Communities Fund provided £3,600 of match funding
Powering our future at St John's
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
Your donation unlocks match funding
Boost your impact
Your donation unlocks match funding
Aim
We are raising money to install a new 3 phase electricity supply: our first step towards net zero and low carbon heating at St John's.
Who are we, and what is our project about?
We are a thriving Parish Church and Community Centre in South Cambridge. We run a busy programme of regular church services, weddings, baptisms and funerals, as well as providing pastoral care to the local community and Homerton College. Offering hospitality and a warm welcome to tackle social isolation are central to our mission.
The St John's Centre is used every day for local clubs and societies, community lunches, Brownies, Guides, music and art groups to name but a few. In addition to services, the Church itself is used to hold concerts, fairs, and choir practices.
Why are we fundraising?
We are responding both to an urgent need to update our heating system, and a recognition that, as an organisation, we must reduce our carbon footprint.
An Energy Strategy Group meeting
The five gas boilers that power the heating and hot water at St John's are failing. Our single-phase electricity supply is barely sufficient for current use. Last winter, following a leak of an underground gas supply pipe, we faced the prospect of having to close the community centre whilst expensive repairs were carried out. Investing precious funds in an aging gas-powered system felt all wrong.
As an A Rocha Eco Church we care deeply about the climate crisis. An energy audit has shown that our annual CO2 emissions are12.5 tonnes per year. To reduce this, we must get away from gas boilers and invest in sustainable energy generation, using solar panels to power heat pumps.
The Aviva Community fund supports Climate Action, and that is exactly what our project sets out to achieve.
Why are we crowdfunding?
Although the cost of a low carbon energy supply will be expensive, we believe it is an investment in our future. In the long term it will save us money and reduce our carbon footprint.
By using this platform, The Aviva Community Fund will match whatever you pledge up to a value of £250 per donor: for example, if you pledge £20, Aviva will turn it into £40. If you pledge £250 or more, Aviva will still match with £250.
Our project will need to be undertaken in phases. The first step must be the installation of a new 100 amp 3-phase electricity supply from the national grid. Without this, we cannot use solar panels to generate electricity, and we must continue to rely on gas for our heating. When the current gas boilers break down, the cost of repair or replacement will be considerable, and accessing spare parts may not be possible.
How will we spend the money raised?
We expect to spend the money as follows:
£8392 (including VAT) - for UK Power Networks to connect a 100-amp 3 phase electricity cable from the main grid in the adjacent road (Blinco Grove) to a new meter cabinet on site.
Approx £1500 (including VAT) - for work within the site boundary
Approx £7200 (including VAT) – for the wiring to the new distribution board, making ready the 3 phase supply for current use and future works and disconnecting the redundant single phase supply.
£2908 - contingency
Total £20000
Any extra money raised will be put towards the next phase of the energy strategy. Ultimately we hope this will include solar panels to generate electricity, batteries and air-water heat pumps.
How you can help
This is what you can do to support our project:
1. Make a donation: Every pound helps! Remember, the Aviva Community Fund will match your gift pound-for-pound (up to £250).
2. Tick the Gift Aid box: If you are a UK taxpayer, please tick Gift Aid. This adds an extra 25% to your donation at no cost to you, making your generosity go even further.
3. Spread the word: Share this page on Facebook, WhatsApp, or with friends and family. A personal recommendation is the best way to help us reach our target.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 19th November 2026 at 9:06pm