Community buildings are more than just spaces to hire. A village hall, community centre or place of worship can be somewhere people find connection, support and belonging. They’re an anchor for the communities around them.

But too many of these buildings are cold, inefficient and costly to run. Ageing buildings, disrepair, poor heating and limited budgets make improvements hard to plan and even harder to fund, and buildings that should be thriving are instead a burden on the organisations that run them.

We believe community buildings should be comfortable, welcoming and energy-efficient and visible proof that a fair and affordable energy transition is possible. At CSE, we’ve been helping community organisations get there for more than 45 years. Whatever stage you’re at – whether you’re just starting out, planning major works or building on improvements already made – we can help you understand your options and take action with confidence.

Practical support

Community buildings come in all shapes and sizes and so does the support we offer. Whether you’re just starting to think about energy efficiency or planning significant building works, we can help you understand your options and take the next step.

Independent, building specific support for informed decision making

We work online and in person with organisations to understand how their building actually works, what risks and constraints it carries, and what energy-efficient options may be realistic over time. Our surveys are designed to support informed judgement and decision making, tailored to your building, your organisation and your circumstances. Get in touch to discuss your situation.

Community building energy surveys

Our bespoke assessments help organisations understand how their building actually performs, what risks it carries and what improvements are realistic. We offer a range of survey options to suit different buildings and budgets, from a light-touch assessment to an in-depth survey for more complex buildings.

Find out more about our community building energy surveys.

Talks, workshops and training

We run talks, workshops and training sessions for community groups, parish and town councils, trustees and building managers who want to build their understanding of energy efficiency, retrofit and climate resilience. Sessions can be tailored to your needs and delivered as part of wider local programmes.

Find out more here.

Talk to us

If you’re unsure where to start, we offer free self guided tools, funding-aware support, paid surveys, training and workshops — we’re happy to help you work it out.

Contact the CSE community buildings team.

Free tools and guides

We’ve developed a range of practical resources to help community building managers and volunteers better understand their buildings, plan improvements and make informed decisions. [LINK]

DIY community building energy survey

A free building energy health check with guidance notes that provide a structured template for reviewing a buildings condition, services, maintenance and operation, helping organisations identify potential improvements, inform maintenance plans, and to gather evidence for funding applications. Used by organisations across the country for more than ten years. Click here.

Energy efficiency in community buildings

This handy guide highlights what you should do to improve energy efficiency in your community building and how to create a meaningful action plan to make it happen.

Guidance on installing solar PV

From Historic England, what to consider when designing and installing solar power systems for historic buildings. Use the Solar PV guide.

STBA Responsible Retrofit Guidance Wheel

Use this resource to find out more about the refurbishing of traditional buildings. The tool encourages exploration of the measures’ advantages, concerns about their performance and possible interactions between them. Get the wheel rolling …

Battery storage in village halls

This introductory guide, from ACRE, will help you to think through whether a battery is right for your village hall, and looks at the implications for your building’s energy use and costs, and how to make the best use of a battery. An introductory guide to battery storage for village halls – ACRE

For more resources and guides visit our resource section.

Research and innovation

Our support for community buildings is grounded in research, evidence and decades of practical experience. We don’t just help buildings become more energy efficient, we explore what makes retrofit genuinely work for community organisations. What barriers they face, what approaches succeed, and how the process can be made fairer and more accessible.

Recent reports include:

The role of non-profit organisations in retrofit services
CSE research into the potential of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to deliver retrofit services themselves. What holds them back, and what needs to change to grow this sector?

Through the Roof: the case for investing in the energy efficiency of community buildings
Not by us, but very good! Groundwork’s evaluation of the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme draws on CSE’s work delivering energy assessments and technical support to community organisations across England.

Our credentials

CSE is an independent national charity that has been working on community buildings for more than 45 years. Our work combines hands-on survey support with research, training and policy influence. We help community organisations improve their buildings and the lives of the people who use them.

We offer practical guidance, bespoke energy surveys and capacity-building resources to help village halls, community centres, churches and other shared spaces reduce energy use, cut costs and lower carbon emissions. Our support draws on decades of experience in retrofit, energy advice and community-led projects. Our work includes tailored audit tools, action planning guides and hands-on support to help organisations understand their buildings and secure funding for energy efficiency improvements.

Recent examples include:

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Energy Efficiency Scheme
This scheme delivers free energy assessments, training and technical support to help community organisations plan and fund energy efficiency improvements.

Thrive Renewables Community Benefit Programme
CSE has administered this fund on behalf of Thrive Renewables since 2015. We’ve distributed almost £200,000 to community groups across the UK saving an estimated 86 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent every year.

Big Local Climate Support Partnership
Between 2022 and 2024 CSE has supported ten Big Local communities to take climate action. For many, this included improving the energy efficiency of community buildings.

Energy Resilience Fund
This fund supports community buildings to plan and fund improvements to make their buildings more affordable to run and more resilient to a changing climate.

About our community buildings team

Our community buildings team are a mixture of technical and non-technical staff that work together to offer a broad range of support to community organisations.

Our community building assessments are usually carried out by Steve and Robin with support from other members of the team.

Steve Coles, Retrofit Project Manager
Steve is qualified retrofit coordinator and heritage professional with an MSc in Sustainability and adaptation in the built environment. He has over 20 years’ experience of working in construction. Specialising in non-domestic community building retrofit, Steve is one of our lead trainers delivering workshops for social investors, community groups, Energy advice organisations and national bodies such as Historic England.

Robin Bell, Retrofit Project Officer
Robin is a Certified Passivhaus Designer with an MSc in Green Building. He is experienced in surveying community buildings, advising on repair and maintenance, and delivering technical webinars on retrofit technologies.