Case Study: The Humberston Eco Conservation Centre

BPS Ltd. are proud to have provided project planning and management services to the Humberston Eco Conservation Centre, which has helped secure vital grant funding from the Rural Community Energy Fund.

This exciting project will bring new life to our beloved local area, by providing a community space on completion for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors and access to a range of activities: from pond dipping and fishing to archery and yoga.

The site will also combine renewable energy technology with a wildlife conservation area, and an eco-friendly open space all in one: where visitors can enjoy the benefits of outdoor education, family recreation and wildlife.

The Humberston Eco Conservation Centre

The Humberston Eco Conversation Centre (HECC) is a 15 acre site, just 15 minutes from Grimsby Town Centre. 

The centre will act as an off-grid site that has self-sustainable energy, that will be generated from renewable sources. It will also pave the way for other centres like it, by acting as a hands-on showcase of renewable technology, to be promoted to other communities.

These technologies will include a community led anaerobic digestion waste to energy project, battery storage, wind, solar PV panels and green transport – all of which will help to promote a cleaner, healthier environment for the community.

The Anaerobic Digestion Unit was gifted to the HECC, and we worked alongside the HECC with the Rural Community Energy Fund to deliver a Feasibility Study for the unit working on the site, alongside a Funding Plan template.

Work Begins

Mark met with the Charity Directors at the Humberston Country Club in October 2019, and in subsequent meetings was briefed by the Project Managers / Directors about their efforts to secure grant funding for the project. After becoming a volunteer for the Humberston Country Club, we could see how our services would be beneficial.

In October 2019 we drafted the first plan for the Eco site: which included an overall view of the objectives and expectations for the project which was done pro bono. We then developed a Funding Plan template with the Financial Director, which we applied

to a number of Funding Bids, feeding these back into the overall plan.

After confirmation from the team that they were happy with the plan, it was agreed that there was a paid opportunity through another grant that the Project Manager / Director had been involved with. 

The Feasibility Study

Following on from this, we met the team responsible for delivering the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) Stage 1 of a Feasibility Study. The Study was to look into whether the modular Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Unit that had been gifted to the charity would be viable on the Eco Site. We met on 31st  October for the RCEF kick off meeting.

After meeting with the team and representatives for the RCEF in November, it was agreed we would work on the RCEF Stage 1 Feasibility Study.

The team we worked alongside consisted of an AD specialist, a Safety Advisor, an Environmental Specialist, a Project Planning Consultant (us) and project management. 

Following a number of meetings, discussions and research we developed the RCEF Stage 1 Feasibility Study plan. The plan was from September 2019, capturing some of the preliminary works that had started or been completed.

The team ran with the plan, and the fortnightly updates to the team were well received.  The project was going well and was on track until Covid sadly struck and we could no longer meet and adapted to Zoom meetings. 

We had to change a key element of the public consultation to an online survey, but still managed to complete RCEF Stage 1 in early 2021 (whereas without the delays due to Covid we had planned to complete by September 2020). 

However, despite the delay in finishing the RCEF were impressed by how the project had gone, and invited the charity to enter a bid for RCEF Stage 2.

Lee developed an RCEF Stage 2 preliminary plan, to complement the grant bid which we did pro bono to keep the project momentum and as a goodwill gesture to the community. The bid was successful, and is currently awaiting a start date.

Once the site is developed and open to the public, we’re still looking to volunteer and potentially coach an activity for the kids. So watch this space for further updates!

A Word From Mark…

“It was a sunny morning walking to school with my son Alfie when I noticed the flyer for the fayre in our village. After making a mental note to check my diary, I took my son to Wendover Paddock in July 2019 – it was filled with stalls for crafts and food, with fun activities for the kids including archery, which my son Alfie loved.

After chatting with Alistair the archery coach, he spoke about the charity that makes the faye happen. He also mentioned an exciting development on the edge of Humberston, a 15 acre site gifted to the charity for developing for the community. 

I took a flyer out of interest, then decided in September to find out more about the site and how to volunteer, to get myself involved in the community, and to get Alfie involved as it is on our doorstep! 

We’re thrilled to be able to contribute towards this incredibly important project any way we can – for the community, for the environment, for our children and for generations to come.”