Thames Head Community Energy is a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society based in the Cotswolds, near the source of the River Thames. We work to accelerate the transition to a clean, fair and local energy system by developing community-led renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. These include a community solar farm, a community purchase scheme for rooftop solar and batteries (which led to 16 local homes saving over £20,000 and 20 tonnes of CO2 annually), and support for home energy efficiency through tools like a community thermal imaging camera. We also helped secure and deliver upgrades to a village hall with infrared heating, LED lighting, and EV charging. Our three goals are: 1) Saving residents money on their energy bills while making homes warmer and cosier, 2) Reducing carbon emissions, and 3) Raising funds for community benefit. To date, we’ve raised £18,000 through Crowdfund Cotswolds, secured a £40,000 grant from the Southwest Net Zero Hub for our solar farm feasibility work, and helped a village hall win a £10,000 CDC grant.

Following discussions with other SEND parents/carers, SEND children & young people, other SEND professionals including Headteachers, SENCOs, Therapists, Teachers etc. I left the classroom and set up my business in January 2025 to empower and support schools to be more inclusive and understand SEND, to improve knowledge and understanding of SEND within local school communities; and to support families to navigate the system. 95% of the work I have undertaken since then has been advocacy, mostly for families who cannot afford to pay for it. We have set up a CIC so that we can deliver advocacy services for free, to enable vulnerable, low-income families in Cirencester and surrounding (often rural) areas, specialist SEND support to navigate the SEND system, in whichever way they need it, so that more SEND children, young people and their families are supported.