Volunteer Opportunity – Edinburgh Tattoo 2025
THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 2025 Come celebrate The Heroes Who Made Us, as the Tattoo turns 75! The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is the most spectacular show in the world, enjoyed by an international television audience of 100 million. But there’s no substitute for being there, as part of the 217,000 strong audience over its three- week run at Edinburgh Castle. As a member of Scouting, you can become part of it. The Scout Association in Edinburgh has been part of this fantastic experience since the first Tattoo in 1950 and you could be part of its magic, particularly in this special 75th year! We are looking for enthusiastic and confident Explorer Scouts and Young Leaders to be part of the sales team to sell programmes on the stands at the Castle Esplanade to the Tattoo’s home and international audience as they go to their seats. You will need to be available for about six or seven nights between 31 July and 23 August 2025. You will be on duty from 7.15 pm until approximately 9.45pm on weeknights and from 4.45pm – 9.45pm on a Saturday. Explorers and Young Leaders can possibly use the event to complete sections of their badge work or towards a section of their Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. As a “thank you” from the Tattoo each Explorer and Young Leader will receive a unique gift. If you are interested, then please complete the form below and return it by email to Sue.timmins@sesscouts.org.uk by 30 June 2025. For further information please contact Sue Timmins 07954 386571. Download 2025 Tattoo Volunteer Form
Longcraig Update – February 2025
Looking forward to 2025 Our online booking system goes live in just a few weeks. So, if you or your section or your Group has any plans for a water activity event – either at Longcraig or elsewhere – that is anything out of the ordinary for a regular activity booking – get in touch! By planning early, we welcome any suggestions for events or activities that we can support or indeed even run for you. This could be a special anniversary, or just a group day out by the seaside messing about in boats. How to get in touch? getinvolved@longcraig.info Longcraig Net Zero Project The solar panels have continued to generate energy for us every day through the winter – although at a much-reduced rate as the days are much shorter. During the very cold spell in January, the output fell even lower – we think this was due to frost build up on the exterior of the panels on the roof, so we need to watch out for that. But already, at the end of January, we are noticing the difference, and we are gaining enough energy to keep all the background things operating, and to provide a little bit of warmth when we have people in at the Centre. The next few months will see a rapid growth in the energy generated – if you’d like a quick tour of what we’ve achieved, please give us a call to arrange a visit. In just a few days from now, our total energy generation (since last July) will surpass 5 Megawatt Hours – that’s enough to charge up a small Electric Vehicle 100 times! Protecting our beach Although the daylight over the winter has been short, and we’ve had several spells of very cold frosty weather, we have kept on with improvements to our shore defences as time permitted over the past months. So far, this work has been successful and is much improved upon how it was at the end of the summer. We’ve been very fortunate that the sea that sometimes takes away our shoreline sometimes also helps us repair it, with large lumps of timber washed up during some of the winter storms. We are currently planning how best to prepare and locate the big one (10 metres x 40ccm x 40cm) which will be placed just in front of our buildings and give us much needed storm protection for many years to come. As always, we can still make good use of: – Heavy duty steel stakes (such as reinforcing bar) – Heavy duty pegs or pins (larger than tent pegs but same idea) – Topsoil – Grass or turf Please just get in touch if you think you can help with any of these ingredients used in the baking of a strong shore defence! Training Opportunities Here are details of some firmed training opportunities early in the spring this year: Paddleboard training /Assessment Day has now been arranged, this will be held as two One Day sessions over the weekend of 8/9 March 2025. The Assessor team from Lochgoilhead will be leading this event to support our own activities. The aim is to either assess for a permit or provide a suitable plan to each person to get one. Beyond that, we can offer courses in: Dinghy sailing Kayaking Powerboating Raft Building Marine VHF Radio Which can lead to national qualifications if you wish to gain one of those, and/or to a Scouts Activity Permit which then enables you to lead activities with your own groups of young people. Many aspects of seamanship such as: weather and meteorology; Tides and Currents: Basic navigation skills; knots, lashings and ropework. We can also provide course for Badges for Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and Young leaders. These can in some cases cover the entire syllabus of a particular badge, and in many cases can cover one or more elements of a wider scope badge. There are many badge options relating to water activities – there’s even one for ‘helping out at activity centres’ which may be of interest! We strongly recommend having a discussion with us about what you might like to cover, how we can support that, and how best we can plan it in for next year – or even the year after! For information on, or to register an interest in, any of these courses please contact us at getinvolved@longcraig.info Volunteering? Last year we welcomed a good number of new volunteers to help us operate the Centre and to help deliver the activities that young people want. As the demand for our activities grows and we constantly seek to expand what we can offer, we need more volunteers to help us implement our plans. We now have a super-duper warm up to date activity centre to welcome volunteers into! We’re still happy to hear from any potential volunteers whether your interest is on the water or off the water supporting the Centre. Just get in touch for a chat, or come along to one of our Volunteer Drop In Sessions at Longcraig: Tuesday 25th February at 7pm Saturday 15th March at 1pm We’ll take care of the rest! Do please let us know if you would like to come along to any of these sessions. getinvolved@longcraig.info
Recognising Our Fellow Volunteers
Saying thank you and well done is one of the simplest, but most powerful ways to recognise our fellow volunteers. It really does count for so much. That’s why our award scheme is so important. Recognising people’s contribution in a meaningful way will leave them feeling valued and motivated. The new membership system makes it easier to nominate someone who deserves to be thanked for their good service. I would encourage you to put people forward for an award and make them feel even more special – beyond a simple word of thanks. We know you’re busy with Scouts and your other commitments, which is why the nomination process has been made as simple as possible. You should find everything you need below: More Information about the Awards Scheme can be found here and your guide to making a nomination can be found at the Awards page Congratulations to our John Kennedy South East Scotland Scouts are delighted that John Kennedy, who was the Edinburgh Area Commissioner when the Region was formed in 2008, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List. John has held a wide variety of roles at local, District and National level, where he is currently the Treasurer for Scouts Scotland. Over 46 years supporting Scouting, John’s dedication, enthusiasm and leadership have allowed many young people to gain #SkillsForLife and this honour is very well deserved. Congratulations John from all your friends in South East Scotland Scouts. In addition, congratulations to those members of South East Scotland who have recently received awards for the work they do in supporting Scouting in our Region.
Learning Update – February 2025
My Learning We want all our volunteers to have the skills and knowledge they need to feel confident to keep young people safe and help them gain skills for life. We organise learning at Scouts in what we call the Learning Tree. It’s made up of: Growing Roots: The learning all new volunteers need to do within their first six months. Learn more about Growing Roots Branching Out: The learning you can choose to do to develop your knowledge further and get accreditations. Learn more about Branching Out My Learning Digital Tool This link provides guidance on how to start a new learning, credit skills, check your team’s learning and create a learning report. New Safety Module A reminder that all members will need to complete a new Safety Module by 14th July 2025 (or before that if your existing Safety Module expires before that date). The Safety Module can be accessed via My Learning on the membership system. Its takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and you can start the module, save it, and go back to it later to complete it. First Response First Response learning need to be undertaken by adult volunteers in the following roles: Group Lead Volunteers Section Team Members (including those who were previously Sectional Assistants) Section Team Leaders 14-24 Team Leaders New volunteers in these roles must undertake First Response within one year and previous Sectional Assistants who are now Team Members, must complete First Response within the next two years. There are three main ways to complete First Response: Attend a f2f First Response Course (usually 9.30am to 4.30pm) – we have a range of courses available during qtr. 1 – you can register here Undertake First Response via the Blended Model where you do some online learning (3 hours), attend an online confirmation session (2.5 hours), and then attend a f2f practical session (30 mins). Details of the Blended model can be found here and you can register for the online learning at First Response e-learning 2025 Undertake an External First Response Course e.g. FAW or BASP and/or present your Professional Qualifications as evidence as having the appropriate First Response Skills. You will need to send your course certificate or details of your professional qualifications to firstresponse@sesscouts.org.uk . A Regional First Response Trainer will validate your learning/experience and confirm whether it meets Scouting requirements or whether you need to do some additional learning e.g. Child CPR.
Update on Digital Tools
Signing into the new Membership System If you have not yet signed into the new Membership System or are having difficulty doing so, you can find out how to gain access via this link Please note when you register or reset your password, the system sends a verification code to your login email, to verify the account. This verification code doesn’t come from ‘Scouts’, instead from Microsoft on behalf of prodscoutsb2c (msonlineservicesteam@microsoftonline.com), which means it’s going into some people’s spam/junk folder – you may need to check these folders. Benefits of New System Many of our adult volunteers are using the new membership system to access their personal profile and learning, to submit Nights Away Notifications, to nominate fellow volunteers for awards and to apply for permits. For many the system is a significant improvement on Compass. Upgrades to the Digital System UK Scouts have acknowledged that some improvements are needed especially for those volunteers who lead teams. You can find the latest a) resolved and b) planned updates and interim solutions for known issues within the digital tools here. Resolved issues Digital system updates If you are having any difficulties or have any questions about the new digital tools, please speak to your team leader or email transformation@sesscouts.org.uk
Learning Update – November 2024
Getting Started With Transformation coming in November, it is important that anyone on a pre-provisional or provisional appointment, completes and has validated the current Getting Started modules (GDPR, Safety, Safeguarding, Module 1 and Modules 3 or 4). Validation of these modules will go towards completion of Growing Roots in the new system but must be validated in advance of the Compass Freeze on 7th November. Growing Roots The replacement for Getting Started in the new system will be Growing Roots. Within 30 days of starting to volunteer with Scouts, new volunteers must complete: Safe Scouting Within 6 months of commencing, all new volunteers will need to complete: Who we are and what we do. Data protection for Scouts. Creating Inclusion. Plus depending on your role, one of the following: Delivering a great programme (Section Team Leaders and Members) Leading Scout Volunteers (Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders, except Section Team Leaders) Being a Trustee in Scouts (new Trustees) Information on how current volunteers training maps into the new scheme can be found here follow this link to our website for more info. First Response Volunteers who work directly with young people will also need to complete First Response training within one year of starting. SES are providing a number of First Response Courses – details can be found here South East Scotland Scouts Training Team Events – 20 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite Modules 10a and 10b Validation Volunteers who have validated First Response Modules 10a and 10b using an external qualification (i.e. not Scout first response training) may be contacted by the SES First Response Training team over the coming weeks to establish which first aid certificate they used for validation (unfortunately in most cases Compass does not hold this information). Depending on the first aid certificate used, volunteers may be asked to complete a small amount of additional learning to cover all areas of the Scouts first response syllabus. It would be helpful if you are contacted by the SES First Response Training Team in this regard that you respond to the actions requested. Compass Freeze Please note that prior to moving from Compass to the new membership/learning system there will be a period of time (7th to 21st November) when training records are frozen. Only fully validated training will be moved from Compass to the new system. Any modules where volunteers have completed learning but not had this learning validated will not be moved across to the new system. No validation of the existing modules linked to Getting Started/Growing Roots can be carried out during the Compass freeze, In addition, it will not be possible to add validations relating to the current modules to the new system. The learner will need to complete the relevant Growing Roots module e.g. if you have completed Module 3 (Tools for the Role – Section Leaders) but not had this validated before the change freeze, you will need to do the new Delivering a Great Programme module in Growing Roots. Where modules have been completed which are not part of Getting Started/Growing Roots e.g. Growing the Section Module 13, Introduction to Residential Experiences Module 16, if the validation is not done before the Change Freeze, there will be an opportunity to add this learning manually to your learning profile post the change freeze and to subsequently validate this learning. It is important that all existing Section Assistants (who will become Team Members in their sections) are fully briefed by their Groups that when the new system goes live they’ll need to complete three items of learning – Delivering a Great Programme; Creating Inclusion and First Response (over the next 2 years). More details can be found here Please contact your Training Advisor, line manager or ADC (Adult Training) for help with validation. Go Live Key Information As part of our Regional Go Live Support, we have created an GoLive Hub in which you can get the latest critical information with everything coming up over the next few weeks during this critical phase of transformation. I would encourage you all to check these pages out as they will be updated with any and all important announcements and information. Below is a summary of some of the key dates and tasks. Visit our GoLive Hub here Add any new volunteers or roles to Compass by 24 October Any permit applications will need to be completed by 24 October Check your email address is correct, and accessible. There are restrictions, for guidance check this video If you are doing a nights away between 7 & 25 November, NANs will need to be submitted by 30 October at the latest. All learning, including Safety & Safeguarding must be completed, validated and recorded on Compass by 6 November You will need to register for the new system once you receive the email from UK Scouts indicating the system is live for you. If you do not receive an email by 25 November you will need to let your GLV know so they can follow up. You will need to access the new system as you will need to: • check/update your personal details • access learning courses • submit paperwork for activities and camps e.g. permit requests, risk assessments, NANs etc Watch this Short video about the new digital system. You can ask your Group Lead Volunteer for help You can email South East Scotland go live team on: transformation@sesscouts.org.uk
Longcraig Update – November 2024
Looking forward to 2025 Our planning for 2025 is now under way. So, to help avoid disappointment, if you or your section or your Group has any plans for a water activity event – either at Longcraig or elsewhere – that I anything out of the ordinary for a regular activity booking – get in touch! Up to the end of this year, we welcome any suggestions for events or activities that we can support or indeed even run for you. This could be a special anniversary, Akela’s big birthday, a celebration of something special – or just a group day out by the seaside messing about in boats. Does your Group or your District have an ASU team – we might be able to help with arranging an activity day for the ASU – we don’t always exclusively do things for young people. No matter what your idea, get in touch and see if we can turn your idea into an event! For example, although we are not yet able to routinely offer our activities to younger sections (Squirrels, Beavers) we can do so, and sometimes the best way to approach this is through a Group event which could incorporate some boating activity for Beavers within it. How to get in touch? getinvolved@longcraig.info New Compass benefits Looking forward to the new Membership Database which is rolling out very shortly? One of the things it can make easier for adult members is applying for an Activity Permit. This is all done within the database online package – you simply click on the appropriate link, and it takes you through the process of making an application. Selecting an Activity Assessor will also be much more visible – suitable assessors will appear on your screen, and you just have to select one. Don’t pick the best looking one – all the assessors will assess people to the same standards and all assessments are now done in conjunction with another assessor – so there’s no Good ones nor Bad ones! The assessment process for Permits is not changing – it’s just the process flow that will be much more streamlined and available to all within the new system. New Tractor Our final acquisition of 2024 was a replacement tractor that we use for moving boats up and down the pier – especially our safety boats which we have to launch and recover every time we are running activities. This new Solis tractor replaces our faithful orange Kubota, which we acquired (second hand) in 2009, and which is starting to show some signs of its age. The new tractor was picked from around 6 different options and was selected on the basis of Best Value for purchase cost, equipment and features, trade in value for the old tractor, and overall suitability. It’s already been waxed in the hidden parts underneath so we can minimise the damage caused by the salty water atmosphere that we encounter so close to the sea. This tractor was funded by a generous grant from the Bells Nautical Trust and a further generous legacy from the Ken Thomson bequest fund, we are gratefully indebted to both funding sources. Neil welcomes the new tractor to Longcraig. And the old tractor bids farewell to its favourite view! Shoring up the shore defences Over the past few weeks, we have been busy protecting ourselves and Longcraig from the potential of stormy seas which from time to time attempt to engulf the shoreline around our building. For many years now, we have successfully kept those storms at a safe distance, by installing and maintaining a defensive barrier along the boundary between the beach and the grass areas to the front of our building. These defences need some repairs from time to time, and this year we have carried out some areas of refurbishment. These involve: large pieces of timber – we regularly find them washed up along the coastline and carefully retrieve the best of them. Here’s a view of a section we’ve just repaired: (you can see how close to the waves it can get!) Strong metal stakes to retain the timber in position – horizontally and vertically – so it doesn’t get washed out with the surge waves (this was why we were looking for things like old reinforcing bare earlier in the year: Heavy thick soil to infill behind the timber Turf or grassy vegetation to knit the soil together and spread a root system deep into the ground. Strong netting attached to the outer faces of the timber, then over the grass and securely pegged down to limit erosion by the sea and to keep the grass in place until it establishes its root system. Big thanks to everyone who has assisted with this over the past few weeks of settled autumn weather – just made it before the winter starts! As always, we can still make good use of: Heavy duty steel stakes (such as reinforcing bar) Heavy duty pegs or pins (larger than tent pegs but same idea) Topsoil Grass or turf Please just get in touch if you think you can help with any of these ingredients used in the baking of a strong shore defence! Training Opportunities Our training programme for 2024 has now completed, with the final course running last weekend – a Powerboat 2 course. All the candidates on this course were members of the Longcraig ASU, their funding of the course fees was supported by the SHQ Development Fund for adult training which is available to all adult members undertaking relevant training courses. We are as always grateful to SHQ for supporting training activities like this throughout the year! Here are the intrepid candidates last Sunday enjoying the Forth with just 4 degrees C around them! Still in the diary in early 2025: Paddleboard training /Assessment Day has now been arranged; this will be held as two One Day sessions over the weekend of 8/9 March 2025. The Assessor team from Lochgoilhead
The New Digital System is Live
A reminder that the new Digital System is now live and all members of South East Scotland can access the system via Scouts website. We would encourage you to access the new system. First Steps Checklist The first steps checklist which outlines what you need to do when first using the new digital system can be found here Support using the New System If you have any queries or need support, please use the resources available via these links first: Changes to our Volunteer Experience – a reminder of what is changing to improve the volunteer experience, and what you need to do to be ready. UK Scouts Knowledge Base and Frequently asked questions and answers about Transformation, Digital Systems and Learning. Digital Tool Guides – covering various tasks that can be undertaken once you have signed into the Digital System South East Scotland Go Live Support Page - including your District support contact points for any queries you may have. If you need further support, please use the contact point below for your District: Borders andy@borderscout.org.uk Braid transformation@sesscouts.org.uk Craigalmond grr.robertson@gmail.com East Lothian transformation@sesscouts.org.uk ENE dlv@enescouts.org.uk Midlothian transformation@sesscouts.org.uk Pentland colin.liddle@pentlandscouts.org.uk Many thanks for your continued support to Scouting in South East Scotland
Learning Update – October 2024
Getting Started With Transformation coming in November, it is important that anyone on a pre-provisional or provisional appointment, completes and has validated the current Getting Started modules (GDPR, Safety, Safeguarding, Module 1 and Modules 3 or 4). Validation of these modules will go towards completion of Growing Roots in the new system but must be validated in advance of the Compass Freeze on 7th November. Growing Roots The replacement for Getting Started in the new system will be Growing Roots. Within 30 days of starting to volunteer with Scouts, new volunteers must complete: Safe Scouting Within 6 months of commencing, all new volunteers will need to complete: Who we are and what we do. Data protection for Scouts. Creating Inclusion. Plus depending on your role, one of the following: Delivering a great programme (Section Team Leaders and Members) Leading Scout Volunteers (Lead Volunteers and Team Leaders, except Section Team Leaders) Being a Trustee in Scouts (new Trustees) Information on how current volunteers training maps into the new scheme can be found here follow this link to our website for more info. First Response Volunteers who work directly with young people will also need to complete First Response training within one year of starting. SES are providing a number of First Response Courses – details can be found here South East Scotland Scouts Training Team Events – 20 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite Modules 10a and 10b Validation Volunteers who have validated First Response Modules 10a and 10b using an external qualification (i.e. not Scout first response training) may be contacted by the SES First Response Training team over the coming weeks to establish which first aid certificate they used for validation (unfortunately in most cases Compass does not hold this information). Depending on the first aid certificate used, volunteers may be asked to complete a small amount of additional learning to cover all areas of the Scouts first response syllabus. It would be helpful if you are contacted by the SES First Response Training Team in this regard that you respond to the actions requested. Compass Freeze Please note that prior to moving from Compass to the new membership/learning system there will be a period of time (7th to 21st November) when training records are frozen. Only fully validated training will be moved from Compass to the new system. Any modules where volunteers have completed learning but not had this learning validated will not be moved across to the new system. No validation of the existing modules linked to Getting Started/Growing Roots can be carried out during the Compass freeze, In addition, it will not be possible to add validations relating to the current modules to the new system. The learner will need to complete the relevant Growing Roots module e.g. if you have completed Module 3 (Tools for the Role – Section Leaders) but not had this validated before the change freeze, you will need to do the new Delivering a Great Programme module in Growing Roots. Where modules have been completed which are not part of Getting Started/Growing Roots e.g. Growing the Section Module 13, Introduction to Residential Experiences Module 16, if the validation is not done before the Change Freeze, there will be an opportunity to add this learning manually to your learning profile post the change freeze and to subsequently validate this learning. It is important that all existing Section Assistants (who will become Team Members in their sections) are fully briefed by their Groups that when the new system goes live they’ll need to complete three items of learning – Delivering a Great Programme; Creating Inclusion and First Response (over the next 2 years). More details can be found here Please contact your Training Advisor, line manager or ADC (Adult Training) for help with validation. Go Live Key Information As part of our Regional Go Live Support, we have created an GoLive Hub in which you can get the latest critical information with everything coming up over the next few weeks during this critical phase of transformation. I would encourage you all to check these pages out as they will be updated with any and all important announcements and information. Below is a summary of some of the key dates and tasks. Visit our GoLive Hub here Add any new volunteers or roles to Compass by 24 October Any permit applications will need to be completed by 24 October Check your email address is correct, and accessible. There are restrictions, for guidance check this video If you are doing a nights away between 7 & 25 November, NANs will need to be submitted by 30 October at the latest. All learning, including Safety & Safeguarding must be completed, validated and recorded on Compass by 6 November You will need to register for the new system once you receive the email from UK Scouts indicating the system is live for you. If you do not receive an email by 25 November you will need to let your GLV know so they can follow up. You will need to access the new system as you will need to: • check/update your personal details • access learning courses • submit paperwork for activities and camps e.g. permit requests, risk assessments, NANs etc Watch this Short video about the new digital system. You can ask your Group Lead Volunteer for help You can email South East Scotland go live team on: transformation@sesscouts.org.uk
Longcraig Update – October 2024
Looking forward to 2025 As 2024 draws to a close we appreciate that a small number of Groups were disappointed this year, due to having a few activity bookings cancelled as we did not have enough of the right kind of volunteers available on the day, or because the weather conditions were such that it was not safe to proceed. Although our 2025 booking system doesn’t kick in until early next year, we’d like to give anyone affected by these disappointments the early bird first choice of an activity slot for next year ahead of time. If your Group falls into either of these categories please get in touch to discuss what options are available for you: please contact bookings@longcraig.info in the first instance and we’ll help you from there. LONGCRAIG – NET ZERO – how it all works Last month, we announced the fantastic news that the Net Zero project at Longcraig, installed earlier this year, had gone live and was producing enough electricity to enable the Centre to operate. This month, as promised, we’ve got more detail about the systems we installed and how they all work. Read on! Main objectives The principal purpose of installing the renewables was twofold: To present a ‘greener’ appearance to the Centre and how it operates B) to reduce our annual bill for utilities (mainly electricity) following the exorbitant cost increases inflicted over the past couple of years. This is how it all strings together – Main power generation – Solar PV. The proposed panels were selected to combine a comfortable fit, without crowding, on the available roof space. Initial rough calculations estimated the roof could support around 16kW capacity, the supplier’s selected proposal settled at 15.84kW., based upon an installation of 36 panels each 440W. Generation capacity clearly follows both a daily predicted curve (assuming good sun conditions) and also seasonal variations which can be computed based upon location, roof angle, surrounding shade/shadow and other geographical factors. Bird’s eye view of Longcraig showing the solar panels fitted on the roof Theoretical daily power generation by month. (Ignore the consumption data, based upon standard consumption) Energy Storage: Electrical energy – Batteries: we selected 4 x 5kWh batteries totalling 20kWh which closely emulates the 21kWh expected theoretical consumption. The batteries have a maximum linking capacity of 5, so we retained the option to fit one further one in the future. Four batteries fitted neatly below the switchgear and power inverters Thermal energy – Hot water tank: power can be sent directly to the hot water exchange tank which contains around 300litres of water, which then transfers heat through coils to the domestic hot water outputs. Control of the energy applied to the tank is further enhanced by a Solar Boost unit which actively directs power when it is required or when there is surplus energy available. The Solar Boost box sends excess power to the water tank to heat up the water Direct feed – the PV energy drives directly to any building consumption required during generation hours. Heating – hot water: As part of the facilities upgrade, the incoming water supply was separated as it entered the building. One pipe goes directly to the kitchen, the other serves the cold water tank and thence the toilets and hot water system. The main hot water tank is described above, and supplies hot water on demand for showers, wash hand basins throughout the customer facilities. A separate 30 litre hot water storage device was installed in the kitchen, adjacent to the sinks, which provides almost instant hot water on demand. Whilst not an integral part of the renewables project, this enhancement avoids the need for the kitchen taps to ‘waste’ hot water from the old tank location, amounting to some 30 metres of piping each time the tap is opened. Rough calculations indicate a saving of up to £350 a year based upon energy prices in 2022 through this element alone. Kitchen water heater – right beside the sinks, stores up to 30 litres of water ready to use. Space heating – customer facilities: This is provided by way of an Air to Air Heat Pump, one external pump unit providing heat to 5 separate outlets covering the two main changing rooms, two toilet and shower areas, and the staff facility. The pump unit can generate just under 11kW of heat output, and is powered by the PV generated electricity at a maximum rate of 2.8kW. (an efficiency factor of 3.92) Each of the 5 outlets can be independently controlled for: temperature; fan speed’ horizontal and vertical air flow direction. Heat up time from cold is around 10 – 15 minutes. The external Heat Pump unit neatly fitted behind the toilets One of the five internal heaters Space heating – other areas: Providing Heat Pump heating to the kitchen, workshop and two upstairs training rooms was not going to be possible without installing a complete second Heat Pump installation. Because of the much more sporadic nature of the heat demand of each of the four spaces, it was decided to adopt a much lower cost, but more fuel hungry when in use, installation of Infra Red Heat bars in each room. Once again, each is independently controllable for temperature, and they can be adjusted to optimise the heat output to the areas where people are most likely to benefit. These heaters are quick to heat up, only warm the people in the rooms, and don’t clutter the floors! All of the heating is controllable by phone Apps, which can also set timers, over-rides, and instant adjustment through the WiFi within the Centre. So, what’s the benefits? Our shower areas and changing rooms are now warm! BUT, the warmth also helps dry them out, so they are much less damp and musty; the floors are easier to sweep out and when mopped they dry off in a short time. There is plenty of hot water to service all our showers, and it doesn’t run