Futureproof Cumbria

Month: October 2020

  • Events shed light on funding for home improvements

    Events shed light on funding for home improvements

    Two online events by CAfS are offering households and landlords the chance to find out about support available for home improvements, including the government’s new Green Homes Grant.

    The free sessions will shed light on some of the main schemes that households can take advantage of now, to make their homes warmer and use less energy.

    “This is a really good time to get on with improvements to save energy and reduce carbon emissions, given the support that’s out there right now,” said Andrew Northcott, energy services manager at CAfS. “But it’s not always easy for people to work out which improvements they should make and which schemes they might be eligible for. That’s where our two talks will help.”

    The first event, on 10 November, is a detailed look at the Green Homes Grant. The CAfS energy services team will explain which improvements the grant covers, how to apply, the small print and some challenges to be aware of, with ample time for questions. It’s free thanks to support from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme.

    “This is the perfect session for anyone who’s ready to install insulation, heating systems, double-glazing, energy-efficient doors and heating controls, for example, because this grant could provide you with up to £10,000 towards these measures, depending on your circumstances,” Andrew said. “The scheme runs until the end of March. All the works have to be completed by then, so we’d advise people to act quickly if they want to take advantage of it.”

    The second session, on 25 November, takes a broader look at a range of schemes, including the Green Homes Grant, the CAfS free advice scheme called Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria and other free and paid-for services covering everything from draughtproofing and home audits to thermal imaging.

    Molly Hogg from CAfS, who’s hosting the event, funded by South Lakeland District Council, said: “This workshop will be very helpful for anyone struggling with a cold home or high energy bills, or if you want to get information to pass on to others who need support.”

    There’s an added bonus for community groups and volunteers who might like to help others to make their homes warmer, save money and protect the environment. A member of Ambleside Action for a Future will talk about how their volunteers are gearing up to share energy advice and signpost residents to the support that’s available.

    Both sessions are open for booking now:

    Green Homes Grants – What You Need to Know

    Home Improvements to Save Energy – Funding & Support

  • Job: Project Support Officer – Zero Carbon Cumbria

    Job: Project Support Officer – Zero Carbon Cumbria

    Date posted: Thu 8 Oct 2020
    Closing date: 9am, Mon 2 Nov 2020

    We are looking for an experienced, skilled and highly organised administrator with superb attention to detail to help us deliver the most extensive climate change action programme ever seen in Cumbria.

    You’ll be a core part of the day-to-day running of the ambitious five-year Zero Carbon Cumbria project, funded by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund. You’ll support the project team based at CAfS and administer the meetings of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, which includes more than 70 organisations from across the county.

    Application & Interview Process

    Please apply by completing the application form below. We do not accept CVs. Guidance for submitting your application is included in the form.

    Application Form – Project Support Officer Zero Carbon Cumbria

    The closing date for return of applications is 9am on Monday 2 November 2020. Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by Wednesday 4 November 2020. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 11 November 2020 via Zoom.

    Job description

    If you prefer to download the job description and person specification, please use the link below:

    Job Description – Project Support Officer Zero Carbon Cumbria

    EMPLOYER:  Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS).

    LOCATION: Principally home working. Occasional meetings or events may be required at our office in Penrith (Rural Eden Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET) and other Cumbria locations when Covid-19 restrictions allow.

    REPORTS TO: Project Manager – Zero Carbon Cumbria.

    HOURS: 18.75 hours a week (2.5 days). Flexible working hours.

    SALARY RANGE: £18,500 – £22,000 per annum full-time equivalent (£9,250 – £11,000 for the 18.75-hour week), depending on skills and experience.

    DURATION: Fixed-term contract from Nov 2020 to end Dec 2025 (5 years).

    ABOUT CAFS:

    Our vision is a zero carbon Cumbria and we strive to bring about a better way of life, in balance with our environment.

    Our mission is to empower and enable people, communities and businesses to live and work more sustainably by sharing our knowledge, practice, skills, networks and practical experience. We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a zero carbon Cumbria.

     CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of seventeen highly skilled staff, working with a pool of specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver around 20 major, transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria showcasing low-carbon living, energy-efficiency improvements, renewable technology and reduced use of fossil fuels, both on a domestic scale and in the community. Now in our 22nd year, CAfS is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability.

    CAfS is a dynamic, pro-active and responsive organisation, continually striving to deliver effective projects that make an impact and drive real change towards a low-carbon future. As such, we continually initiate, scrutinise, refine and launch new projects, accessing funding from a variety of sources or earning income from delivering specialist services.

     

    BACKGROUND TO THE ZERO CARBON CUMBRIA PROJECT:

     Cumbria Action for Sustainability has been awarded £2.5 million from the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund for the five-year Zero Carbon Cumbria project. The bid was led by CAfS on behalf of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership (ZCCP), which involves nearly 70 organisations spanning the public, private and third sectors with the aim of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Eleven of the organisations in the ZCCP will be involved in directly delivering elements of the Lottery-funded project and the whole partnership will be involved in wider decarbonisation programmes in order to reach the county’s zero-carbon goal.

    People who live, work and study in Cumbria will be able to take advantage of a whole range of opportunities to cut their own carbon footprint and that of their communities, playing their part in global actions to stop climate change.

    The project will tackle some of the main sources of carbon emissions in Cumbria, with a particular focus on food, energy generation and the goods we buy. The sub-projects have been devised by a range of community organisations and chosen because of their wide benefits to local communities. More information about the project is available here: https://cafs.org.uk/our-projects/zero-carbon-cumbria-programme/.

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE: 

    To provide support to the Project Manager, supporting the day-to-day running of the project. The role includes administrative tasks to support the Zero Carbon Cumbria project team based at CAfS, including the Events and Training Officer, Communications Manager, Cumbria Sustainability Network Coordinator, Carbon Literacy Coordinator and the Project Manager, as well as administrative support for the meetings of the full Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

    • Administer and support meetings of the project board, delivery partner meetings and wider partnership meetings as requested. This will include coordination of agendas and minute taking.
    • Undertake administrative tasks as directed by the Project Manager, including but not limited to financial tasks, inputting data, monitoring and evaluation data collection, data analysis, emails, meeting minutes, etc.
    • Provide administrative (and other) support to the CAfS-based Zero Carbon Cumbria staff team.
    • Provide an initial point of contact for enquiries about the project.
    • Perform a reception function, taking enquiries and requests and ensuring clear and full messages via phone, email or in person are logged and relayed to the relevant person and followed up as necessary.
    • Process all purchases, invoices and payments associated with the project.
    • Ensure CAfS’ financial protocols are followed.
    • Assist with the preparation of budget monitoring reports.
    • Undertake administrative tasks as directed by the Events and Training Officer and Carbon Literacy Training Coordinator, including but not limited to bookings, event preparation, event set-up and promotion.
    • Set up and manage an event-booking system.
    • Support the Lottery Project Manager to collate monitoring and evaluation data for the project.
    • Administer onwards community grants.
    • Establish and maintain a contact list for the delivery partners and wider partnership.
    • Perform other duties that may be required from time to time.

     

    Person Specification

     Essential skills and attributes:

    • Experience in providing administrative support in a dynamic and demanding environment.
    • Excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
    • Event organisation, meeting administration and effective minute-taking skills.
    • Ability to proactively handle a wide range of tasks and prioritise these effectively.
    • Ability to use initiative and make effective decisions.
    • Ability to use a comprehensive range of IT software (Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and MS Teams) and the willingness to train in additional IT skills as and when required.
    • Accuracy and attention to detail, and the ability to work to tight timeframes.
    • A good level of numeracy.
    • Good written and proofreading skills.
    • Tact, patience and diplomacy.

    Desirable criteria

    The following attributes are desirable but not essential:

    • Experience in undertaking invoice processing, managing incoming and outgoing payments.
    • Experience of setting up and supporting online meetings.
    • Experience in inputting information to finance/bookkeeping packages.
    • Experience of Quickbooks finance package.
    • Experience of database/customer relationship management systems.
    • Experience of data gathering, manipulation and reporting, e.g. customer event participant feedback data.
    • Experience of providing support.
    • An understanding of the work of CAfS and the impact of climate change on the environment and economy.
    • Understanding of and commitment to CAfS’ aims, values and objectives.

    If you would like more information about the role, please contact CAfS: [email protected].