Agnes Smith Advice Centre

November 2024

In 2024, Westmill Solar Co-operative awarded Agnes Smith Advice Centre £5,000 to enable them to continue to provide vital benefit, debt and budgeting advice to people who contact the advice centre in crisis.

Started in the 1970s, Agnes Smith Advice Centre provides a vital service to the residents of Blackbird Leys in East Oxford. The Leys is one of the largest housing estates in Europe, with a population of 13,500 people. Parts of it are amongst the most deprived 10% in the country.

The front of the Agnes Smith Advice Centre in Oxford.

The Centre offers a free, confidential, non-judgemental advice service across a wide range of issues and is firmly rooted in the community, with excellent links and connections to other local charities and community groups. Most of the advice provided to residents is centred around debt, welfare benefits, housing and crisis support. Advisors have a holistic approach and aim to empower people to bring about positive changes in their own lives.

Funding from Westmill Solar enables Agnes Smith Advice Centre to maintain its crucial service to those who don’t know know where to turn for help.

 

 

Feedback

I support Westmill Solar because it directly benefits communities and individual investors in clean energy projects uncompromised by the conflicting interests of large corporations.

Jane Buckley
Westmill Solar Member

When I first saw the share offer for Westmill Solar I thought what a great idea, the interest is better than the banks. But that was not the main reason for investing, it was the idea I would be helping my son and others with a better cleaner future.

Alan Barlow
Westmill Solar Member

I like the fact that the wind farm is producing home grown renewable energy and is 100% community owned.

Westmill Wind Farm Member

I am a DIY investor who started reading up on investing at university before taking the plunge by purchasing index funds in 2010. I am still very enthusiastic about renewable energy and thanks to a healthy interest payment every year, I haven't missed the money I've invested.

Maureen McGuinness
Westmill Solar Member

I became a shareholder in Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative because I wanted to take some responsibility for the energy that I was consuming. I also wanted to be part of a community that championed the move towards renewable energy.

David Abley 
Westmill Solar and Wind Member

I invested because I believe in local, renewable energy projects.

I have very little savings and no experience in stocks and shares but wanted to support your initiative. I thought that it might not lose money and possibly give a return equal to bank savings account.

Beth Edwards
Westmill Solar Member

I joined and invested in Westmill Windfarm Co-operative because I believe in the absolute necessity of switching to renewable generation, and preferably in community ownership - why is it taking so long?

Westmill Wind Farm Member

Subscribe to our email newsletter!

Sign up now to hear all of our exciting news and updates!