An Oxford community group, set up to help people install renewable energy, picked up the top prize at the inaugural Oxford Climate Awards. 

Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon (RHILC) was judged to be the best of the best at the awards evening held at Oxford Town Hall on Thursday, October 17. 

Across multiple categories the awards wanted to discover those incredible people who go above and beyond and aim to honour exemplary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect natural ecosystems and promote sustainable practises.

The event was hosted by Shaun Williamson, best known for playing Barry in EastEnders. 

Before collecting the top prize, RHILC also won the climate community group award. 

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Oxford Climate Award winners (Image: Joe Baker) The group was founded in 2012 to help the community install renewable energy like solar panels and air source heat pumps. 

In 2020, 31 trees were planted in their community orchard by representatives from the school and 16 community groups, including youth clubs and churches. 

After winning the award, the group's founder Eleanor Watts said: “It's fantastic but this is for a much bigger cause. 

“It's for the people for Rose Hill and Iffley. But there is more that needs to be done. We are here because of a common goal, we all support each other in this. 

“We are all impacted by climate change.”

The group helps to run repair cafes, thermal imaging, runs energy saving campaigns, has a heat pump project, community orchard, cycle repairs and litter picks. 

After the event, Mr Williamson said: “It was absolutely fantastic. It's only the second ever climate awards evening I have ever done.

"It's just nice to be in a room with people who are trying to achieve something which is going to make things better.

"There is so much bad news at the moment around the world, so to be in a room with people who are trying to make the world a better place is genuinely humbling. 

“It's incredible what they are achieving and I just hope this is the first of many awards nights for Oxford and that it's an event that keeps getting stronger.”

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Shaun Williamson (Image: Joe Baker) The full list of award winners and finalists is as follows:

Youth action champion award (sponsored by Said Business School) - winner: Laurie Barber. Finalists: Urban Sorsby-Morgan, Simon Fuentes and Sarika Biradar. 

Climate action champion award (sponsored by EF Language School) - winner: Hannah Scott. Finalists: Chris Chruch and Soren Kudsk-Iverson. 

Sustainable small business of the year (sponsored by Unipart) - winner: Milvus Advanced Ltd. Finalists: Southill Community Energy and The Village Refill and Zero Waste Shop. 

Sustainable medium business of the year (sponsored by Enistic) - winner: Pedal and Post. Finalists: Oxford Wood Recycling Ltd and Seacourt Ltd. 

Innovation in climate action award (sponsored by Climate Action Oxfordshire) - winner: Hook Norton Community Land Trust. Finalists: Pedal and Post and Wirth Research Ltd. 

Sustainable primary school of the year (sponsored by Energy Saver App) - winner: Middle Barton School. Finalists: The Manor Preparatory School and St Swithun's CE Primary School.

Sustainable secondary school of the year (sponsored by First Light Fusion) - winner: Cheney School. Finalists: Europa School UK and Geography - Headington Rye Oxford.

Sustainable further education / college of the year (sponsored by Lucy Group) - winner: Oxford Brookes University. Finalists: ACE Training Ltd and Activate Learning.

Biodiversity and ecology award (sponsored by Darke and Taylor) - winner: Wild Oxfordshire. Finalists: HollandGreen Landscape Design and University of Oxford.

Green building and design award (sponsored by Pearcroft) - winner: Begbroke Science Park, Oxford University Developments. Finalists: Castlethorpe Homes and Hook Norton Community Land Trust.

Green transport award (sponsored by Evolito) - winner: Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Ltd. Finalists: Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership and 001 Taxis.

Climate community group award (sponsord by BMW Group) - winner: Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon. Finalists: Oxford Friends of the Earth and Oxford Jewish Congregation.