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Climate and Nature Fund Case Study: Perranporth Lifesaving Club
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With a motto of ‘Vigilance and Service’ Perranporth Surf Lifesaving Club has been saving lives on Perranporth beach since 1957, making it one of the oldest surf lifesaving clubs in Britain. However, with a long-established clubhouse exposed to the Cornish climate, the building was in need of upgrade to increase sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. The Cornwall Climate and Nature Fund, hosted by Crowdfunder, has supported this move to a more sustainable future providing much needed funds for the work.
For over 60 years Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club (PSLSC) has been committed to lifesaving and now has more than 400 members, over 200 nippers and youth, seniors, ladies and surfboat rowers. In 2024 Perranporth SLSC trained and qualified over 50 lifeguards with Surf Lifesaving GB and worked closely with the RNLI Lifeguards on the beach top provide voluntary patrols.
The on-beach clubhouse serves as a central hub to deliver the vital work for both the surf club and the RNLI , hosting a training area, changing rooms, equipment storage and a medical room. It is also increasingly looking to support other local groups, like the Perranporth Marine Group, helping to bring the community closer together.
But exposed to wind, sea, salt and storms the building and its services need continuous maintenance and renewal. When the existing gas boiler system failed, it was decided to switch to a more resilient system, powered by renewal electricity to bring it in line with the club’s sustainable ethos. To increase sustainability and reduce carbon emissions Perranporth SLSC decided to install solar panels. As a clubhouse used extensively during the Cornish summertime, the panels would generate the most electricity at the time when it’s most needed.
The solar panels are expected to generate 4000kwh of electricity annually – equivalent to around 80% of the total consumption of the club. The panels also mean the gas boiler can be replaced, decarbonising the hot water system and further reducing energy bills meaning more money can be spent on vital lifesaving work.
Perranporth SLSC used Crowdfunder to raise money from members, friends and the community. Using Crowdfunder has also enabled Method Consulting to find and support the project aligned to their sustainable ethos. Having this fund matched by Cornwall Council through the Climate and Nature Fund through the Crowdfunder website, the Perranporth Lifesaving Club have been able to raise over £12,000 for the decarbonisation of the clubhouse through solar power.
They’ve also been able to support local businesses using local installer Onshore Solar to fit the solar panels, who provided specialised advice to ensure that the panels were fit for purpose and specified specifically to deal with the exposure to the storms, sea spray and windblown sand that batters the club.
Simon Jeffery, Fundraising Officer for Perranporth SLSC noted that, ‘Having a community focus is important in all that we do at Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club. So it seemed logical in the same way that our experienced members support people to learn about the sea, develop skills help others and be more resilient, we really want our clubhouse to be part of this. Switching to renewable energy, generating our own electricity to supply the Club and the RNLI and promoting this more widely not only helps the Club itself become more resilient, but is our bit to support Cornwall's transition to renewable energy.’
If you have a project that tackles the effects of the climate and ecological emergency, you could receive up to £5,000 in support. Find out more:
With a motto of ‘Vigilance and Service’ Perranporth Surf Lifesaving Club has been saving lives on Perranporth beach since 1957, making it one of the oldest surf lifesaving clubs in Britain. However, with a long-established clubhouse exposed to the Cornish climate, the building was in need of upgrade to increase sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. The Cornwall Climate and Nature Fund, hosted by Crowdfunder, has supported this move to a more sustainable future providing much needed funds for the work.
For over 60 years Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club (PSLSC) has been committed to lifesaving and now has more than 400 members, over 200 nippers and youth, seniors, ladies and surfboat rowers. In 2024 Perranporth SLSC trained and qualified over 50 lifeguards with Surf Lifesaving GB and worked closely with the RNLI Lifeguards on the beach top provide voluntary patrols.
The on-beach clubhouse serves as a central hub to deliver the vital work for both the surf club and the RNLI , hosting a training area, changing rooms, equipment storage and a medical room. It is also increasingly looking to support other local groups, like the Perranporth Marine Group, helping to bring the community closer together.
But exposed to wind, sea, salt and storms the building and its services need continuous maintenance and renewal. When the existing gas boiler system failed, it was decided to switch to a more resilient system, powered by renewal electricity to bring it in line with the club’s sustainable ethos. To increase sustainability and reduce carbon emissions Perranporth SLSC decided to install solar panels. As a clubhouse used extensively during the Cornish summertime, the panels would generate the most electricity at the time when it’s most needed.
The solar panels are expected to generate 4000kwh of electricity annually – equivalent to around 80% of the total consumption of the club. The panels also mean the gas boiler can be replaced, decarbonising the hot water system and further reducing energy bills meaning more money can be spent on vital lifesaving work.
Perranporth SLSC used Crowdfunder to raise money from members, friends and the community. Using Crowdfunder has also enabled Method Consulting to find and support the project aligned to their sustainable ethos. Having this fund matched by Cornwall Council through the Climate and Nature Fund through the Crowdfunder website, the Perranporth Lifesaving Club have been able to raise over £12,000 for the decarbonisation of the clubhouse through solar power.
They’ve also been able to support local businesses using local installer Onshore Solar to fit the solar panels, who provided specialised advice to ensure that the panels were fit for purpose and specified specifically to deal with the exposure to the storms, sea spray and windblown sand that batters the club.
Simon Jeffery, Fundraising Officer for Perranporth SLSC noted that, ‘Having a community focus is important in all that we do at Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club. So it seemed logical in the same way that our experienced members support people to learn about the sea, develop skills help others and be more resilient, we really want our clubhouse to be part of this. Switching to renewable energy, generating our own electricity to supply the Club and the RNLI and promoting this more widely not only helps the Club itself become more resilient, but is our bit to support Cornwall's transition to renewable energy.’
If you have a project that tackles the effects of the climate and ecological emergency, you could receive up to £5,000 in support. Find out more:
Simon Jeffery, Fundraising Officer for Perranporth SLSC noted that, ‘Having a community focus is important in all that we do at Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club. So it seemed logical in the same way that our experienced members support people to learn about the sea, develop skills help others and be more resilient, we really want our clubhouse to be part of this. Switching to renewable energy, generating our own electricity to supply the Club and the RNLI and promoting this more widely not only helps the Club itself become more resilient, but is our bit to support Cornwall's transition to renewable energy.’