• Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments
• Wednesday March 23 2022
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy creates new role to combat fuel poverty in the region

One of Wiltshire’s largest not-for-profit solar energy enterprises, Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy, has partnered with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to appoint Jessica Thimbleby as their first carbon reduction champion working across both organisations.
Bradford-on-Avon resident Jessica has over 10 years’ experience in the field of climate change mitigation and returns to WWT after a stint as an energy advisor at the Centre for Sustainable Energy and Citizen’s Advice service, where she was supporting people experiencing fuel poverty.

Prior to this she spent five years with the Trust as a community engagement officer and was instrumental in the formation of its carbon reduction and sustainability group.

In this newly-created role, Jessica will be supporting both WWT and WWCE in achieving their mutual aims of reducing carbon and promoting nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. She will be spearheading the development of initiatives to help low income, vulnerable households across Wiltshire to access and integrate energy-saving solutions, as well as awarding grants to qualifying projects via the WWCE Community Fund.

Julian Barlow, chair of WWCE and trustee of WWT said of her appointment, “The introduction of this position could not come at a more important time as families in Wiltshire face record energy costs. Jessica is passionate about helping local people and protecting the environment.

“She has worked closely with communities to encourage changes to energy consumption habits and we are confident that her experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm will greatly enrich both the WWCE and WWT.”

“The role bridges WWT’s aims of measuring and reducing its own carbon footprint with WWCE’s desire to identify ways to alleviate fuel poverty, the first time such a role has been created.”

Based in Devizes at the WWT Elm Court HQ, Jess has a countywide brief and will engage with a range of groups, from Wiltshire’s farming community to its network of parish councils.