Changeworks

19/06/2026

The whistle blows for half-time... and millions of kettles get subbed on at once! 🫖⚽

During major football matches, especially tournaments like the World Cup, there's often a huge surge in electricity demand at half-time as fans across the country rush to put the kettle on ☕📈

With the energy price cap still on everyone's minds, now's a great time to make your tea break a little more efficient:

✅ Only boil the water you need
✅ Avoid filling the kettle to the top "just in case"
✅ Keep your favourite mug match-ready before kick-off

You might not save enough to sign a star striker, but every little helps when it comes to lowering energy use and keeping bills under control. 🌍💚

Score a win for your wallet and the planet this World Cup. ⚽🏆

18/06/2026

Weekly Energy Saving Tip 💡

Which is cheaper to run?

🍝 Microwave: best for reheating and quick cooking
The standard cost to cook a 400g ready-made lasagne is £0.04. This is because it directly heats the food not the air around it. This means your microwave will cook and reheat food quickly, so its cost per use is likely to be lower than other cooking appliances.

🔥 Gas or electric hob: best for quick meals
The typical cost per use ranges from £0.12 to £0.28. Using your hob is normally quite cheap as you won’t need to have a hob on for long to prepare meals such as pasta or an omelette.
Using a gas hob however does produce more direct CO2 emissions than an electric hob.

🥘 Slow cooker: best for busy schedules
The average cost to cook a 3.6kg home-made beef stew is £0.36. This is because slow cookers are designed to cook food gradually over a long period of time. This makes them a convenient way to cook if you have a busy schedule. They’re also a great way to batch cook meals.

Extra Top tip: Batch cook in a full oven or slow cooker and reheat portions as you need them in the microwave. This can help keep your energy bills down.

16/06/2026

⏰ LAST CHANCE TO APPLY ⏰

Applications for Changeworks Work Placement Week are closing this Friday!

If you’re a young person who wants a future in:
♻️ Sustainability
🌍 Climate action
🏡 Energy efficiency
💼 Green sector careers

…this could be your first major step.

Parents, this is a valuable opportunity for young people to gain direct exposure to meaningful, future-proof careers that support both personal growth and the planet.

📢 Apply before the deadline closes at https://www.changeworks.org.uk/work-placement-week/

15/06/2026

Energy prices are set to rise again from 1 July, with Ofgem's new energy price cap expected to increase typical household bills by around £221 per year.

At a time when many households are worried about energy costs, everyone deserves to feel confident about managing their home energy.

Hear how one householder benefited from support from Changeworks, helping them switch to a better tariff and gain the knowledge they needed to take control of their energy use.

Need support with your energy bills or home energy? Visit our website to find out how we can help.

https://www.changeworks.org.uk/energy-advice-and-energy-bill-support/

15/06/2026

New research from Changeworks warns that not enough progress has been made to tackle fuel poverty in the Highlands and across rural Scotland.

The report shows there have been major opportunities missed to improve public health, support local economies and cut carbon at a time when fuel poverty is unacceptably high and energy prices are set to continue to increase.

The research, which revisits an earlier report we published in 2024, finds that 29% of households in Scotland were in fuel poverty in 2024, with 14% in extreme fuel poverty, with rural communities continuing to face the highest costs and greatest challenges.

Find out more:

New research from Changeworks warns that not enough progress has been made to tackle fuel poverty in the Highlands and across rural Scotland.

11/06/2026

🏡 Driving home decarbonisation across the Highlands.

The Highland Energy Community Partnership (HECP) is a collaborative project tackling fuel poverty and helping households in remote and rural communities make their homes warmer, greener and more energy efficient. Supported by almost £1.5 million from the National Lottery Climate Action Fund, the partnership is working to reduce carbon emissions, improve quality of life and strengthen the local retrofit supply chain.

HECP's first End of Year Report showcases a strong start. Between October 2025 and January 2026 alone, the Energy Officer team delivered 223 one-to-one advice sessions and home visits, attended 29 community events, and engaged directly with 295 residents. Through this support, householders were helped to save an estimated 938 tonnes of carbon.

These early results demonstrate the impact of partnership working across the Highlands and provide a solid foundation for the years ahead. As HECP continues into Year 2, the focus will be on building on this momentum, working closely with communities, householders and the retrofit supply chain to remove barriers and support more energy efficiency improvements across the region.

Read the full End of Year Report to learn more about the progress made so far and the ambitions for the future.
https://www.changeworks.org.uk/b/insights/hecp-report-25-26/

Lochbroom & Ullapool Community Trust
Coigach Community Development Company, Achiltibuie
Transition Black Isle
Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum (GALE)
The Garve & District Development Company
Contin Community Council

Image credits: Simon Spare at Gairloch and Loch Ewe Action Forum & Claire Divine from Transition Black Isle

11/06/2026

11/06/2026

🚨 Applications are open for Changeworks Work Placement Week 🚨

For young people interested in sustainability, climate action or making a real difference, this is more than just work placement, it’s a pathway into one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors.

Young people will gain:
🌱 First-hand insight into green careers
🌱 Practical skills for future employment
🌱 Connections with industry professionals
🌱 Inspiration to shape Scotland’s low-carbon future

Spaces are limited, and demand is high.

📍 Apply now and start building your future in sustainability.
https://www.changeworks.org.uk/work-placement-week/

Our annual Work Placement Week will take place from September 28th - October 2nd 2026.

08/06/2026

💡 Weekly Energy Saving Tip

Quick question... when you're cooking pasta, rice, or vegetables, do you boil the water in the kettle first?

The answer depends on the type of hob you have:

⚡ Electric hob? Boiling water in the kettle first is usually quicker and can save both energy and money.

🔥 Gas hob? Boiling water in the kettle may use less energy overall, but it’s unlikely to save you money because electricity typically costs more per unit than gas.

✅ Bonus tip: Always use a lid on your pan where possible. It keeps heat in, helps water boil faster, and reduces the energy needed for cooking.

05/06/2026

🎉 Celebrating Volunteers' Week together!

This week, we took time to thank our volunteers and celebrate everything they have achieved over the past year.

To mark the occasion, we enjoyed:
🥗 A bring-and-share lunch with staff and volunteers
🌿 A day trip to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

Volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and it was wonderful to spend time together reflecting on achievements, sharing experiences and celebrating the amazing people who help make our work possible.

Thank you to all our volunteers for their time, commitment and contribution throughout the year.