Energy Advice and Support for Churches

Energy bills are at an all time high and many churches are finding it hard, and in some case impossible, to bear the increased energy costs. The Diocese of Exeter is very mindful of this and will be offering what help and support we can.

Energy Advice

1.Energy (churchofengland.org) Advice on changes you can make to save energy.

2. Heating your church this winter Practical tips and financial support information from the Church of England

3. Practical Solutions to Help Parishes Save Energy and Money 

Financial Assistance

The Diocese of Exeter finance team has written to parish treasurers about the Energy Costs Grant funding which has been released by the Church of England to help towards the cost of church energy bills. The grant will not cover total energy costs over the winter, but we hope that it will provide help where it is most needed. If your church has not received a letter please contact the finance team

Warm Welcome

The Church of England is a partner in the new Warm Welcome website, where you can register your church to be a local warm hub. Some churches are already offering ‘warm spaces’ at certain times of the week. Transforming Plymouth Together has been doing a lot of work around this and can be contacted for advice. To see how churches in Devon have been providing warm welcomes for their community, read our news story here.

Parish Buying

We encourage you to take up the offer of discounted energy audits from Parish Buying Parish Buying – Energy Audit

Consider going through Parish Buying for a quote for energy supply Parish Buying – Energy Basket

Helping members of your community

Through your church pastoral networks you may also become aware of people who are struggling to afford to keep warm at home. There is a lot of support available for householders.

PCCs can:

• Signpost householder to support organisations
• Make direct referrals (with consent) to support organisations
• Promote householder energy advice through church newsletters, social media and websites
• Invite speakers to church coffee mornings

Across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, a network of community energy organisations (CEOs) provide free and impartial advice and support to householders. The CEOs are not for profit organisations, which work closely with local authorities and other frontline support agencies to provide holistic support and wherever possible access to grant funding. In some areas, additional crisis grants are available.

North Devon	361 Energy	FREE ENERGY EFFICIENCY & REDUCE YOUR BILLS – 361 Energy
Torridge
South Hams	South Dartmoor Community Energy	Energy Advice – South Dartmoor Community Energy (sdce.org.uk)
West Devon	Tamar Energy Community	Energy Advice – Tamar Energy Community
Plymouth	Plymouth Energy Community	Plymouth Community Energy
Torbay	Exeter Community Energy	Healthy Homes for Wellbeing – ECOE
East Devon
Exeter
Mid Devon
Teignbridge
Torbay