Power Up North London is a community energy group that encourages communities and residents to embrace greener energy. With a passionate team of volunteers, we fund, install, own, and manage sustainable energy projects across North London. Since being founded, we have installed solar panels on a variety of community buildings, mainly in Camden. These have included schools, a farm, churches, a GP practice and Talacre Sports Centre in Kentish Town. In addition to solar panel installations, we also focus on retrofitting projects to improve the energy efficiency of older buildings. For example, we have retrofitted Caxton House, a community centre in Islington, with triple-glazed windows, an air source heat pump, and LED lighting.

I was first introduced to Power Up North London (PUNL) back in 2016 through a friend who was involved in setting it up. However, it wasn’t until 2023 that I joined as a volunteer myself, bringing in the skills I’d developed over my career. I spent 20 years as a broadcast journalist with the BBC, working across both radio and television, before retraining as a secondary school English teacher in 2015. Now, I’ve come full circle — freelancing as a journalist again, while channelling my passion for sustainability and community engagement into my volunteering work with PUNL. I’m the person sitting down in a blue cardigan in the photo above! This was taken at one of our monthly volunteer meetings.

One of our biggest and most recent achievements came last year, when we completed a major project across two Camden schools. Through a community share offer, we raised an incredible £130,000, enabling us to install over 400 solar panels across Parliament Hill School in Dartmouth Park and Regent High in Somers Town. Half of the amount raised from the share offer came from individual investors, including £10,000 from investors connected to Circle Square. It was inspiring to see so many community members investing in a greener future, and both schools are doing really well. Parliament Hill School has saved just over 15 tonnes of CO₂ in its first year, and Regent High School has saved 14.1 tonnes of CO₂.

I was heavily involved in this project. Using my communication background, I helped raise awareness and vital funds through the share offer. I also ran workshops for 12–13-year-olds in these schools, introducing them to renewable energy concepts and encouraging them to think creatively about the future of greener energy. Seeing their enthusiasm and curiosity was incredibly rewarding — it’s a reminder that environmental change starts with education and inspiration at a young age. We’re keen to run more of these, to help students, teachers, and parents increase their environmental awareness.

Volunteering with PUNL is an amazing experience. Our team includes people of all ages — from those in their twenties to volunteers in their seventies — and everyone contributes something unique. There are no real age barriers; we’re united by a shared goal: to create a more energy-efficient, sustainable community.

We learn so much from each other. The younger volunteers bring boundless energy, creativity, and digital expertise — particularly in social media — helping us reach new audiences. Meanwhile, our more experienced members offer invaluable knowledge in areas such as finance, law, project management, engineering, and grant writing. The mix of generations and perspectives keeps PUNL vibrant, innovative, and forward-looking.

Personally, I’ve found volunteering to be incredibly enriching. It’s not just about what you give, it’s also about what you learn. Before joining the Camden schools project, I had no idea what a share offer even was! Now, I’ve gained a wealth of experience and confidence that I can bring to future initiatives or share with others stepping into similar roles.

I also love the sense of connection that comes from being embedded in my local community. Working alongside local councils, schools, and community centres gives my volunteering a real sense of purpose and belonging.

Circle Square members have so much to offer an organisation like Power Up North London, whether through volunteering time and expertise, joining our monthly meetings, or investing in future share offers. Our values align beautifully: giving back, doing good, and staying active within our communities.

If you are interested in volunteering with Power Up North London, get in touch. Send an email to info@powerupnorthlondon.org