Empowering a community through retrofit Innovation at The Globe Foundation

In the market town of Uttoxeter, a grassroots sustainability project is bringing energy education to life. The Globe Foundation has transformed its eco centre into a hands-on demonstration site — showing local people exactly how retrofitting can work in real homes and real communities.

The area has a mix of older housing and traditional heating systems, and many residents have had limited access to practical advice on how to reduce their energy use. The Globe Foundation recognised an opportunity: to turn its own building into a showcase for low carbon living and offer tailored learning experiences to local people.

With support from Energy for Tomorrow, Centrica's social impact fund, the centre has been retrofitted with modern insulation, and renewable heating systems. This living demonstration space is now the hub of a new community training programme — offering 12 energy efficiency workshops designed around the real-life needs of residents.

These sessions focus on practical know-how — like reading bills, understanding energy tariffs, using smart meters, and finding ways to cut costs at home. More than just workshops, they’re building a ripple effect of knowledge: participants are encouraged to become volunteer Energy Ambassadors, sharing what they’ve learned with local groups and networks. In addition to the workshops, The Globe Foundation will provide free thermal imaging camera surveys to help identify draughts and heat loss in homes, further equipping residents/homeowners with a plan of action to make low-cost energy improvements. 

The results speak for themselves. Over the next two years, the programme expects to reach more than 240 residents. The centre is already seeing changes in how people think about and use energy. And as behaviours shift, the benefits — from lower bills to reduced carbon emissions — will grow.

The Globe Foundation is proving that when communities have the tools and knowledge, they lead the change. Their eco centre is no longer just a space — it’s a catalyst for a more sustainable future.

Find out more about how Energy for Tomorrow is helping build a more sustainable energy future.