Case studies

Case studySouth Seeds

A community organisation providing energy advice to residents in the South Central area of Glasgow, particularly to families in vulnerable situations, living in privately rented accommodation.

A person sits at a wooden counter speaking to a member of staff behind a glass screen in an office. Notices about hand sanitiser and hygiene are posted on the glass. — South Seeds Energy Officer Poppy. South Seeds provide energy advice to Southside residents including vulnerable families living in privately rented accommodation.

Main Fund · Registered Charity · Scotland

South Seeds is a community organisation based in the South Central area of Glasgow. They work in partnership with residents and organisations in the local community to help improve the area with the mission to enable Southsiders to lead more sustainable lives. Their service covers a densely populated area of just over one mile square and a diverse community of 35,000 residents

On 1 Feb 2020, South Seeds received £98,859 funding from the Energy Redress Scheme to pay for its energy saving service. With an additional award in January 2022 to extend and expand the service, and subsequent funding awarded to further expand their capacity.

Project aims

South Seeds identified a need to provide home energy advice to Southside residents, particularly to vulnerable families living in privately rented accommodation.

To meet the need, the organisation was seeking funding to:

Employ two part time Energy Officers
Provide face-to-face advice from their community base and support in homes where possible
Produce information about how to save energy at home for clients to take away and promotional materials to highlight the service for display in their high street windows.

Project deliverables

The funding has paid for Poppy and Agnes, experienced Energy Officers, to support the community, resolving all kinds of energy issues:

Getting the best energy deal
Explaining energy-efficiency measures
Investigating large energy bills
Determining the reasons for cold or damp at home
Solutions to drying clothes inside
Issues with prepayment meters
Lost electricity keys and gas cards
Fuel debt
Liaising with energy suppliers and helping to resolve complaints
Help with heating controls at home.

Further, South Seeds have been able to collaborate with other agencies to improve reach and installations, including Warmworks, Home Energy Scotland and the local council. Some residents have been supported to access an efficient heating system from the Warmer Homes Scotland.

Project impact

South Seeds have worked with over 1,700 households to save them energy between February 2020 and January 2022
South Seeds bring over £100,000 in to the community through energy payments to residents per year.
Since South Seeds has been working in the community, residents are much more likely to take their own meter readings and seek out energy saving advice.

South Seeds have published several case studies of energy issues they have solved for clients.

Learning

Word of mouth and promotion are key to success
Community engagement with their energy advice project was high due to word-of mouth, because they managed to provide a good service and solve residents’ problems. This resulted in a steady stream of residents with energy problems getting in touch and coming through the door.
Support is needed to contact energy suppliers
Several energy providers have become much harder to contact for energy consumers, which can often deter customers needing information and support. South Seeds have contacted Ofgem about this issue.
Take every opportunity to share energy advice with the community
The price of energy has increased substantially during the project which is dramatically impacting on residents’ thermal comfort at home and their disposable income. South Seeds have been able to support members of the community with energy advice when they’ve approached them to discuss another challenge e.g. access to food banks.

South Seeds have published a toolkit about how to run a community energy advice project, which shares much of their learning on how to work.

The challenge for organisations working directly with energy consumers is how to empower those paying the bill to control their energy at home, as well as solving the energy problem presented.
Lucy Gillie, Manager South Seeds

View the awarded funding Visit their website