The Warehouse in Digbeth – illustration

COMMUNITY SHARE OFFER

DECARBONISING THE WAREHOUSE

The Warehouse in Digbeth is the long-term home of Birmingham Friends of the Earth and a hub for community groups, campaigns and environmental action. Thanks to our supporters, our latest Community Share Offer has exceeded its target and we are now moving ahead with energy retrofit plans.

The information on this page explains what the share offer was about, how it worked and the terms and conditions for investors.

UPDATE

SHARE OFFER TARGET SURPASSED

Thanks to all investors, we surpassed our share offer target and are now pressing ahead with our energy retrofit plans for The Warehouse. The content below is retained for transparency and for anyone who wants to understand the original offer and investment terms.

ABOUT THE WAREHOUSE

A HOME FOR COMMUNITY & ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

Birmingham Friends of the Earth needs your help to fund energy-saving plans for The Warehouse so it can
continue to support communities, people and the planet we all depend on.

The Warehouse in Digbeth is the beloved home of Birmingham Friends of the Earth (BFoE) and a number of
purpose-driven enterprises and charities. It is a central hub and safe space for many community
interest groups and activists to meet, share ideas and take action on the biggest issues affecting
communities, people and the planet.

The building has been at the forefront of positive environmental change since BFoE took residency in
the 1970s and continues to set standards for more sustainable ways of living and working. It hosts a
café run by Birmingham Race Impact Group, bike shop Sprocket Cycles, Voce Books bookshop and a
wildlife garden.

While The Warehouse’s age and history form part of its charm, they also mean it is not as energy
efficient as it could be. Together, we have an opportunity to change that by decarbonising the building
through a programme of energy efficient renovations.

THE SHARE OFFER

HOW THE COMMUNITY SHARE OFFER WORKED

To bring our vision to life and ensure The Warehouse can continue to support vital activism and
communities for many years to come, we launched a new Community Share Offer to raise up to £46,660.

The funds will go towards the installation of energy saving measures designed to reduce our carbon
footprint while setting the standard for best practice in sustainable living and working.

Match funding

The Share Offer was eligible for match funding, meaning that 33% of the total raised would be provided
as a grant from the Cooperatives UK Energy Sharematch scheme. The more we could raise, the more grant
funding we could access to carry out the renovations the building needs.

Investor return

Anyone who invested was offered an interest rate of 2‑3% on their share capital. Delivering a
financial return was not the primary objective, but we wanted to recognise our supporters. Share capital
is also eligible for withdrawal, subject to us having the funds available.

Following building surveys, investigations and expert advice, we developed a programme of proposed works
that balances social, environmental and financial returns across different fundraising levels.

MINIMUM TARGET

£11,100 RAISED
£16,700 WITH MATCH FUNDING

Our minimum target would enable us to:

  • Install wall insulation.
  • Install a battery to store solar powered electricity generated on-site.

This would be really helpful, but by itself does not reach the scale of investment the building needs.

MAXIMUM TARGET

£31,262 RAISED
£46,660 WITH MATCH FUNDING

If we could reach our maximum target, we could also:

  • Install additional solar panels.
  • Switch to a low temperature heating system in readiness for an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP).
  • Make our windows more energy efficient through secondary glazing, double glazing and draught-proofing.

IMPACT

DECARBONISING THE WAREHOUSE

These measures will not only future proof the building and enable it to continue its mission as a hub
for positive environmental change, they will also deliver:

  • Carbon footprint reductions of between 900kg and 2,100kg per year.
  • Energy bill savings of between £740 and £3,660 per year.
  • Capacity to switch from a gas-powered boiler to an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) within 4‑5 years.
  • Improved thermal comfort and more attractive building spaces, helping community organisations to grow.

Setting the standard for community-led decarbonisation

Achieving the works in our stretch target will enable The Warehouse to become an example of best
practice for regeneration projects in Birmingham and beyond. It will show what successful
community-led decarbonisation investment looks like in older buildings.

Following completion of the project, we will be able to share data on carbon savings and lessons
learned, helping to inform similar projects across the UK.

OUR ASK

INVESTMENT, DONATION & VOLUNTEERING

To support our latest Share Offer, we invited people to make an investment in Community Shares of
between £50 and £10,000.

If you were not able to become an investor but would still like to support the project or BFoE in
general, you can make a one-off or regular donation through our website. We also welcome volunteers
– just give us a ring on 0121 632 6909 or call in for a chat.

By becoming a member and investor, you play a vital role not just in providing finance, but in
having a democratic say in shaping our future plans.

DONATE
VOLUNTEER
CONTACT US

The share offer is now closed, although we do welcome share investments at other times. The original
Crowdfunder page for the share offer is here: View original share offer.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

INVESTOR TERMS & CONDITIONS

As an investor in Community Shares in Friends of the Earth (Birmingham) Ltd your money is at
risk if the business fails.

Before completing an application for Community Shares, investors were required to:

  • Read the Share Offer Document (and any supporting information linked within it as desired).
  • Confirm they wished to become a member of Friends of the Earth (Birmingham) Ltd.
  • Agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions within the Share Offer Document and the Rules of Friends of the Earth (Birmingham) Ltd.
  • Understand that the Board of Directors may reject an application and are not obliged to explain why.
  • Consent to receiving formal notices by email and links to formal documents on the BFoE website.

The data provided in applications is stored on an electronic database. The data is only used for
BFoE purposes and is not passed to any third party.

It is a condition of the Share Offer that, to comply with the Money Laundering Regulations
2003, Birmingham Friends of the Earth may at its absolute discretion require verification of the
identity of anyone seeking to invest.

To reduce administration costs, BFoE sends formal notices by email and refers (by email) to
documents posted on its website.

By purchasing shares, investors consented to receiving such notices by email and to accessing
documents through the BFoE website.