Post-Event Report: Watts Up, East Marsh? – East Marsh Energy Help Fair
Watts Up, East Marsh? – East Marsh Energy Help Fair
Date: Tuesday 24 February 2026
Location: Freeman Street Market, Grimsby
Delivered by: Grimsby Community Energy
Event Overview
Grimsby Community Energy delivered the Watts Up, East Marsh? – East Marsh Energy Help Fair at Freeman Street Market to provide residents with practical energy advice, support, and access to local organisations that could help with energy costs, efficiency, and related support services.
The event was designed as a welcoming, drop-in session, allowing residents to speak directly with trusted organisations in a familiar community setting. Refreshments were provided to create a relaxed and approachable environment.
Attendance and Engagement
A total of 51 residents attended the event, representing a strong turnout for a community-based advice event of this nature. The attendance demonstrated clear local demand for accessible, face-to-face energy support, particularly within an area experiencing high levels of fuel poverty.
Residents engaged positively with the organisations present, with many asking questions about energy bills, reducing costs, and future support available through community energy initiatives.
Notably, three residents participated in in-depth discussions about their energy bills, with one individual successfully identified as being owed a refund of £200, which they are now able to reclaim. This demonstrates the immediate and tangible financial benefit that direct, in-person advice can provide.
Partner Organisation Feedback
Local organisations and advice providers who attended reported that the event was:
- Well organised
- Well promoted
- Well attended
- Delivered in a welcoming and accessible environment
Partners expressed satisfaction with the quality of engagement and the number of residents who attended, and indicated their willingness to participate in future events organised by Grimsby Community Energy.
Outcomes and Impact
The event successfully achieved its objectives by:
- Providing direct support to over 50 households
- Identifying immediate financial benefit for residents, including a £200 refund
- Increasing awareness of available energy advice and support services
- Strengthening relationships between local organisations and residents
- Building trust in Grimsby Community Energy within the East Marsh community
- Supporting ongoing engagement for the East Marsh Solar PV project
The event also helped establish a strong foundation for continued engagement with residents as part of Grimsby Community Energy’s wider programme to deliver solar energy and reduce fuel poverty locally.
Conclusion
The Watts Up, East Marsh? event was a clear success, demonstrating strong community interest and delivering measurable benefits to residents. The turnout exceeded expectations for a targeted local advice event, and partner feedback confirmed that the event was professionally delivered and effective.
Grimsby Community Energy will build on this success through further engagement events, advice sessions, and the delivery of its solar PV programme for East Marsh households.
