## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 20th March 2020 To 31st August 2021**
## **Charity name: Energy Sparks**
**Charity registration number: 1189273**
**Registered address: Fairlawn, Park Corner, Freshford, Bath, BA2 7UP**
## **Objectives and Activities**
## **Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document**
To promote for the public benefit, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by developing and promoting tools, services and programmes to reduce energy and resource consumption and carbon emissions.
To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by educating and informing the public, particularly but not exclusively young people about the causes and impacts of climate change, and the importance of energy saving and reducing carbon emissions.
## **Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit**
Energy Sparks provides an online energy analysis tool and energy education programme specifically designed to help schools reduce their electricity and gas usage through the analysis of smart meter data. Energy Sparks helps pupils and the wider school community to reduce their school’s carbon emissions, and make a real contribution to addressing the 'climate emergency'.
Using a school’s electricity, gas and solar data, Energy Sparks shows pupils, sta� and volunteers how much energy their school is using each day. The online tool presents bespoke analysis of the energy data with suggestions of actions the school community could take to save energy and reduce the school’s carbon emissions. Pupils, sta� and community volunteers use this information to help the school to save energy, and help protect the environment.
During 2020/2021 Energy Sparks provided over 70 publicly available energy related activities which pupils participated in through eco-teams or class based learning.
Through the online tool and education programme pupils, school sta� and the wider school community increased knowledge of why and how they should reduce carbon emissions to prevent climate change and protect the environment. Participating schools worked toward becoming more energy e�cient with reduced carbon emissions and cost savings. Participating pupils shared energy saving and carbon reduction messages with the wider community resulting in further action to prevent climate change.
To date, Energy Sparks has been able to provide its services free of charge to state schools across the UK thanks to our funding from charitable trusts and foundations and the government. Independent (private) schools pay an annual fee for access to our energy management tool.
## **Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit**
In managing Energy Sparks the trustees had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance.
## **Contribution made by volunteers**
A great contribution is made to Energy Sparks by its volunteer trustees who have supported the charity with technical guidance, personnel management, financial oversight and strategic guidance. Without this valuable contribution of time, energy and expertise the successful operation of Energy Sparks would not be possible. A small number of parent and student volunteers have supported Energy Sparks engagement at their local school. Their contribution has greatly increased impact at those schools.
## **Achievements and Performance**
In 2011 the charity, Transition Bath started supporting Bath area schools to reduce their energy consumption through professional energy audits and analysis of their smart meter data via one-o� data
downloads obtained from the local authority. In 2016 Transition Bath, in collaboration with Bath Hacked started developing the Energy Sparks website with the aim of providing broader access to school’s smart meter data, school-specific energy management expertise and also to educate school children about energy and the importance of reducing carbon emissions. This initial development of the website was supported with small grant funding from a number of charitable sources including OVO Foundation, Bath and West Community Energy, the Open Data Institute and the Naturesave Trust. In September 2017, Energy Sparks was launched to 11 schools in Bath and NE Somerset (B&NES).
In early 2018 Transition Bath was awarded a two year funding contract by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through their flagship Non-Domestic Smart Energy Management Innovation Competition (NDSEMIC) to significantly develop the Energy Sparks website, including the provision of advanced energy data analysis, school specific advice and alerts, design focused improvements to the user experience and improved educational support materials. Significant in-school testing and evaluation was carried out working with Paper user research and design studio, and Ipsos Mori, and we rolled out free access to the website and associated educational support to more than 65 primary and secondary schools (24,000 pupils) across five local authority groups, B&NES, She�eld, Somerset, the Highlands of Scotland and Oxfordshire, and one independent schools’ trust, the Girls Day School Trust. Energy Sparks also developed additional data presentation functionality for schools with solar PV, whereby they can explore their solar generation, consumption and export data on Energy Sparks providing additional opportunities for learning and monitoring.
Most schools participating with Energy Sparks can expect to achieve energy savings of 10% in their first year of engagement with Energy Sparks, resulting in cost savings of around £2400 and 8 tonnes of CO2 based on an average 2 form entry primary school.
Some participating schools demonstrated significant progress with energy savings, including Freshford Church School (20% reduction), Pensford Primary School (19% reduction), and Trinity First School (29% reduction), and Energy Sparks developed case studies highlighting these success stories.
As the headteacher at one of Energy Sparks' participating schools said:
'Energy Sparks has enabled children at Freshford to investigate how energy is used in di�erent parts of the school and devise strategies to reduce the school's consumption. The children's enthusiasm was kick-started by the competitive element and they’ve worked e�ectively with sta� and the local community to think innovatively about what we can do to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce costs. The children developed and presented evidence-based initiatives to the school's business managers, securing installation of energy-e�cient lighting and kitchen equipment, movement-sensor-switches, and a solar-panel campaign.
The Energy Sparks resources are inspirational, powerful and transformational tools for all schools that will enable them to reduce their CO2 footprint, save money and help children to develop a powerful can-do attitude towards the challenges of global warming.'
In March 2020, the Energy Sparks project transitioned to a separate charity, ‘Energy Sparks’ in recognition of its nationwide reach. In July 2020, Energy Sparks secured a 3 year funding contract from the OVO Foundation for £483,476 to cover its core operational costs from 1st July 2020 to 31st August 2023, and to support the roll out of the programme to 150 schools by summer 2021, 250 by summer 2022 and 350 by summer 2023. As of the end of August 2021, 150 schools were participating with their Energy Sparks accounts fully visible including their energy consumption data. A further 24 were in the process of setting up their accounts.
Since inception Energy Sparks’ educational programme has provided more than 60 free school visits. These visits have kick-started schools’ energy saving actions and generated first hand user feedback to support our ongoing improvement of Energy Sparks around user experience, site navigation, functionality value, pupil activity value, accessibility and the challenges facing schools with e�ective energy management.
The visits generally comprise meetings with lead sta� (eco-team lead teachers or classroom assistants, head teachers, business managers, site managers and caretakers), assemblies for pupils and eco-team/School Council sessions. Sta� meetings cover an introduction to Energy Sparks, the energy data and analysis for their school, initial energy saving priorities which they could address, bespoke support with metering and heating system controls, and possible pupil activity programmes to address the energy management challenges for their school. Eco-team/School Council sessions include an introduction to the importance of saving energy and climate change, an introduction to Energy Sparks and some of the data for their school, and participation in a selection of Energy Sparks activities.
Due to Covid restrictions, most schools limited education workshops and visits from external providers from March 2020 onwards. We responded to this challenge by o�ering online training webinars providing a general introduction to Energy Sparks for all adult users. Up to 31 August 2021, Energy Sparks delivered online training webinars to 125 school sta�. We also responded to the Covid restrictions by o�ering virtual energy audit sessions at participating schools. These took the form of a 1 hour video call between our energy auditor and sta� and students at participating schools. Our auditor took the school team through the Energy Sparks data, analysis and advice, supporting the school to develop an energy action plan, and to address any heating and lighting control issues and behaviour change improvements.
In January 2021, Energy Sparks started another BEIS funded contract extension under the Non Domestic Smart Energy Management Innovation Competition (NDSEMIC) to deliver:
- An interface between Energy Sparks and the DCC (Data Communications Company) for electricity data from the latest generation SMETS2 meters installed in schools
- Automatic uploading of meter tari�s and standing charges from the DCC to Energy Sparks
- A streamlined onboarding process for schools to Energy Sparks
- Live display of electricity consumption data
The funding of £115,750 was awarded to Transition Bath. Energy Sparks is delivering the work as a contractor of Transition Bath, in partnership with a number of other sub-contractors. This work is due to end in March 2022.
In early 2020, Energy Sparks secured a small grant from Bath and West Community Energy to deliver a Volunteering programme to support Energy Sparks schools in Bath and NE Somerset with parent, community and student volunteers to drive more engagement and impact. In early 2020 we focused on the initial development of the volunteering programme. We developed volunteering policies and procedures including safer recruitment. We recruited student volunteers from Bath University and developed volunteer induction materials. We established a successful partnership with the nationwide STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Ambassadors programme, and provided training sessions for a small number of student and parent volunteers and 80 STEM Ambassadors. We promoted volunteers to Energy Sparks schools in B&NES and nationally, but actual volunteer visits to schools were prevented by the Covid lockdowns and restrictions on visitors once schools reopened. As schools move out of Covid restrictions we plan to rejuvenate our volunteering programme making the most of volunteer enthusiasm and time to drive engagement and impact at participating schools.
Alongside the webinar training sessions and online audits detailed above, we produced online videos to support new adult users and eco-teams, delivered virtual assemblies and online eco-team training for pupils. We also developed home learning resources supporting children and young people to investigate their home energy use and learn about renewable energy. Schools such as Widcombe Infant School participated enthusiastically with these home learning activities taking Energy Sparks impact home to pupil's families.
We collected feedback from participating pupil's parents about the impact of their child's participation on their home energy use:
"Sofia has encouraged her family to take action, we have installed a smart meter so we are more aware of our energy use, we no longer have the heating on on weekday mornings in the winter (when we are only in the house to get ready for school and work)..."
In spring 2021, Energy Sparks secured a 3 year contract to provide its services to the Girls Day School Trust (GDST), a group of 25 independent schools – 23 schools and two academies catering for girls aged 3 to 18 in England and Wales. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year. Alongside provision of our energy management tool and education programme, the contract includes provision for additional complementary services including education workshops and physical audits.
In October 2020 we produced a film highlighting energy saving activity at Freshford School in partnership with Energy Sparks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqoKZjwgmoY&t=1s This was shared widely at the Transform our World Youth Climate Summit in both November 2020 and November 2021, and a cut down version was shared by HM Government SW on Twitter during COP26 - https://twitter.com/HMGSouthWest/status/1458440040661622785
Freshford Church School and Trinity First School in Frome's Energy Sparks participation were also featured on BBC Newsround in April 2020- https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52160277
Energy Sparks actively promotes its ongoing work on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EnergySparks
## **Financial Review**
As of 31 August 2021, Unrestricted Funds receipts exceeded payments by £21,652. No transfers from Unrestricted Funds to Restricted Funds were required. These unrestricted funds represent around 1 month of core running costs. The trustees will aim to build up these reserves over the 2021/2022 financial year.
Restricted Funds at 31 August 2021 were £37,873. This comprises £36,465 restricted funds allocated to the OVO Foundation funded work, and £1,409 allocated to the Bath and West Community Energy funded Volunteering project.
## RECEIPTS
Total Receipts up to 31 August 2021 were £221,274. The most significant receipts comprised £181,935 from the OVO Foundation to cover core operating costs to rollout Energy Sparks to 150 schools across the UK, and £26,410 from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to support the development of the interface between Energy Sparks and the latest generation SMETS2 meters,
## PAYMENTS
Total Payments up to 31 August 2021 were £161,748. The most significant payments comprised £103,864 on sta� salaries, £40,840 on freelance technology development, £12,464 on employee pension costs.
## **The charity’s policy on reserves**
In order to continue to secure and sustain the charity’s viability and Energy Sparks’ future availability to users, it is the Trustees’ policy to aim to hold su�cient funds in unrestricted reserves to meet sta� notice and redundancy costs if ever needed, and also put the charity in a better position to absorb any temporary fluctuations in income. In the short term, Energy Sparks CIO would like to build up reserves of 3 months of its core running costs. The trustees will develop an income generation and fundraising strategy to meet this target. The Trustees will review the Reserves Policy and the amount of reserves held at least annually at the AGM.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## **Type of governing document**
Constitution dated 20th March 2020
## **How is the charity constituted**
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
## **Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees**
The charity must have at least 3 trustees in post. Every trustee must be appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the e�ective administration of the CIO.
## **Trustees**
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|**Trustee name**|**O�ce (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|
|---|---|---|
|Peter Andrews|Chair||
|Leigh Dodds||Until 24th May 2021|
|Robert Schrimp�|||
|Robert Cohen|||
|Jamie Beevor||Until 2nd August 2021|
|Thomas Davies|Treasurer|from 19th November2020|
|Sunny Pawar||from 19th November2020|
|Naomi Allen||from 19th November2020|
|Oliver Rosevear||from 19th November2020|
|Tom Warnes||from 19th November2020|
## **Names of senior staff**
|**Name of sta� member**|**O�ce**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|
|---|---|---|
|Claudia Towner|CEO and Programme Director|from 15th July 2020|
|Leigh Dodds|CTO|from 1st June 2021|
## **Declarations**
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
|**Full name**|**Position**|**Date**|**Signature**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Peter Andrews|Chair|29th March
2022||
|Andrew Houston|Treasurer|29th March
2022||
## **Energy Sparks**
A registered charity in England and Wales, registration 1189273.
Receipts and payments accounts from 20 March 2020 to 31 August 2021
|**Account**|**Total**
**Funds**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|
|**Receipts**||||
|OVO Foundation grant|181,935|181,935|0|
|Start-up contribution from Transition Bath|2,609|0|2,609|
|Transition Bath BEIS NDSEMIC Phase 3 ext contract|26,410|0|26,410|
|BWCE Volunteering grant|3,580|3,580|0|
|GDST fees|6,740|0|6,740|
|**Total Receipts**|**221,274**|**185,515**|**35,759**|
|**Payments**||||
|Audit & Accountancy fees|171|171|0|
|Bank Fees|89|89|0|
|Employers National Insurance|1,890|8,204|(6,314)|
|Insurance|684|684|0|
|IT Software and Consumables|311|236|75|
|Pensions Costs|12,464|10,558|1,906|
|Postage, Freight & Courier|7|7|0|
|Printing & Stationery|10|10|0|
|Salaries|103,864|87,984|15,880|
|School support (freelance)|500|0|500|
|Staff Training|99|99|0|
|Subscriptions|75|75|0|
|DBS checks|109|109|0|
|Technology development (freelance)|40,840|38,840|2,000|
|Volunteer Training|75|75|0|
|Communications support|500|500|0|
|User research incentives|60|0|60|
|**Total Payments**|**161,748**|**147,641**|**14,107**|
|**Receipts less payments**|**59,526**|**37,873**|**21,652**|
|**Transfers between funds**|**-**|**0**|**0**|
|**Cash funds as of 20 March 2020**|**0**|**0**|**0**|
|**Cash funds as of 31 August 2021**|**59,526**|**37,873**|**21,652**|
## **Other Monetary assets and liabilities**
## **Investments**
Energy Sparks had no investment assets during the accounting period.
## **Liabilities**
Energy Sparks had no liabilities at the end of the accounting period.
## **Assets retained for charity's own use**
As of 31 August 2020, the charity had limited physical assets comprising around 500 classroom thermometer cards and <10 appliance monitors.
## **Notes**
## **1. Accounting period**
Energy Sparks started operation in 2017 as a project of Transition Bath (registered charity 1139853), and transitioned to a separate registered charity in March 2020. The normal reporting year is 1 September to 31 August. These accounts cover the part-year to 31 August 2020 and then the full year 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021, as requested by the Charity Commission.
## **2. Receipts and Payments Accounts**
The Receipts and Payments Accounts summarise the movements of cash into and out of the charity during the period.
## **3. Restricted Funds**
Restricted Funds are separated from Unrestricted Funds. The Trustees are obliged to spend Restricted Funds only on the particular purposes set out by the donors. As of 31 August 2021, the balance of restricted funds was made up from £36,465 allocated to the OVO Foundation funded work and £1,409 allocated to the Bath and West Community Energy funded Volunteering project.
## **4. Outstanding Guarantees and Secured Debts**
The trustees confirm, in accordance with the Charitable Incorporated Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, that at the year end the CIO did not have any outstanding guarantees to third parties nor any debts secured on assets of the CIO.
## **5. Reserves Policy**
In order to continue to secure and sustain the charity’s viability and Energy Sparks’ future availability to users, it is the Trustees’ policy to aim to hold sufficient funds in unrestricted reserves to meet staff notice and redundancy costs if ever needed, and also put the charity in a better position to absorb any temporary fluctuations in income. In the short term, Energy Sparks CIO would like to build up reserves of 3 months of its core running costs. The trustees will develop an income generation and fundraising strategy to meet this target. The Trustees will review the Reserves Policy and the amount of reserves held at least annually at the AGM.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Signed on behalf of the trustees Signature Name Date of approval
Peter Andrews 18th March 2022
Chair
Andrew Houston 18th March 2022
Treasurer
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
|**Report to the trustees/**
**members of**
**On accounts for the**
**period ended**
**Set out on pages**
**Responsibilities and**
**basis of report**
**Independent**
**examiner's statement**|Charity Name
Energy Sparks|Charity Name
Energy Sparks|Charity Name
Energy Sparks|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||31 August 2021|**Charity no**
**(if any)**|1189273|
|||||
||1-2
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)|||
||I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the period ended 31/08/2021.
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation
of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act
2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with
the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material
respect:|||
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
|**Signed:**
**Name:**
**Relevant professional**
**qualification(s) or body**
**(if any):**
**Address:**
||21 March 2022|
|---|---|---|
||||
||Sheila Parry||
||||
||Association of Certified Qualified Accounts||
||||
||SPX Oxford Ltd||
||Peace House, Paradise Street||
||Oxford, OX1 1LD||
1
**IER**
**March 2022**