Empowering Jaywick Sands: A Community’s Journey Towards Clean Energy
Image from Local meeting in Jaywick, discussing their energy future - by Essex
On the Essex coast, a few dozen miles from London, sits the seafront town of Jaywick Sands - a unique place, with unique challenges. Built during the 1930s as a holiday spot for working-class East Londoners, the single-story, thin-walled holiday cottages that comprise the town were never intended for year-round accommodation. But the post-WW2 housing shortage saw the holiday area becoming a permanent town – one which its residents are today fiercely proud of, and have fought to defend from redevelopment and demolition.
Living in near-century old holiday cottages right on the seafront is a delight in the summer – but much less so during cold rainy English winters. Many of Jaywick’s homes have little to no insulation, and fuel poverty is a real problem – exacerbated by the town’s economic struggles with poor transport connections and declining local employment.
However, in this community, over the past year, residents, local authorities, and private sector partners have come together in a unique social experiment aimed at tackling energy issues and fostering a sustainable future. This initiative has not only brought hope but also highlighted the resilience and determination of the people of Jaywick.
Trust and inclusivity: vital for change
As project officer and Climate Action Engagement Manager at Essex County Council, Louise Tennekoon lead the way on setting up the SHARED Green Deal experiment in Jaywick. She explains, “the overall purpose of the experiment was to explore whether a series of conversations would be an effective way to engage the community of Jaywick in thinking about clean, green energy… We wanted to see if we could get people talking about energy in a way that felt relevant to their lives. Jaywick has its own unique set of challenges, and we needed to address those head-on.”
The experiment’s success hinged on creating an inclusive environment where everyone felt heard. The workshops facilitated rich conversations that led to a shared understanding of the community’s current situation, challenges, and opportunities. Louise notes that the workshops meant that people “felt listened to and able to contribute their ideas on a level playing field, avoiding the power imbalance typically felt in council-led meetings… I was surprised by the capacity and willingness of local people to help themselves. I had been expecting people to come along and say ‘we’ve got a problem and you – the Council – need to solve it’ but that was just not the case.”
And in Jaywick – a town whose struggles have gained some unwanted media attention from the outside world – building trust and partnership is vital. “Residents made the point that they trust council officers, but not the politicians,” reflected Louise. “I also learned that listening to people – making them feel heard - is a very effective way to win their trust… In a community like Jaywick – where people have been let down so many times – that trust has to be won again and again.”
The end result of the workshops was the creation of a collaborative approach where residents were able to decide upon and co-implement a list of projects aimed at helping residents save energy and move towards clean, green energy solutions.
One of the key achievements was the establishment of a new one-stop-shop energy info hub in Jaywick Sands, which launched in the summer of 2024. This hub provides residents with valuable information and resources to improve energy efficiency in their homes. Additionally, local energy champions were recruited and trained to support the community’s ongoing energy needs.
A model for other towns in the county
One of the experiment’s surprising outcomes was the willingness of the community to think about long-term energy solutions while also addressing their immediate needs for warmth and cost-saving. Participants were eager to explore community-owned renewable energy projects, and have taken the lead in the creation of Jaywick Community Energy, a group aiming to bring community-owned renewable generation to the town. The first step of this group is to push for the installation of solar panels on the Sunspot Business Centre. This initiative, which is able to tap into the £20 million UK Levelling Up Fund, aims to provide cheaper, green energy to the community.
As Louise puts it, “I believe that Community Energy Jaywick will deliver community-owned solar / wind power generating cheaper, green energy for at least part of the community in the medium-long term. This would not have happened had the community not had the chance to articulate its needs/wants through the experiment workshops.”
Looking ahead, the community is optimistic about the lasting impact of the experiment. The Energy Info Hub is expected to become a vital resource, providing ongoing support and information to residents. Metrics such as the value of energy efficiency grants delivered and the number of home energy visits will be tracked to demonstrate the hub’s impact.
“I’m hopeful that this will make the case for long term funding,” says Louise. “Once established as a reliable source of information and support, it is possible that other services (including health) may be delivered through the Hub as well. I expect the Hub will become a model for other disadvantaged communities in Essex.”
A brighter future for Jaywick
Since first launching the hub, it's assisted more than 100 locals, including vulnerable residents from Jaywick. Of these, more than fifty have been referred to existing grants or received home visits from the local "Green Doctors". The SHARED GREEN DEAL journey has shown that, with the right approach, even unique challenges like those of Jaywick can be overcome, by a strong community coming together to create positive stories of change. By fostering open dialogue, building trust, and focusing on both immediate and long-term needs, Jaywick is taking significant steps towards a sustainable future.
Image by Essex
Related Green Deal Priorities
Related localities
CONTACT
For further details please contact co-leads Professor Chris Foulds (chris.foulds@aru.ac.uk) and Professor Rosie Robison (rosie.robison@aru.ac.uk).
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101036640. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies with the SHARED GREEN DEAL HAS project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.