History of en-form

 

1998     Idea of Environment Centre first   discussed with Colchester Borough Council

1998     Colchester Borough Council agree to make funds available to set up Environment Centre

Nov 1999    en-form registered as a Limited Company

Jun  2000  Premises at 15 Church Walk occupied

Nov 2000  Charity Status attained

Mar 2001   Centre opened

Feb 2002    Centre Manager appointed

Jun 2003    Funding obtained for Local Food Project

Jul 2003      Colchester Farmers’ Market re-opened at Colchester Arts Centre

Feb 2004      First issue of NE Essex Local Food Directory published

Oct 2004      Harbour Ward Energy Project started

Dec 2004      RePaint Scheme funding received

Feb 2005      Second issue of NE Essex Local Food Directory published

Apr 2005      RePaint Scheme officially launched

Apr 2005      Centre Manager post lapsed

Oct 2005      Harbour Ward Energy Project Report

Apr 2006      Wivenhoe Farmers’ Market started

May 2006      Give or take website launched

May 2006      RePaint scheme expanded to accept paint from local businesses

May 2011      ECORRN launch ReuseEssex website

April 2012    ECORRN closed and functions transferred to en-form.

May 2014       First Colchester Green Open Homes Event throughout May

Volunteers Wanted – Help running Stall

 

We are attending the Colchester Town and Country Show in the Castle Park on Saturday 26th April and Sunday 27th April

Time 10 am till 5 pm

You will not have to attend the stall for the whole day and will have an opportunity to see the show.

Visitor numbers are expected to be 2500 to 3000.

As usual we will be taking the opportunity to promote a range of environmental projects and information from a number of local groups and Councils.

You do not need to know everything (we don't) but it may be an opportunity to update your local knowledge as well.

We will be providing information on all matters environmental and all local environmental groups. Some issues we tend to provide information on are:

1. Services provided by Councils particularly recycling, energy and green spaces.

2  Information on local groups such as Transition Town, reuse organisations.such as Shake, Emmaus, Re-Cycle, RePaint etc. all those on theReUseessex.org.uk website  together with freegle and giveortake.org, Cycling Groups, Green Drinks

3. We will also be providing information on Local Food including Farmers Markets and Community Agriculture, Water Use, Energy, Waste and Recycling, Transport, Wildlife and Biodiversity

4. We will be taking the opportunity to promote our (en-form's)  2 newest projects - Green Open Days (we will be giving out free Trail maps) and the energy switching service including the Councils big switch scheme.

Don't let this list frighten you, you know more than you think and we operate a call back system for questions you don't know the answer to .

If you are part of an environmental group and want to share our table let us know. The more the merrier. If you want us to give out information on your group let us know as soon as possible and we will see what we can do.

The event has a wide range of events from Ferret racing and dog displays to re enactments and Jive pony equestrian acrobatics whatever that is. Let us know if you want to race your ferret.

We hope it can be a fun day. If your want to volunteer or want your group to join us to share the load let us know.

Spring Cleaning – Don’t Forget

 

Now that Spring has finally arrived it may be time to think of a good old spring clean.

Don't forget if you are having a good sort out over the next few weeks to help reduce waste as much as possible by using the following free services::

Freegle Plenty of groups in the area, you can give away most things to someone who can make use of your unwanted items. e-mail based system need to become a member.

Giveortake.org Again you can give away almost anything. Essex section. Web based system. Anyone can post details of their unwanted items here. No need to be a member.

ReuseEssex Directory of Community Groups, Charity shops etc. that are looking for a wide range of unwanted items to give away to their clients or to sell to raise cash for charitable causes. A number of groups have found it difficult to get donations of unwanted goods in recent years.

Green Open Days Frequently Asked Questions

 

This is a new project for en-form so we will update this page on an ongoing basis.

Thank you for your interest in Opening your home on Green Open Day please find below some Frequently Asked Questions for Potential Hosts.

When will the event take place?

The event is scheduled to take place on weekends from the 3rd to the 26th May 2014 and include the following dates:

3rd, 4th, 5th, 10th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, 26th of May 2014

If I register my property now am I committed to taking part?

No. At this stage we are wanting to build up momentum to encourage as many people as possible to take part and to help us attract funding. If you may be interested please register as soon as possible.

What Type of Environmental Improvements does my house have to have?

Anything environmental at this stage a list of some possibilities are included below. However lifestyle change includes just about anything from wildlife gardens to recycling.

• Low-cost improvements  
• ‘Big’ insulation works               
• Glazing
• Lighting Systems and electrical appliances
• High Spec heating
• Renewables: heat   
• Renewables: electricity    
• Water Management       
• Sustainable building materials   
• Lifestyle change   

Will my House qualify?

The main point of the project is to encourage ordinary people to see ordinary homes and what is possible. Whilst we are very pleased to welcome homes that have had major environmental improvements we want to welcome as many ordinary homes with a few improvements as possible.

What Area will the event take place?

We are initially working on a 20 mile radius from central Colchester. However if your home is outside this area contact us anyway so we can gauge interest and amend the project if need be

Can I open on more than one day?

Yes you can but don’t underestimate the implications of opening on more than one day. Please advise us if you wish to open for more than one day.  

What are the Opening Hours for our homes?

Each host will be able to choose their own Opening Hours between 10am and 6pm with a minimum of 4 hours.

How many visitors am I likely to receive?

This is very variable depending on area and type of environmental improvement you have. Speaking to other projects you can expect between 2 and 40 visitors. Some Superhomes receive up to 80 visitors.

How open is open?

You will be able to specify how you want customers to visit you. You can choose to operate a Just turn up system or a booking system. If you are in doubt choose the booking system so that you can control both the number of visitors and the times they can turn up.

How is the project to be publicised?

The project and more importantly the Open homes days will be promoted as follows:

Press releases, e-mail lists of environmental organisations, Facebook, twitter, posters, flyers and a printed trail map.

In addition each home will be provided with 200 postcards saying my home is open on ............ please feel free to visit me etc. for you to post through your neighbours letterboxes.

We have also been posting mini flyers through the doors of people who have visible improvements such as solar panels inviting them to become open home hosts.

If you have any other cheap ways of publicising the project or the open days please let us know.

Would you like us to promote it actively among our friends and contacts?

Yes we would. Please promote both the open days and the fact that we are still looking for host’s willing to open their homes.

Can I update my details on the website?

Yes please advise us by e-mail and we will amend your entry for you.

Can I change my photo or add more photo’s?

Yes you can just send them into us by e-mail and we will update them for you.

Will their be any help for us on the day?

We are currently trying to recruit volunteers to help hosts. More details will follow.

How will I be kept up to date with this project?

We will be sending information out by e-mail as decisions are made. We will also be inviting all hosts and volunteers to an open day where all questions can be answered and everyone involved in the project can meet each other. This is likely to be in April. More details will follow. As May approaches we will be contacting you more frequently.

What is the main aim of the project?

The ultimate aim of the project is to increase the take up and use of environmental improvements. By allowing visitors to see the improvements in action in real homes and by talking about how the improvement has impacted on your life, evidence suggests people are more likely to install the improvement themselves.

How do I register my interest in this Project?

Just send a quick e-mail to greenopendays@en-form.org.uk saying I am interested in opening my home on Green Open Day please send me details.

More Information :

http://colchester.greenopenhomes.net/

http://www.superhomes.org.uk/

Project details

Frequently Asked Questions

Volunteer Opportunity

Opportunities for Business

Press Release

Community Energy and Renewable Technologies

 

Essex County Council is planning to run a series of seminars on Community Energy and Renewable Technologies to local groups on the 25^th of March. The event will be targeted to all Parish Councils and Community groups in Essex, and hosted in the Essex Records Office, in Chelmsford. It is scheduled to run from 9 until about 2pm.

Our objectives for the workshop are:

· Help communities to identify energy generation opportunities that are most appropriate and cost efficient

· Provide expert advice to community groups so they can better understand low carbon technologies, funding opportunities and planning requirements.

· Raise awareness among Essex residents of opportunities to reduce energy use, save on energy bills and install renewable technologies, as well as their role in lowering carbon emissions in their community.

· Start an Essex network of community groups involved in energy projects and promote knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Speakers will be invited to talk for about 15 to 20 min to an audience of approximate 50 to 100 people. There will be a series of seminars during the morning followed by lunch.

Travel expenses will be provided.

Event Stewards for Green Open Homes Day

 

An interesting opportunity to be an Event Steward for our Green Open Homes Day

What is involved :     

You will be supporting homeowners who have agreed to open their homes to the public.

Tasks will include :  

 

• Welcome Visitors
• Recording Visitor Numbers
• Organising Refreshments (if available)
• Providing Advice on the event and environmental improvements
• Help visitors complete Evaluation Forms and gather them in
• Taking visitors Coats and making sure they wipe their feet

When:                         

Weekends in May 2014

Where:                        

Private Homes throughout North East Essex

Apply:                         

Please apply to en-form e-mail greenopendays@en-form.org.uk stating Green Open Days Volunteer in the subject line or 01206 367777

More Information :

http://colchester.greenopenhomes.net/

http://www.superhomes.org.uk/

Project details

Frequently Asked Questions

Volunteer Opportunity

Opportunities for Business

Press Release

New Service to Cut Energy Bills

 

29th January 2014

Local Charities en-form and Signpost are working with Colchester Borough Council to reduce energy bills for local residents.

They are currently running a Government funded project to review consumers energy bills and then to offer free, impartial and unbiased advice on alternative tariffs. If you decide to switch they will even arrange this for you.

Although the service is open to anyone it is aimed at those who have never switched energy providers and don’t feel confident enough to do so.

Andrew Wilkinson of en-form said ‘Savings of up to £200 are available, although the most we have saved a customer so far was £149. Apparently, almost 60% of consumers have never switched. ‘

There are many reasons why people do not switch including being unsure of the process, unable to receive impartial advice, no access to the internet or finding the process complicated. This service will arrange everything for you and then let you decide if you want to switch.

If you would like to benefit from this service or know someone who could, please telephone en-form on 01206 367776 or e-mail info@en-form.org.uk They will be visiting most local areas over the next few months.