William Miller, Community Development Director

Effective Community Engagement

Tale of 2 Communities

Rushenden Green Regeneration

What’s it all about?

•Retro-fitting 100 houses in Rushenden, Kent – (also Outreau, Boulogne) •European (ERDF) innovation & partnership project (£3.5M) •Champions the impact of learning and behaviours with residents •Reducing carbon emissions - Total 80% - 60% measures/20% behavioural change •Raising energy awareness •Dissemination of info - shared learning •Started 2010 – Completes 2014

Why do it?

• Reduces fuel poverty – puts cash back into the pockets of our residents • Explore opportunities for learning, skills, jobs • Improves homes • Plan how we take ideas into mainstream programmes •Contributes to Strategy Agenda

Who’s Involved?

The technical side of things

• Loft Insulation up to 270mm • External Wall insulation • Window and door refurbishment • Draught proofing • Heat recovery ventilation systems • Replacement “A” rated boilers heating controls • Renewables

• Solar PV • Solar thermal • Ground source heat pump • Trombe wall • Paziaud windows

The community – Focus on behaviours

Targets and Milestones Target Progress Engage 620 residents 807

400 involved in Green Doctor advice 331

Equip 300 households with tools to reduce environmental impact

260

Involve 3000 children as ‘Energy Champions’

900

Establish 10 sustained Community Groups/projects

5

200 people on green construction/installation activity

150

50 people into learning vocational training 65 25 people employed associated with project 5

Team in the neighbourhood

Education programme & links with schools

• Working with 20 schools

• 145 children on

neighbourhood activities

• ACE Detectives – Breakfast

club etc

• The Scouts – energy badge!

Green Doctor – Energy Advisor Programme

• Progresses well • 331 visits • Raising awareness • Savings

Monitoring, measuring & evaluation

• Capture the project journey – evidence energy usage • Close working UOB & IFS • Measure the impact of both technical & people

interventions • Provide detailed statistics for scientific analysis

• Baseline survey and samples complete • 22 Wattboxes installed • Tiny Tags installed & removed • Tracking energy consumption & choices (180+households)

Next steps

1. Complete works & celebrate 2. Further exchange visits – occupants/residents 3. Interim report on impact of programme on consumption

and energy choices - dissemination 4. Knowledge exchanges – staff teams 5. Links on training & jobs with contractors/manufacturers 6. Mainstream learning into refurb programme/business

plan 7. Sustainable business plan - community learning

programme

Award Winning Kent!!