The Energy Saving Trust leads the Local Energy Scotland consortium that delivers the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), which has successfully supported communities to develop, own and operate renewable energy projects. Further details about CARES can be found at www.localenergy.scot.
We help communities, rural businesses and charitable organisations with:
• Free advice and support to develop renewable energy schemes or to secure and manage income from renewables,
• Advice on funding streams,
• Support to access CARES funding – grants and loans
• Online tools and resources

Energy Saving Trust are currently developing a new mentoring scheme to support new CARES applicants.
The communities and projects supported through CARES contain a vast wealth of knowledge, and it can be challenging to pass knowledge between groups at the right time, to and from the right people. To assist peer-to-peer support Local Energy Scotland wish to develop a mentoring scheme that allows successful CARES projects to build on their achievements and prospective/ early applicants to strengthen their projects.
Once a project is deemed a CARES success they will become eligible to be a CARES mentor. Relevant individuals from the project can volunteer for the programme. Individuals would post details of their expertise and knowledge on the Local Energy Marketplace section of the Local Energy Scotland website. Prospective applicants will be able to browse mentor’s details and experience. A package including pro bono days, a value-for-money day rate and travel expenses would be provided through the scheme. CARES will provide the mentee community with a grant to pay the mentor. A grant offer letter with specific outputs will be in place.