Warmth, built locally.
Rooted Common Ground connects elderly neighbours who need heating with local welders and fabricators who can build simple oil heaters — using local materials, local skills, and voluntary community contributions.
The Heater
A simple enclosed oil heater built to our open specification (currently under engineer review, not yet certified). Buildable by any competent welder or fabricator following the safety requirements.
The Builders
Local approved builders in your area who have registered with Rooted Common Ground and agreed to build only to our open specification (currently under engineer review, not yet certified).
The Community
Voluntary contributions from your neighbours, ringfenced for your area, used for materials and CO alarms. Every penny visible to the community.
“A retired welder builds a heater for an elderly neighbour using local materials, earns Kindness, installs it with a Community Pillar present — and someone who was cold is now warm.”
Rooted Common Ground provides the framework. The community does the work.
Important safety notice. The Rooted Common Ground heater specification is currently under review by a qualified heating engineer and is not yet certified. It is intended for use only by Approved Builders, is not a substitute for professional advice, and is provided without warranty. Always follow current building, fire, and gas-safety regulations and consult a qualified professional before building or installing any heater.
Rooted Common Ground is not a registered charity, so contributions are not charity donations and are not Gift Aid eligible. Contributions to the heating fund are voluntary contributions to a community fund managed by Rooted Common Ground (operated by Neil Donnelly-Swift, sole trader, t/a Rooted Common Ground). Community Funds are ringfenced for their designated area and managed centrally until local Community Pillars are established. Urgent heating requests take priority over all other uses of community funds, and all urgent requests are verified before any funds are redirected. Raising a false urgent heating request is a serious breach of the Rooted Common Ground Community Agreement and will result in permanent removal from the platform.