Futureproof Cumbria

Month: December 2020

  • Energy events for January

    Energy events for January

    Two free online events will welcome many Cumbrians into the new year with the chance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses.

    The two webinars are being hosted by Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) in partnership with South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) but are open to anyone who feels that they could benefit from the advice on offer.

    The first of the two events, Heat pumps for homeowners is taking place on 19 January at 6:30pm and is focused on the user experience of domestic heat pumps.

    A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from a source (such as the air, ground, or water) to another location and they have been known for hugely increasing energy efficiency in a domestic setting.

    Independent research has been undertaken on behalf of CAfS by Jessica Scott speaking with individuals who have had some experience with the technology. Whether they decided against it, are still considering, or have completed installation, individuals from the study will discuss the outcome on the webinar.

    Low Carbon Communities manager at CAfS Molly Hogg said: “Navigating technologies like this can be extremely confusing for homeowners, especially when money is concerned.

    “That’s why events like this are so important. They equip as many people as possible with the facts and the experiences of their peers to help them make the most informed decisions for their own home”.

    The second event, Reducing the carbon output of your business is being held on 26 January at 10:00am and is directed at business owners who are unsure of how they can make their practices more environmentally friendly.

    It will provide inspiration, guidance and support for our local traders to do their part in the fight against catastrophic climate change in a sustainable way that is conducive to business practice.

    Joining the webinar will be representatives from Green Small Business, The University of Cumbria’s Eco Innovation team, the Lake District foundation, and Langdale Leisure- a business that has already made huge changes to reduce its environmental impact.

    Councillor Robin Ashcroft, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: “Businesses in South Lakeland are renowned for the innovation and sense of community involvement and responsibility and will play a key role in responding to the climate emergency and building a more sustainable future.

    “I urge any business looking for inspiration, guidance or support on how to play their part take part in this training.”

    The events are part of a larger package of support being provided by CAfS in association with SLDC as part of their strategy to deal with the ongoing threat posed by the climate emergency.

    Councillor Dyan Jones, SLDC’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Localism, said: “Thinking globally and acting locally is key to everything we want to achieve through our Climate Change Action Plan.

    “Working together is the only way we will achieve meaningful carbon reduction and combat the effects of climate change – and these training sessions provided by CAfS with support from SLDC is an excellent example of that.”

    Anyone wishing to book onto the free events can do so at www.cafs. https://cafs.org.uk/events/

    Images courtesy of Greenfields Penrith

  • Fellfoot Forward marks achievements and exciting year ahead

    Fellfoot Forward marks achievements and exciting year ahead

    There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes with our work on the Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme, so, as 2020 draws to a close, we thought it was about time to give you a glimpse behind the curtains!

    The scheme is led by the North Pennines AONB Partnership and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and it aims to conserve, enhance and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the Fellfoot area of north-eastern Cumbria. CAfS is one of the partners delivering aspects of the scheme, led by Roe Baker. Not surprisingly, the Coronavirus pandemic has led to a few changes in what we’re delivering and how, including some exciting new opportunities. Here’s what Roe has been working on…

    Building sustainability into the heart of the scheme

    One of the strengths that CAfS could bring to the scheme was making sure that sustainability was threaded through all aspects of it, with future generations very much in mind. As part of this ‘Future Fair’ element, CAfS has now developed sustainability guidance checklists, which sit within the frameworks (pacts) for different aspects of the scheme – Fellfoot community, community heritage buildings and environmental grant applications. There are also checklists for running events and for core activities, covering everything from sourcing trees to transport and catering. The aim is to encourage sustainable low-carbon delivery across the four-year programme.

    Land-based carbon – calculation and methodology

    Managing land in a way that stores carbon and benefits nature is hugely topical, given the UK’s strategies to reduce carbon emissions and protect and restore nature, and the changes to farming subsidies that are on the way post-Brexit.

    With 85 farms in the Fellfoot area, the Fellfoot Forward scheme has a role to play in helping farmers and landowners to make the transition to carbon- and nature-friendly land management.

    CAfS will be helping to arrange two events initially – one for land-based environmental organisations and one for farmers.

    Support for farmers

    Working to the farming calendar, we are organising an online event early next year in partnership with the Farmer Network, looking specifically at soil health and carbon sequestration on upland farms. As part of this, we want to explore an existing toolkit for assessing the carbon footprint of farms, looking at some of the limitations of it for upland farms.

    The Farm Carbon Toolkit is the one we are exploring, but it was developed using data from farms in Devon, which are very different to farms in the Fellfoot area. The nature of the toolkit means the results for northern upland farms could appear unduly poor in comparison. We’re conscious these limitations could discourage farmers from using it. It does also raise questions about managing uplands for carbon sequestration and what this may mean for future farm payments that use carbon credit data, so it’s an important issue for us to explore.

    Our aim is to follow up this event with one-to-one support for farmers who are interested in running the carbon toolkit as a pilot. Data could then be shared with the Farm Carbon Toolkit developer, such as our general observations, any practical issues we find in sourcing the data to input and any anomalies while inputting. We’ll also share our analysis of the results and data on upland farms, including soil type, wetter conditions, shorter growing seasons, and growing grass as a main crop as opposed to longer-rooted nitrogen fixers and arable crops.

    Our aim is to hold the initial event in February 2021, ahead of the lambing season.

    Liaising with land-based organisations

    We’re aiming to bring together a range of organisations with a stake in land management in the Fellfoot area.

    We’re just at the early stages of this. We’re currently aiming to hold a programme of relevant presentations and discussion forums on themes such as the Peat Carbon Code, Woodland Code and Forestry Standard, for example, in late summer 2021.

    Future Fair youth engagement

    A very important part of the ‘Future Fair’ element of the Fellfoot Forward scheme, mentioned above, is bringing the voice and influence of young people into the programme. CAfS is helping to achieve this through the established network of youth delivery within the Fellfoot area and surrounds, working with Eden and Carlisle Youth Councils, Cumbia Youth Alliance and Carlisle Youth Zone.

    The aim is to raise the voice of young people living within the Fellfoot area, to understand their priorities, training, education and future employment needs and to promote and maximise access to opportunities within the Fellfoot programme – ideally to develop youth reporting and youth representation on the Fellfoot advisory board.

    Community heritage buildings

    We are developing a training programme for communities on managing their older buildings for energy efficiency and comfort. We’ll be working with experts on traditional buildings to create training on topics such as traditional skills, ventilation and damp, building capacity and skills within communities.

    Following on from that, we will also be able to offer more in-depth support to a few communities on practical works and improvements to community buildings.

  • FINANCE AND RESOURCES MANAGER

    FINANCE AND RESOURCES MANAGER

    Date posted: Tue 1 Dec 2020
    Closing date: 9am, Wed 6 Jan 2021

    This new role at CAfS will be responsible for strategic financial management, working alongside our Trustees and CEO – an important member of our new senior management team. You’ll also oversee day-to-day resources management with the help of the CAfS administration and finance team, which you’ll manage, working alongside specialist HR and IT contractors. As an experienced business and finance manager, you’ll set and monitor budgets and oversee day-to-day financial management. Your advice, guidance and financial reports will inform the development and delivery of our strategy and business plan. You’ll also help CAfS to fulfil its legal and regulatory requirements.

    You’ll join us at an exciting time. The climate crisis has led to ever-increasing demand for our skills and experience and we are restructuring to accommodate our rapid growth. Our staff team will soon have doubled in size since June 2020, and we are preparing to deliver the biggest climate change programme in the country with the support of a £2.5 million National Lottery grant. You’ll be central to future-proofing our financial health and ensuring the conditions in which we work are the best they can be, so that we can play our full part in delivering a zero-carbon Cumbria to the best of our abilities.

    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 – Finance & Resources Manager

    Closing date for return of applications is 9am on Wednesday 6 January 2021.

    Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by Thursday 7 January 2021.

    Interviews will be held via Zoom on Thursday 14 January 2021.

    Job description

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

    CAfS Job Description – Finance & Resources Manager

    EMPLOYER:  Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS).

    LOCATION: Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET when Covid-19 restrictions allow. Homeworking beyond Covid-19 may be possible by agreement.

    REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer.

    HOURS: 22.5 hours a week (3 days).

    SALARY RANGE:£29,000 – £33,000 pro rata per annum (full-time equivalent), depending on skills and experience.

    DURATION: Start date February 2021. Permanent contract.

    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.

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE

    To work with Trustees and the CEO to ensure efficient and effective financial management, including setting and monitoring budgets, overseeing day-to-day financial management, and providing advice and guidance and financial reports, to inform the development and delivery of our strategy and business plan.

    To work with Trustees and staff to ensure CAfS fulfils its legal and regulatory requirements, including coordinating the implementation of health and safety, GDPR and other policies and procedures, and to lead on human resources support and oversee office management and IT. (Note that specialist HR advice and support and IT are provided to CAfS by external contractors.)

    The role manages the administration and finance team, and sits within the Senior Management Team.

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

    • Ensuring the day-to-day financial and accounting operations are delivered.
    • Taking responsibility for budget planning, monitoring and review and year-end accounts process.
    • Supporting the development of CAfS’ strategy and business plan’ including providing financial projections and conducting risk analysis.
    • Ensuring effective day-to-day management of HR, IT, H&S and data protection.
    • Ensuring financial, HR and data protection policies and procedures comply with relevant legislation/regulations, reflect best practice and are applied throughout CAfS.
    • Ensuring that the office and home workspaces, IT, telephone and internet provision are fit for purpose.

    MAIN TASKS

    Finance

    • Responsible for annual budget setting and 6-monthly review and cashflow forecasting.
    • Prepare quarterly reports to Board, yearly or six-monthly projections and analysis, and ad hoc reports as necessary.
    • Preparation of year-end accounts.
    • Manage the internal finance and accounting systems and databases.
    • Oversee delivery of payroll.
    • Ensure appropriate levels of financial authorisation are in place and followed.
    • Ensure compliance with HMRC, including monitoring VAT threshold, tax and gift aid, and undertake necessary returns.
    • Ensure compliance with State Aid rules.
    • Commission specialist VAT and other financial advice as required.
    • Support the Trustees and CEO with financial forecasting/planning, and allocation and funding of staff and other resources.
    • Support staff with preparing and managing project budgets with the aim of ensuring full-cost recovery.

    HR

    • Develop appropriate staff, trustee and volunteer recruitment, induction and retention policies and processes, including performance management.
    • Support and encourage staff, trustee and volunteer training.
    • Ensure all staff have up-to-date contracts and other HR documentation.
    • Regular (minimum annually) review of staff handbook.
    • Development and implementation of employee satisfaction survey.
    • Manage specialist HR contract and commission additional advice as required.
    • Support CEO to deliver their responsibility to ensure staff wellbeing.

    Effective Organisational Administration

    • Oversee policy and procedure development and implementation, including safeguarding, data protection, H&S, complaints, etc.
    • Conduct horizon scanning and recommend opportunities to revise policies and procedures to ensure legal/regulatory compliance and/or in line with best practice.
    • Review, improve and ensure implementation of project management processes.
    • Ensure appropriate equipment and infrastructure resources are in place for staff, volunteers and Trustees.
    • Ensure insurance is in place for all activity.
    • Continually improve and manage IT, phone and internet contracts.
    • Collaborate with colleagues to ensure optimal use of the CAfS customer relationship management system (CRM).

    Other

    • To work with the Trustees, CEO and staff to develop and implement the strategy and business plan.
    • Provide support for effective governance.
    • Take part in Senior Management Team meetings.
    • Line manage the Administration & Finance Officer.
    • Deputise for CEO when needed.
    • To work with the rest of the staff team to carry out any other task or project required from time to time, as directed by the CEO or Trustees.

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    Essential skills and attributes

    • Experience of management accounting, including analysis and commentary.
    • Experience of audits, invoices, bank reconciliations, accounts payable and accounts receivable and budget preparation.
    • Experience of working with and co-ordinating expenditure across multi-project budgets.
    • Knowledge of financial regulations, including VAT, and accounting processes.
    • Ability to manage payroll.
    • Knowledge of health and safety legislation and employment law.
    • Experience of recruiting and managing staff.
    • Proficient in Microsoft Office suite.
    • Strong attention to detail.
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
    • Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage time-sensitive tasks.
    • Ability to work flexibly and occasionally out of hours.

    Desirable criteria

    • Fully or part-qualified ACCA, CIMA, ACA or CIPFA.
    • Use of payroll software.
    • Working knowledge of using QuickBooks.
    • Experience of charity sector accounting/finance.
    • Experience or understanding of project management.
    • Understanding of and commitment to the aims and objectives of CAfS.
    • Experience of developing and delivering HR, IT, H&S, and data protection policy and procedures.
    • HR training or qualification.
    • Understanding of VAT.
    • Understanding of State Aid.

    If you have any questions about the role, please contact Karen Mitchell: [email protected].