Ian Nicholson

Advice Nottingham have received an organisational grant from the British Gas Trust Fund to run a fuel debt project across the whole of Nottingham. The project is based out of three advice centres covering the whole of the city. The project will help with fuel debt advice, energy efficiency advice and help with grant applications to the British Gas Trust Fund which is managed by the Charis trust.

I offer independant consultancy and training, design and practical engineering solutions to the issues caused by climate change. Expertise in Permaculture design solutions, appropriate technology, energy efficiency, retrofitting and green building. I am an experienced Project Manager and also offer support and training to community organisations on setting up fuel and energy projects.

I managed all aspects of a fuel poverty and financial inclusion project in the Meadows area of Nottingham after I gained funding for £85k to carry on the work we had started below. I was also involved in a number of other projects that we were successful in gaining funding for, including: - British Gas Green Streets community energy saving project and DECC free Solar PV on low income social housing project.

As part of the two fuel poverty projects above, I was also trained as a specialist level debt and welfare rights advisor. I took referrals for clients from MAG who were struggling with fuel debt. I also attended a weekly drop in session one day a week to give general advice on both benefits and debt. I took on and managed a large case file of clients and have represented clients at court hearings.

I managed all aspects of a community carbon reduction and fuel poverty project in the Meadows as part of NESTA’s Big Green Challenge competition. The project ended up as one of the ten finalists out of nearly 400 other community groups across the UK. My duties included:- Managing times, costs, outcomes and delivery of the project; working with community groups and residents on financial inclusion; Working in partnership with a number of national and regional groups, including national and local government;