Mitcheldean Community Centre is a step closer to becoming “the greenest and most energy efficient community centre in the Forest of Dean” after completing a project to install solar panels and a battery storage system.
The renewable energy upgrade was launched after the charity that runs the centre recognised that rising utility costs were threatening its long-term sustainability.
Trustees of the Mitcheldean and District Community Association found that increasing hire charges was not enough to keep pace with escalating gas and electricity bills, prompting them to explore alternative solutions to reduce running costs.
Following advice from the local council, the charity applied for a £14,248 grant from Enovert Community Trust to fund the solar installation. The bid was successful, allowing the project to move forward.
Melvyn Wilkins, trustee of the Mitcheldean and District Community Association, said the process of securing approval for the installation proved complex because the building is classified as a commercial property.
“Due to the centre being classified as a commercial property, we had plenty of hoops to jump through, including providing full before and after plans, map location, local parish council checks and finally a biodiversity study,” he said.
“But we managed to get it all agreed and signed off, and the solar was eventually installed in January this year.”
Early results from the new system have already exceeded expectations. Despite February 2026 being wet and overcast for much of the month, the solar installation generated more than 70 per cent of the electricity used at the centre and exported 57.9kWh of surplus energy to the national grid.
Mr Wilkins said the early impact of the project had been significant.
“The impact that the solar has already had is amazing and will only increase as the days get longer,” he said. “I think we can probably now claim to be the greenest and most energy efficient community centre in the Forest of Dean.
“Without the support from Enovert Community Trust this project would have ground to a halt, as we had no way of funding this improvement ourselves and without it the hire costs to our users would have spiralled.
“The trustees of Mitcheldean and District Community Association are extremely grateful for the foresight that enabled Enovert to recognise they were helping a project that really does support the community.”
The community centre is open to all, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and hosts a range of local organisations including Age UK Gloucestershire, Mitcheldean Scouts, the Women’s Institute and the North Gloucestershire Football Association.
Angela Haymonds, trust manager at Enovert Community Trust, said supporting the project would help safeguard the centre’s future.
“So many community centres are facing financial issues due to rising energy costs, so the trustees were very pleased to help fund the solar panels and battery to ensure this centre remains open and affordable for the benefit of the local community,” she said.