About Us 
Did
you know all these quantities give the same heat? - oil, pellet and woodSWWF is a wood fuel co-operative in the South West of England- a collective of members dedicated to developing a sustainable approach to energy use based on woodland fuel products.
Mission Statement - South West Wood Fuels Ltd.
Purpose
To increase economic activity associated with the production, processing, promotion, marketing and utilisation of wood fuels.
Activities
1. Promotion of the wood fuel sector generally, for example publishing a occasional newsletter with general and specialist information on wood fuel and its combustion for the public. (Members shall be entitled to advertise in the newsletter at reasonable cost).
2. Organise a fuel supply infrastructure from currently under-managed woodland and hedges.
3. Provide independent advice concerning all aspects of wood heating and wood fuel supply.
4. Encourage liaison and co-operation with projects which have overlapping areas of interest, such as, Working Woodlands, The Greater Exmoor Woodland Initiative and the South West Forest Project.
5. Make known to members and associates, changes in legislation and regulations generally that might affect heating with wood and also to explain the subsidies for wood heating equipment derived from the Climate Change Levy and the Clear Skies programme.
6. Provide a networking structure locally, regionally, nationally and internationally; forming strategic alliances with like-minded organisations both nationally and internationally.
7. Co-ordinate training for wood heating service engineers/installers and for operators of wood harvesting and processing equipment.
8. Organise the availability of equipment for harvesting and processing wood fuel to those members who subscribe to this service.
9. Source funding for non-commercial activities (promotion, information, networking).
10. Promote and publicise to members and associates, high standards of fuel quality, equipment performance and emissions limits.
11. Encourage the development of a market for wood fuel by seeking support for the installation of demonstration sites with a range of technology and scale of operation.
Corporate structure
The corporate structure will be an agricultural co-operative formed under the Industrial and Provident Model M rules with a Board elected by the members.
A co-operative is suggested to allow both commercial (sales, machinery rental etc) and non-commercial (wood fuel promotion, networking, advice and information) activities to be undertaken within one legal structure, and to ensure active involvement of members.
Under the co-operative umbrella there will be one or more syndicates, which members may join if they wish. Syndicates are separate legal and financial entities which carry out activities within the co-operative without leading to financial or legal implications for the overall co-operative. The members of syndicates shall assume all liability arising from operation of machinery or financial transactions.
No person shall be permitted to use any piece of equipment connected to the co-operative or syndicate without having received formal hands-on training by a qualified trainer. One syndicate (The Machinery Ring) will be a conventional machinery ring with members offering to each other for hire, the use of wood fuel harvesting machinery that they own. Another syndicate (The Equipment Syndicate) will offer to those members who join it, the use of machinery owned by the syndicate. A further syndicate may involve a wood fuel supply group.
The co-operative structure will also allow the establishment of interest groups with no legal or financial authority, in the form of sub-committees reporting to the board. These may focus on issues such as training, standards, promotional activities etc.
Membership
Persons and firms who support the purpose shall be eligible to be members. These shall include:
• Woodland owners
• Owners and operators of modern wood fired heating plant
• Heating engineers HETAS qualified in the field of wood fired appliances
• Suppliers of wood fired appliances
• Woodland contractors
• Sawmills and joinery firms able to supply clean wood waste
• Local Authorities who have installed, or have an intention to install, wood heating
• Housing Associations who have installed, or have an intention to install, wood heating
• Energy service companies using wood as a fuel
• Woodland and energy consultants with expertise in wood-as-a-fuel
• Firewood merchants
• Renewable energy and forestry associations
Members will join the co-operative through buying a one pound share and will pay an annual subscription to obtain benefits from the co-operative (such as regular technical information, a newsletter, information on training, syndicate membership etc.) Upon election to membership, each new member shall receive a membership pack setting out the aims and objectives and corporate structure of the organisation.
Members shall have voting rights.
Associate Status
There shall also be associate status available to property owners or tenants seeking to use wood as a fuel who shall be entitled to attend meetings with a voice at the pleasure of the chair but no vote and to receive newsletters and such other benefits as shall enable them to qualify in time for full membership if they so desire. Associate members shall not be sold shares in the co-operative and the dues payable shall be half of the rate for individual members. This status is also an appropriate way for employees, shareholders, directors, trustees or volunteers of a corporate member to stay current with the Society’s activities.
Board
The members shall elect a board of Directors with a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer/Finance Director and Secretary. The Board shall aim for representation from each major local sector of activity in the field of heating with wood. The Board shall have a co-ordinating role and comply with the relevant legal and financial requirements of the co-operative’s rules. Board members shall not be paid, but may claim for travel expenses at a rate to be determined. A procedure will be established to allow declarations of interest by members or Directors, resulting in non-participation in discussion or decision making.
Origins and Funding of the Co-operative
This co-operative has been established as part of a local project to encourage improved management of woodlands through the development of new markets for forest residues.
Customer Care
We recognise that you, our supporters are absolutely central to our success and therefore, we recognise that the goal of our business is to ensure that your business thrives through our engagement with you. We aim to contribute to your success by delivering even better quality solutions and continually striving to make ourselves even easier to do business with. This programme seeks to ensure that we provide an exceptional level of customer service through all levels within the company. We want to ensure you are fully satisfied with your relationship with SWWF. We constantly reviewing our business to identify and implement practical changes, from reviewing training and resources and procedures. On an ongoing basis, we conduct surveys, interviews and meetings, which many of our members participate in. The ultimate aim is receive as much feedback as possible and stay attuned to real client needs.
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Fire Walk 
The circle of woodburning
