Newsletter
Local People.
Sustainable Energy.
Affordable action.
Welcome to the latest news from Tendring Community Energy — your community-owned organisation working to help households save energy, reduce costs and build a cleaner, fairer energy future for Tendring.
Become a Member → See What’s OnA message from our Chair • Our new Clacton office • Taking energy advice into the community • Summer events • St Osyth Summer Sounds • Jaywick Energy Hub turns 2 • Winter energy advice • Autumn events • Community renewables • Ways to get involved
ACTION Autumn 2026
Kevin Barnes
ChairTendring Community Energy
A Message from Kevin Barnes
It is remarkable to think how far Tendring Community Energy has come in such a short time.
What began with a simple belief — that local people should have a greater say in how energy is generated, used and understood within our communities — is steadily becoming something very real.
Over recent months we have continued to support residents with practical energy advice, home visits and help for households struggling with energy costs.
We have been out in our communities, developed new partnerships and continued working on opportunities for locally owned renewable energy projects across Tendring.
We are also beginning an exciting new chapter at the Jaywick Energy Hub, strengthening our presence in an area where accessible, trusted and independent energy support can make a genuine difference.
But Tendring Community Energy was never intended to be something delivered by a handful of people on behalf of the community.
The ambition is to build an organisation that belongs to the community and grows with it.
That is why membership matters.
Every new member strengthens our voice and helps demonstrate that people across Tendring want a different approach: one where more of the benefits from energy remain locally, where households can access practical support, and where our towns and villages can participate directly in the transition to cleaner, more affordable and more locally controlled energy.
There is still a great deal to do, and we are only at the beginning of what I believe Tendring Community Energy can become.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us, worked alongside us, volunteered their time or simply stopped to have a conversation with us.
I look forward to seeing what we can build together.
Chair, Tendring Community Energy
Summer in the Community — and an Exciting Autumn Ahead
What a summer it has been for Tendring Community Energy!
Over the past few months, we have been out and about across Tendring, meeting residents, supporting local events, sharing practical energy advice and, most importantly, listening to the people who make our communities what they are.
Community energy is about much more than solar panels and wind turbines — it is ultimately about people.
A New Home for Tendring Community Energy
One of the biggest milestones this year has been moving into our new community office at:
16 Station Road
Clacton-on-Sea
CO15 1SX
The office officially opened on 4 June 2026 and gives us a permanent base where residents can come and talk to us, find out about energy-saving opportunities, get advice and discover how they can become involved in our work.
Having a physical presence in the community is really important to us. We want Tendring Community Energy to be accessible — not just online, but face-to-face and locally.
Passing Station Road? Pop in and say hello! 👋
Taking Energy Advice into the Community
Throughout the summer we have continued to take our message beyond the office.
From community gatherings and local events to conversations with residents and partner organisations, we have been showing how small changes can make a real difference to household energy costs.
Our work includes practical energy-saving advice, help understanding funding opportunities, support for community projects and the development of new renewable energy opportunities across Tendring.
Trusted local advice can help people understand their energy, identify opportunities and take practical action.
Stronger communities. Local energy.
Practical Energy Advice
Helping households understand their energy use and identify practical ways to make their homes warmer, more comfortable and more energy efficient.
Funding & Support
Helping residents and community organisations understand funding opportunities, grants and schemes that could support energy improvements.
Local Renewable Energy
Developing new opportunities for solar, battery storage and community-owned renewable energy projects across Tendring.
A Summer of Events
Summer has given us some fantastic opportunities to meet people in relaxed and informal settings.
We have been particularly pleased to take part in local community events, including St Osyth Summer Sounds, where Tendring Community Energy joined other local organisations and community groups.
These events are about much more than handing out information. They give us the opportunity to listen.
People tell us about the challenges they are facing with energy bills, heating their homes, making their properties more efficient and understanding the sometimes confusing world of grants and energy schemes.
Every conversation helps us understand what matters to residents, where people need support and how Tendring Community Energy can make the biggest difference.
💚 Every conversation helps us understand what Tendring needs.
One Home at a Time 🏠
Our Winter Warmth & Resilience work has demonstrated what practical community energy support can achieve.
The project used thermal imaging to help identify areas where homes were losing heat, alongside practical advice designed to make properties warmer and more energy efficient.
Residents received support such as draught-proofing, radiator reflectors, smart plugs and LED lighting.
Many reported that their homes felt warmer and that they felt more confident about managing their energy.
That’s community energy in action.
Celebrating 2 Years in Jaywick
Jaywick Energy Hub has just celebrated two years of helping the Jaywick community.
Residents joined us for a special community celebration offering crafts, art, music and a free BBQ.
It was a chance to celebrate not only the Hub itself, but the residents, volunteers, partners and community organisations that have supported its work.
The next chapter will see Tendring Community Energy continuing to build on that work and strengthening the energy support available to residents in Jaywick.
Read More About Our Work →What’s Coming Up This Autumn?
We’re not slowing down! September and October are shaping up to be busy months for Tendring Community Energy.
2026
Older Persons Crucial Crew
⏰ 10am
📍 Princess Theatre
Station Road
Clacton-on-Sea
Come and meet us and find out how you can reduce your energy consumption, keep your home warmer this winter and reduce household costs.
2026
Winter Ready Event
⏰ 1pm – 3pm
📍 St Christopher’s Church
Meadow Way
Jaywick
Get practical advice on preparing your home for colder weather, keeping warm and keeping energy costs under control.
2026
Brighter Future for Tendring
⏰ 12.30pm – 7.30pm
📍 Little Oakley Memorial Club
Little Oakley
Come and see how Tendring Community Energy can help with solar and battery storage projects and potential funding opportunities.
Hear real-life stories from people who have experienced our help and solar installations.
Small Changes Can Add Up
Saving energy doesn’t have to mean making big changes. Sometimes it starts with something surprisingly simple.
Switch to LEDs
Change old bulbs to efficient LED lighting.Know Your Controls
Understand and use your heating controls effectively.Stop Standby
Switch appliances off when they’re not needed.Use Appliances Efficiently
Run full loads and use efficient settings where appropriate.Find the Draughts
Finding and fixing unwanted draughts can improve comfort.Know Your Energy
Understanding how much energy your home uses is the first step towards reducing it.From Energy Advice to Community Power
Behind the scenes, we are continuing to develop our longer-term community energy ambitions.
☀️ Community Solar
Exploring opportunities for renewable electricity projects at community facilities and suitable sites across Tendring.🔋 Energy Storage
Looking at how battery technology can help communities make better use of locally generated renewable electricity.🌾 Agrivoltaics
Developing our planned 500kW community-owned agrivoltaic solar pilot, combining renewable energy generation with agricultural use.🤝 Community Ownership
Building projects where local people can participate and where the benefits generated by renewable energy can remain locally.Every Conversation Matters.
Tendring Community Energy exists because local people believe that we can do things differently.
We are building an organisation that aims to keep the benefits of renewable energy within our community, reduce energy costs, tackle fuel poverty, develop skills and reinvest surplus income into projects that benefit Tendring.
Thank you to everyone who has attended an event, volunteered, shared our posts, introduced us to a community group, asked us for advice, become a member or simply told someone else about Tendring Community Energy.
Every conversation matters.
Every connection matters.
Every person who gets involved matters.
Get Involved
You don’t need solar panels on your roof to be part of community energy. Here are four ways to start.
Home Energy Quiz
How energy-smart is your home? Test your knowledge and discover opportunities to save.
Take the Quiz →Renewable Energy Quiz
Solar, wind, batteries and community energy — how much do you know?
Challenge Yourself →Become a Member
Help shape the future of community-owned renewable energy in Tendring and add your voice to our growing organisation.
Join Tendring Community Energy →Energy & Carbon Footprint
See where your household energy and carbon footprint comes from and discover practical steps that could help reduce it.
Calculate My Footprint →Want to be part of the next chapter?
Become a member, volunteer, attend an event or share our work with someone who could benefit from trusted local energy advice.
Become a Member Come to an EventWant to Learn More?
Get in touch with us to find out how you can get involved with Tendring Community Energy.
Contact Us