With the current energy crisis, many of us are struggling to meet the cost of bills and this can be particularly hard for clubs and charities.

That’s why, today, we’re delighted to launch a fantastic competition to win a £6,500 solar installation, including all materials, labour and full ownership of the system.

The competition, being run in conjunction with Create Energy, is open to clubs and charities in Kendal and within a 10-mile radius.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is fill in the online registration form by March 31.

Once all the entries are in, they will be printed on a voting coupon to run on consecutive Thursdays in The Westmorland Gazette from April 6 until May 11, and readers will be invited to vote for their favourite by ticking or highlighting it.

Collection boxes for coupons will be stationed at all major Gazette newspaper sales points in Kendal and within a 10-mile radius. The competition closes on May 21, and the winner will be the club or charity with the most votes.

Stewart Richardson, managing director of Kendal-based Create Energy Ltd, said he wanted to highlight the benefits of solar power.

“It’s all part of re-educating people on the benefits of solar, battery storage, smart export schemes, how to use energy more efficiently, and how to avoid the pitfalls. Electricity prices have gone up around 67 per cent in the last 12 months alone (Jan 22-Jan 23) with Ofgem predicting another increase this April," he said.

“As a result, every unit of energy you can produce, store and sell back to energy companies will reduce your annual energy bills significantly, allowing you to pay the initial installation costs back within a few years. This provides up to 25 years of free energy, which can add up to tens of thousands of pounds.”

But he warned against rogue companies: “Always go with an MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), RECC (Renewable Energy Consumer Code) approved installer, as without this your property insurance could be void. Structural calculations may not have been carried out, systems may have been installed incorrectly, holes drilled through tiles, and solar panels fixed onto decaying tiles, with no after service when problems occur.

“You may also be unable to sell any spare energy back to the grid, e.g. Octopus Energy offers 15p-plus per kW.

“Only when an approved installer designs, supplies, installs and certifies the whole installation will the MCS insure the system and workmanship, giving customers peace of mind and another point of contact.

“Be very wary of ‘free solar installation companies’, for example sales teams may offer free solar installations on your roof, with the promise of discounted energy.

“This will save you very little on your bill while the company makes tens of thousands of pounds, and can leave you with major issues if you try to sell your property.

“You need to get a good contractor who knows exactly what they’re talking about.

“I have got over 35 years’ experience in the electrical, solar and building industry. We are currently the only MCS approved PV solar installers in Kendal.”

Stewart said that being embedded in the community, the company wanted to give something back. “We’re all local,” he said. “All our lads are City & Guilds trained, with BPEC solar qualified engineers.

“They’re all trained at Kendal College and are part of the community. We just want to give a bit back – we know how hard it is to pay your energy bills, especially for charitable clubs, groups etc, and hope we can help them survive through this energy crisis.

Create Energy, Unit 12A Dockray Hall Mill, Dockray Hall Industrial Estate, Kendal LA9 4RU, 01539 723406, create-energy.co.uk