People supporting community energy groups are often asked to help with a wide range of challenges, from governance and funding to project development, community engagement and technical questions. It is not always easy to identify what support is needed or what should be prioritised.

This peer learning session is for people who directly support community energy groups, including independent consultants, advisers, mentors, development officers, local authority officers and experienced practitioners providing informal support.

The session will create space to share common challenges, exchange tools and approaches, and explore good practice for diagnostic conversations and assessing support needs. Participants will gain insights into how to provide effective support within the limited time they may have with community groups or people new to the sector.

By the end of the session, participants will:
• Gain insights from peers on common challenges and effective support approaches.
• Develop a clearer understanding of diagnostic conversations and assessing support needs.
• Discover practical tools and resources used by other support providers.
• Connect with others supporting community energy groups.

This 75-minute session will include a panel discussion, small-group conversations and opportunities for participants to share tools, resources and experiences with each other.

Panel
The session will be chaired by Johannes Moeller, Energy Learning Network Lead, with contributions from Saskya Huggins (Make It Count and Energy Learning Network Mentor), Philip Morris (Empowered), and Alice Wharton (Co-operatives UK and the Community Shares Unit).

Hosted by the Energy Learning Network with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.