This was a busy year with a number of large grants as well as the usual servicing of fire & security alarms, fire extinguishers, gutters, boilers, the clock and other maintenance items. 

Our application for a Government VCSE grant was accepted and we were awarded over £133,000 for energy efficiency measures at the Good Shepherd Location.  

In early January scaffolding was erected and a warm roof installed comprising 50mm of Celotex insulation, boarding and then a rubber roofing membrane.  30 solar panels and a large battery followed enabling us to sell electricity to the grid.   

The insulated roof has meant a serious reduction in heat loss and the solar panels have reduced the amount of electricity we have had to purchase. With the grant we also installed a heat management system so that we only heat sections of the building being used and when in use. All the lights were changed to LED and a new stage lighting system installed. As part of the roof a new extruded gutter was installed. 

The London Diocese paid for an energy efficiency survey under their Net Zero Carbon programme and we were awarded a £3000 grant for energy efficiency measures at St Paul’s. We were able to change all the remaining low level lights for LED and complete boiler-room pipe, pump and valve installation which was recommended by the survey. 

Towards the end of the year we were invited to apply for a Hounslow Community Energy Fund grant for St Paul’s which will enable us to complete the change to LED lights and install an energy management system to control the heating.  

Maintenance and repair items at the Good Shepherd included work on the Red Oak tree near the hall where the canopy was lifted & thinned to remove dead branches and those overhanging or near the building. Repairs were made to the paving slabs near the door and to the path leading to the garden.  Windows were repaired in the kitchen after a break-in, the Hall where a window shattered due to thermal shock with high temperatures and under the stage where the sill was also repaired. A large mirror was replaced and the sit on mower was serviced. 

At St Paul’s repairs were carried out to the boiler, a fridge fan replaced, boiler room doors were replaced and the gas locker repaired. The vestry gutter was repaired and slates replaced on the West porch. The fire alarm contract was changed from ADT to Absolute Fire & Security.