CAIRN

Climate Action in Rural North East project

Natalie Partridge

Research Associate

Natalie Partridge

Research Associate

Overview

The CAIRN (Climate Action in Rural North East) project aims to deliver energy advice and support community energy projects in rural North East England and is funded by the Climate Action Fund of the National Lottery Community Fund. It brings together several strands:

  • Community energy projects
  • Community carbon assessments
  • Free energy advice for households
  • Training and skills development
  • Engaging with young people
  • Learning capture and evaluation

This module shares resources and information from the project strands. Scroll down to find out more.

Visit the CAIRN project page
CAIRN Partners Launch WEB

Partners

Community energy schemes

Northumberland Community Energy Ltd - overview

Northumberland Community Energy Ltd - overview

Community carbon assessments

Stonehaugh

In Stonehaugh, CAIRN provided the structure, tools, and support to assess the village’s current carbon footprint and explore community appetite for change.

This assessment draws on both quantitative and qualitative evidence.

Further details will be made available soon.

Holy Island

This Community Carbon Assessment combines technical analysis, stakeholder input, and early-stage community engagement to establish a baseline for carbon emissions on Holy Island and identify the most viable opportunities for reduction.

The methodology has been shaped by the principles of place-based decarbonisation: working with the specific characteristics, challenges, and strengths of the island rather than applying generic assumptions.

Community engagement across Durham

In Durham, community carbon assessments are being explored in Chilton and Middleton-in-Teesdale. This work has involved in-depth engagement with community groups and organisations, who are best placed to explore the needs of their local communities.

To support knowledge exchange and awareness, Durham Community Action has launched a community energy newsletter and delivered Share and Learn events about community energy.

Sign up to receive the Community Energy Newsletter

Delivering energy advice

Throughout the CAIRN project, hundreds of households across Northumberland and Durham received free, impartial, energy advice.

Explore the case studies to find out more about how these programmes were delivered, the ways in which this advice benefitted householders, communities, and how it helped to change policy and practice.

Getting started: How to carry out a home efficiency audit

Impartial, free, home energy audits are being provided through CAIRN in Durham and Northumberland.

Explore the resources by clicking the button below.

How to carry out a home energy efficiency audit

Collaborative energy advice approaches

Collaboration is helping to deliver specialist advice and avoid duplication of provision in Durham. DCA are offering free, independent energy advice and energy awareness sessions to rural community groups. DCA provide follow-up home visits in partnership with colleagues at Green Doctor to offer tailored suggestions and energy-saving items such as lightbulbs to help people save money and lower energy consumption. 

About renewable energy options

Read CAN's advice about renewable energy options, which summarises key considerations around making suitable choices in the home.

Advice about renewable energy options

Event feedback - Energy, Sustainability and Community Buildings in Durham

Read an overview and feedback from the Energy, Sustainability and Community Buildings event in March 2025. The event brought people together to look at enhancing energy efficiency in community buildings and hear about DEAL.

Read the event feedback

Online energy advice roadshow Q&A

Explore the Q&A from CAN's Energy Advice and Renewables Online Roadshow in March 2026.

Read the Q&A

Resources and toolkits

Scroll down to explore:

  • Community energy resources
  • Resources to support community spaces to implement environmental policies

Access all the toolkits and resources by clicking the buttons below.

Community energy resources Environmental policies toolkit for community spaces DCA Community Energy Newsletter Energy Advice Northumberland resources, sample leaflets, and newsletters More about EV charging: Teesdale V2X project

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