything that we have found out in the diagnosis phase. From here we start honing in on particular issues and context specific themes and issues. What are the solutions possible? Who are the stakeholders and who is in a position to implement the solutions found? We will take inspiration from other communities that have introduced low carbon measures, allowing their stories to show what’s possible, push boundaries and provoke debate around what the champions would like to see in their neighbourhoods future. Alongside this we begin to build up skills in running similar projects for the community. We will concentrate on the themes and subjects chosen locally and invite community members and stakeholders to contribute their thoughts and feedback.
Imagine (3): Theme specific
During the imagine phase we take stock of everything that we have found out in the diagnosis phase. From here we start honing in on particular issues and context specific themes and issues. What are the solutions possible? Who are the stakeholders and who is in a position to implement the solutions found? We will take inspiration from other communities that have introduced low carbon measures, allowing their stories to show what’s possible, push boundaries and provoke debate around what the champions would like to see in their neighbourhoods future. Alongside this we begin to build up skills in running similar projects for the community. We will concentrate on the themes and subjects chosen locally and invite community members and stakeholders to contribute their thoughts and feedback.
Defining (1 / 2): Reflective workshops
We pull together the main recommendations and project ideas for the Local Energy Action Plan and discuss priorities, both in terms of local need and realistic assessment of what can be achieved in which timeframes. We celebrate the work done so far and reflect on where we have come from to get here.
Community-led projects
Building on the conversations in the workshops community representatives will select 2-3 pilot projects to be seed funded by Oldham Energy Futures and supported with specialist expertise. Whilst we can’t be sure what the community will choose we imagine that it’ll be something around mutual support in energy efficiency measures and home home improvements, EV and e-bikes local mobility projects or installing new renewable energy generation in the community.
Local Energy Action Plan Launch
With all of the work under our belt it is time to celebrate. This event will launch the communities LEAPs and bring Oldham Council representatives back to the table for an overview of the ideas developed throughout the programme.
Toolkit release
A guide to support other communities, local authorities, housing associations or third sector partners that would like to lead a LEAP process of their own. The toolkit will include a guide to gathering open data, community recruitment, community workshops, engaging the wider ward, developing pilot projects & creating a local energy action plan visual. We will also release all of our workshop resources.
Oldham Launch Night
With all of the work under our belt it’s time to celebrate. This event will launch the communities LEAPs and invite Oldham Council representatives to the table to hear their ideas.
Legacy
We have 12 benefits that we hope the project will provide for Sholver, Westwood and the wider community. Read the full list on our benefits page.
Photo credits
- Urbed
- Carbon Coop
- Carbon Coop
- Oldham Council
- Carbon Coop
- Cristiana Raluca
- Cottonbro
- Carbon Coop
- Carbon Coop
- Carbon Coop
- Magda Ehlers
- Carbon Coop
- Oldham Council
- Urbed
- Bich Tran
- Ylanite Koppens
- Alena Koval
