Tag: community energy

JOIN US AT READING TOWN MEAL – 29th September 2018

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There’s a distinct chill to the air, the leaves are turning hues of gold and rust red, drifting and floating down the river. Alongside this the squash are ripening! This means its most definitely Autumn and it’s time for the glorious Reading Town Meal .

This year, we’re delighted to be teaming up with The Reading Sustainability Centre to be popping-up in Forbury Gardens on Saturday the 29th of September from 12 to 4pm.

Alongside the delicious free veggie food that will be distributed, cooked by Reading College catering students and made from donated veggies from local allotment holders and home growers. There will be lots of interesting workshops, stalls, live music and yes, us, to come and chat to and share your eco waste and energy tips that we’ll be harvesting for Reading.

It will be a chance to chat with us to find out more about both organisations, where we’re up to with the project, as well as join as a member or get involved volunteering to help make Reading more sustainable.

We’ll give you a little tip in advance. Make sure you’re there early as the food goes fast!

JOIN US FOR OUR AGM, ACTION EVENING (AND CAKE) – 27th of March, 7:30pm to 10:00pm The Outlook

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Come along to Reading Hydro’s 2nd AGM , hear updates, get involved and celebrate the progress we’ve all made!

We’ll be sharing where we’re up to with the project and reflect what we’ve done towards our objectives. Then carry on building on this together.

As a member it’s important that you are able to share your views, ideas and help us shape Reading Hydro going forward!

If you are not already a member you are more than welcome to join us as well and if you want can also join there. Just £1 to join our community co-op (we are a Community Benefit Society)

We’ll be downstairs at The Outlook  (which also serves food) and we’ll be bringing some cake (including Vegan).

We’re looking forward to seeing and working with our members, volunteers and supporters to continue moving Reading Hydro forward!

READING HYDRO – ACTION EVENING 7:30pm Tuesday 23rd of January, The Outlook

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JOIN OUR FIRST OPEN ACTION EVENING OF 2018, DOWNSTAIRS AT THE OUTLOOK

Come and join us for Discussions, a Drink, and some Doing,  helping us out on keeping the Reading Hydro Project moving forward.
If you are not already a member, don’t worry, you can join us at this or any other open members’ event (and perhaps sign-up while you’re there).
Topics we’ll be looking at, as well as running through key steps in the next year, include:

  • Applying for seed funding – grants, fundraising idea
  • Building our Hydro Community, publicity and awareness  – what could are next main activity be?
  • Education and open data – planning school resources and data possibilities and signage
  • Next steps with choosing the Technology and potential details we need help with
  • ???????

There’ll also be some specialist ‘jobs’ you could take on or suggest to suitable friends. Current key areas of expertise that we’re in need of support with include:

  • NEGOTIATION: Contract negotiation for a variety of building, contractual and partnership needs
  • CIVIL ENGINEERING: Insight and experience in building development, price estimations, concrete needed etc
  • LEGAL: Contracts, liability, advice
  • FINANCE AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Additional support in managing the planning and financing of the project
  • WEB & DIGITAL: Website review and development support, data integration
You can get in contact with us here or email reading.hydro.cbs@gmail.com directly.

Bring your ideas, pens and digital devices!

Find us downstairs at The Outlook pub, 76-78 King’s Rd, Reading, RG1 3BJ, from 7:30pm. If you like, you can let us know you’re joining via our facebook group event or ask any questions in advance.

JUST WHAT IS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT SOCIETY?

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So you’re not for profit, but not a charity? You’re not a business, but you’ll be looking for investors for the hydroelectric project? People can join as members and vote for directors at your Annual General Meeting, and agree where community funds can go, but you’re not a cooperative or a Community Interest Company, Social Enterprise……

These questions and many more are what we get asked frequently and are even queries we had when choosing the best model to enable Reading Hydro to become a reality and support it thriving in the future.

Why a Community Benefit Society?

Just like a charity we have “Objects” which specify what we do and how we commit to benefiting the community and the environment. Our reason for being!

The objects of Reading Hydro CBS are, to carry on any business for the benefit of the community by:

  1. The development, financing, installation, management, operation, generation, transmission and supply of energy from renewable and low carbon energy sources
  2. The conservation of energy through supporting energy efficiency and energy use reduction.
  3. Returning proportional benefit to the community.
  4. The promotion and awareness of environmental and related issues with support for educational initiatives
  5. Enabling the local and wider community to invest in renewable energy and low carbon generation.

What’s so important about Community focus and involvement?

We are set up for the benefit of the local community and look to achieve this through building a hydroelectric scheme on the river Thames at Caversham to generate clean electricity that can be sold to raise community funds for further projects.

It will take a while to get to this stage. To begin with the scheme will be funded by early stage donations and grants, before it is opened up for public investment, probably through a share offer.

The assets (hydro scheme) and liabilities will be held by the society and once all the shareholders have been paid back the hydro scheme and the profit from it will be for the benefit of the local community.

The assets are locked which means that they cannot be sold for the benefit of the directors or members.

In the initial years we have to pay back our investors, so only a small proportion of the income from selling electricity can go to the community. When investors are fully paid back, all the profit will go to the community. We are looking at generating long-term, sustainable funding here.

Why Membership for £1?

Reading Hydro members elect the directors on the basis of one member one vote: in this respect we are similar to a cooperative, autonomous and controlled by members. Part of becoming a member includes paying £1 for a share. This entitles you to one vote at general meetings, as well as getting involved in our day to day activities as much as you’d like.

Will I be able to invest more?

We are always happy to receive donations, no matter how small, and in-kind support. When we open the hydro scheme for public investment, you will be able to invest more in it, and this investment will earn a small return.

It all sounds great, right? So what are you waiting for? Join us!

For more information on Community Benefit Society you can read about them on the Community Shares website    or on DECC. Alongside this we recently went to an inspiring conference from The Plunkett Foundation, which gave examples of the many forms a CBS can take, from pubs, farms to Whiskey distilleries!