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Solar for Schools
Renewable Energy - Bonds
124%
raisedForecast
return
The Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society Ltd is a not-for-profit that provides the upfront funds to install solar panels on schools, making dramatic savings on energy bills and reducing their carbon footprint, while educating students on the power of renewables and sustainable living.
- Where your money goes
- Team
- Documents
- Updates
Updates
No updates.
Solar for Schools CBS Limited
Society no. 7364
Essex, UK
Incorporation date: 08 July 2016
Your money will
Take action against climate change by funding solar panel installations on up to 20 UK schools
Empower the next generation with practical, hands-on experience to better understand the challenges of climate change and how solar and other renewable technologies will change the way we live and work for the better.
Save schools money on energy bills by generating their own clean energy, which is cheaper than mains electricity
Earn you a potentially tax-free return Your investment will target 5.5% and can be held within an IFISA for potential tax-free returns*
The bigger picture
Installing solar panels on schools makes sense. As well as generating cleaner and cheaper energy, students get to experience solar energy first-hand with real-time data feeds, interactive lessons and workshops; not just as a one-off but for the lifetime of the solar system, helping inspire them to take positive action which will improve their world.
- Solar for Schools CBS’ long-term goal is to equip every school in the UK with solar panels and deliver sustainability education for all pupils
- To date, Solar for Schools CBS has generated over 24,200 MWh of solar electricity. This has mitigated 4671 tonnes of CO₂; equivalent to 1000 homes’ electricity use for an entire year.
- Solar for Schools CBS has provided energy education to over 160,000 pupils, giving valuable insights into the future of renewable energy generation and inspiring more young people to join the fight against climate change.
- Over 100 schools are on the Solar for Schools waiting list and more are joining each week.
*IFISA eligibility depends on investors' individual tax status and current legislation.
Solar for Schools have also directly raised £294k from 4 investors.
Where your money goes
What your money will do
- Every £1 million raised in investment will fund new solar systems on 15 – 20 UK schools.
- The schools will save money on their energy bills, with each saving between £150,000– £350,000 over the next 25 years.
- The panels will provide on-site clean energy generation helping increase the UK’s energy independence.
- All schools will receive decarbonisation education support, including engaging on-site wokshops, online graphs and data from the panels that are linked to maths and physics lessons.
Team
Wendy Litherland
Director
15 years’ experience leading sustainability initiatives in secondary schools.
Local Eco Cluster Group co-ordinator. Co-facilitates the UKs largest children's environmental conference: NW Eco Schools.
Winner of multiple sustainability education awards including the Climate Week Awards, the SSAT national sustainable schools award and the Department of Education Sustainability Award in 2021.
Co-author of the learning journeys in the Solar for Schools mobile app for students and teachers.
BSc (hons) in Physiology from the University of Manchester, a PGCE MA (Education) and NPQS
Robert Schrimpff
Director
10 years’ experience in founding and building online businesses such as netXtra and hotels.com followed by nine years’ experience investing in renewable energy technology companies at TVM Capital and Greencoat Capital before setting up Solar Options for Schools to deliver “carbon and energy education powered by the sun”
M.Eng in Aeronautical Engineering from Imperial College London. MBA in Entrepreneurship and Finance from INSEAD
Ann Flaherty
Director
Over 12 years’ experience in solar development on schools using a variety of funding models and has helped set up three solar businesses in the schools market. Worked in education for sustainable development for over 15 years.
Co-creator and developer of an educational platform for HRH Prince Charles’ Rainforests SOS campaign, and for the HISTORY’s channel: The People Speak, led by Colin Firth.
Previous experience in journalism, media and brand marketing.
Peter Roberts
Director
25 years’ experience in the education sector overseeing the design and contract management of new schools and capital programmes and ensuring project delivery to specifications and budget. Has always been an advocate of sustainable construction and estates strategies.
Has been working with the DfE for the last 10 years as consultant project manager and technical advisor in the Free Schools programme and latterly the new further education estates initiative.
Sian Herschel
Director
Fifteen years of professional experience in grant making and investing for organisations such as Fairtrade, Comic Relief, Power to Change and the Churchill Fellowship.
Areas of expertise include social enterprise, ethical trade, strategy development and impact measurement.
Sian has lived and worked in the USA, Peru, South Africa, India and Germany as well as the UK.
MBA from the University of Cambridge and executive coaching accreditation from Henley Business School.
Craig Ellin
Director
Craig has over 20 years' experience in central government property, including 8 with the DfE as Operational Sustainability Manager (Achieving Best in Government, 2010, for in-year carbon reduction) and then Finance Manager covering project management, benefits realisation, sustainability, finance business partner (property) and FM & Energy contracts management. At LocatED he is part of the net zero accelerator programme looking to help all schools decarbonise and achieve Net Zero by 2050. B.A (Hons) in Economics and Law from Birmingham City University, ISO14001 Lead Auditor and achieved Carbon Trust Gold Standard for the DfE Environmental Monitoring System (EMS)
Marino Charalambous
Director
Oversees five schools in North London at the North Star Community Trust, all of which have solar panels managed by Solar for Schools.
Introduced sustainability as part of the Trust curriculum in 2016 and has developed a Trust wide learning culture with the future in mind. Previous experience in finance and project management at HSBC and Siemens Financial Services as well 15 years at Managing Director level experience in digital marketing consultancies and other businesses.
B.Hons Business and Marketing Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
NPQ in Executive Leadership (University College London)
Nathan Odom
Director
More than 13 years’ experience in the education sector, 10 of which have been with a large local authority working with its schools and academies.
A project manager delivering various capital build projects and expansion plans for schools across Leicestershire.
Currently, the strategic lead for DSAT’s capital strategy for school site improvements with a focus on improving the physical learning environment to support the delivery of high-quality education, ensuring school sites are safe and compliant.
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Interest accrual and payment
Interest will accrue from the Interest Start Date (1 month after drawdown) and interest payments will be made annually on the 31st of October each year and paid to your account in the following month.
Getting your money out
The Bonds are transferable, but won’t be listed on any exchange. Bondholders may request early re-payment by notifying the CBS with at least 3 months’ notice. The CBS will deal with all requests in order of receipt and pay as many as it can subject to available funds and Directors’ discretion.
Investing on behalf of children
Applicants must be 18 years old or more. Investments cannot be made on behalf of children.
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