South East London Community Energy (Selce), a non-profit based in Greenwich, has been supporting local residents at risk of fuel poverty while also saving schools money by fitting community-funded solar panels across Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley, and Bromley.
But the group, which has helped households save an average of £442 on their utility bills in the past year, is now turning to the public for help.
For the first time in its 11-year history, Selce has launched a crowdfunding campaign in response to the financial shortfall expected in the New Year.
If the group doesn’t raise a substantial amount in the next five weeks, it will be forced to temporarily wind down the activities of its energy advice team at a time when its support is most needed.
Fuel poverty is an escalating issue, impacting more than three million households – or around 13 per cent of the total – in England in 2024.
In places closer to home, this figure can be as high as 20 per cent.
Currently, Selce is helping locals through better tariff switching, the installation of small, cost-effective measures to help heat homes, and giving targeted financial help to those most vulnerable.
People can get free one-to-one expert advice either on the phone, in person at the Selce offices, or at one of their ‘energy cafés’ held in community centres.
In 2024-25, Selce’s energy advice service helped households save over £1.06 million – an average of £442 per family – with these savings estimated to increase to about £968 per household over three years.
As well as this, the group’s work has resulted in an estimated 1,095 tonnes of CO2 being avoided.
The organisation’s fuel poverty relief service is primarily funded by grants or commissions, but funding options have been scarce this year.
Two main sources that have previously funded the service are now unavailable for 2025.
Selce’s crowdfunding goal is £57,000, which it says will enable it to give detailed, personalised advice to 400 vulnerable households in South East London.
Selce’s fundraiser can be found at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-our-energy-advice-team-jan-funding-gap.
