Futureproof Cumbria

Month: August 2021

  • Great Big Green Week

    Great Big Green Week

    This post is for the Great Big Green Week in 2021. For the list of events happening in 2022, go to this page.

    Great Big Green Week is a nationwide celebration of action on climate change, taking place across the UK from 18 – 26 September.   

    The aim is to collectively celebrate all the positive grassroots actions being taken to tackle climate change and protect green spaces, and encourage others to get involved too. 

    Great Big Green Week also calls on politicians to raise their ambition and champion action on climate change, ahead of November’s crucial COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow. 

    CAfS has been supporting environmental groups across Cumbria, who are planning a series of exciting Great Big Green Week events here in their local communities. Plans range from public engagement events, tree planting workshops, Penrith Freegle Give & Take, and film screenings, to CAfS’ own online events including virtual open home visits plus a 2 hour Climate Change Crash Course. 

    As these events are confirmed we’re encouraging the organising groups to add to the national Great Big Green Week website, building up a combined programme across Cumbria which we’ll help to promote. 

    All events we’re aware of are listed below. Have we missed any? Let us know and we’ll add them to the list!

    Seed and Plant Swap | All week |  Big Onion stands, Mill Yard, Staveley | Bring your surplus seeds and plants, swap for others.

    Staveley Bioblitz | All week | A self-led search of your own or public green spaces. The aim is to record as many species of plants/birds/bugs and beasts throughout the week to understand better what is in the village and enable the community in the future to help & sustain this wildlife.

    Carlisle’s Great Big Green Week – Opening Event | 18 Sep, 10am | Carlisle City Centre | A variety of local organisations and artists will join Sustainable Carlisle for a fantastic day of engaging information, hands on workshops, and creativity about tackling the climate crisis.

    Litter Pick | 18 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Meet outside Staveley Chippy | Bags and litter pickers provided.

    Green Information Stand | 18 Sep, 11am – 1pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Books & Information, Competitions, Campaigns & Pledges, Advice, FREE refreshments

    Millom Without Parish Council Environment Day | 18 Sep, 1pm | Thwaites Village Hall, The Green, Millom | Activities for children from 1pm, activities for adults from 7pm. Followed by reception to launch campaign to form a Community Environmental Group.

    Penrith Freegle Give and Take | 18 Sep, 2pm – 4pm | Please bring small items to give away – and take what you want! Any items left over will be freegled or given to charity shops to sell.

    Green Sparks Event | 18 Sep, 2pm – 4pm | Spark Bridge Village Hall | The launch of Green Sparks, a new community action group interested in helping nature and caring for the local environment.

    Ambleside’s Picnic in the Park | 18 Sep, 5pm | Rothay Park (Parish centre if wet) | Drumming home a message about climate. You are invited to write and draw a message to send to the prime minister. Speakers and Taiko drummers will begin at 5.45pm.

    PEAT Film Night: A Life on our Planet | 19 Sep, 7pm | Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands | The broadcaster David Attenborough recounts his life, and the evolutionary history of life on Earth, to grieve the loss of wild places and offers a vision for the future.

    Green Film show | 19 Sep, 7.45pm – 9pm | Ginnel between Hawkshead Brewery & More Bakery | Be entertained by Staveley’s very own Samba band. Enjoy a series of short films, made by local film makers about living and working in Staveley. Take part in a discussion about how we can make Staveley more climate resilient.

    Let’s create a Staveley Seed Bank | 20 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Cumbria Wildlife Trust wants to collect any local seeds, from the
    vegetables that you are growing. Come and talk to Danni about how to collect/store seeds.

    Science, Glaciers and Outrage | 20 Sep, 7.30pm | Pencil Factory, Keswick | Talk with Professors Terry Sloane and Mike Hambrey, and Jo Alberti.

    Staveley local guided walk | 21 Sep, 10am | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Come and see our own Craggy Wood and the work being done to link Staveley Woodlands together, plus a visit to the old parish council allotments to see how their restoration is taking shape.

    Let’s create a Staveley Seed Bank | 21 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Cumbria Wildlife Trust wants to collect any local seeds, from the
    vegetables that you are growing. Come and talk to Danni about how to collect/store seeds.

    A Greener Future for West Cumbria | 21 Sep, 2pm | Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth | An afternoon of activity from 2pm onwards on the  theme of COP26 and climate change: there will be two talks on how climate change affects us and carbon literacy awareness, together with artwork, crafts and sustainability workshops, and a youth poetry event. Free evening screening of the climate change film ‘2040’ at 7pm with discussion afterwards.

    Tree Planting | 21 Sep, 2pm | Fitz Park, Keswick | Sustainable Keswick are asking gardening groups and others in Keswick for any trees that they have grown in pots. They will take these and plant in an existing tree area within Fitz Park.

    Making your home more energy efficient | 21 Sep, 6.30pm | Reducing your home energy use – 10 things to think about that aren’t insulation. Followed by a Q&A session to talk about your home energy efficiency questions and guidance on how to switch to a green energy supplier.

    Keswick Tree Walk | 22 Sep, 3pm | Meet at Museum |

    River Dipping Session | 22 Sep, 4pm – 6pm | Meet at Jack’s corner | Come and explore our beautiful River Kent. Find out what wildlife exists below the surface!

    Open Green Homes | 22 Sep, 6:30pm | Hear from two Cumbrian residents who are opening their homes virtually to show you the energy saving changes they’ve made.

    Green Film show | 22 Sep, 6.30pm – 8pm |Ginnel between Hawkshead Brewery and More Bakery | In a series of short, engaging documentaries, listen to David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg and a series of environmental experts talking about climate change – explaining what is happening and what can be done to protect our planet.

    The Climate Emergency | 22 Sep, 7pm | Threlkeld Village Hall | Speakers providing a scientific, environmental and political viewpoint followed by a discussion on what we can do to help. Booking not required.

    Re-Energising Sustainable Brampton Part 1 | 22 Sep, 7.30pm | Brampton Community Centre | A preliminary live discussion of Mike Berners-Lee’s book ‘There is no Planet B’ will be used to help the group identify personal and community actions that will make a difference. Apply to [email protected] or phone 016977 48833.

    Ambleside climate action day | 23 Sep, 11am – 7:30pm | Be part of Ambleside’s ambition to reach zero carbon by 2030. Businesses from 11am – 1pm. Residents from 1:30pm – 7:30pm.

    Keswick Tree Walk | 23 Sep, 3pm | Meet at Museum |

    Litter pick / walk up Kentmere (6.2km) | 23, Sep 6pm | Meet at Abbey Square | Bring a Torch.

    Green Information Stand | 24 Sep, 10am – 12pm | Jack’s corner, Staveley | Books & Information, Competitions, Campaigns & Pledges, Advice, FREE refreshments

    Keswick Tree Walk | 22 Sep, 3pm | Meet at Museum |

    Kendal Torchlight Carnival | 24 Sep – 26 Sep | Simply Repair will be having a stall in the ‘Green Town’ section of Kendal Torchlight Carnival on Sat 25 Sep from 10am – 6pm where they will be doing electrical repairs and darning demos. Future Fixers will also have a stand and will be giving out green business advice

    Great Big Green Week: PEAT Twilight Picnic | 25  Sep, 6pm – 8pm | Allithwaite community centre | PEAT are celebrating their peninsula-wide success with Greening Cartmel Peninsula. Bring a picnic, chairs or a rug, warm clothes and a perhaps a tea-light lantern.

    Sustainable Keswick Market Stall | 25 Sep, 8.30am – 3.30pm | Recycling, questionnaire and petition, Fairtrade, PV mapping and more.

    PACT stall in Penrith | 25 Sep, 10:30am – 3pm | Drop in to see PACT in person at the bandstand in Cornmarket in the centre of Penrith. Find out what they’re doing and what you can do to turn the tide on the climate and ecological emergencies.

    Re-Energising Sustainable Brampton Part 2 | 26 Sep, 11.30am – 3pm | Brampton Community Centre | A supporter’s workshop including lunch on the theme ‘Together we have the Power!’ to re-energise and expand volunteering opportunities within Sustainable Brampton.  Apply to [email protected] or phone 016977 48833.

    Duddon Greening | 26 Sep, 11am – 3pm | Victory Hall, Broughton-in-Furness | Displays, entertainment and refreshments, fun for all the family.

    Biodiversity in Staveley | Various dates and times | Staveley | Encouraging community involvement in biodiversity projects through a variety of interactive activities, including a series of walks, talks and events.

  • Job: Youth Projects Coordinator

    Job: Youth Projects Coordinator

    Closing date: 9am on Monday 20 September 2021

    We are launching a range of hugely exciting opportunities for young people in Cumbria to get involved in tackling climate change, and we’re looking for an experienced and dynamic coordinator to take the lead.

    Ideally, you’ll have experience of working with schools, youth organisations and other partners to coordinate the delivery of youth projects and make them a success. You’ll love empowering young people, helping them to develop new skills and achieve real influence over climate action in the county, building effective working relations with schools, partners and contractors.

    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 – Youth Projects Coordinator

    Candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted by 5pm on Tuesday 21 September 2021.
    Interviews will be held via Zoom on Tuesday 28 September 2021.

    Job description

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

    Job Description – Youth Projects Coordinator

    BENEFITS: CAfS offers an excellent working environment, with benefits ranging from flexible working to a pension contribution. Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS

    THE EMPLOYER: Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)  

    LOCATION: Contractually based at our office, Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET, however, homeworking can be agreed. The role is also likely to involve extensive travel around Cumbria. 

    REPORTS TO: Project Manager, Zero Carbon Cumbria  

    HOURS: 22.5 hours (3 days) a week. Flexible working hours.   

    SALARY RANGE: £21,000 – £25,000 a year full-time equivalent (£12,600 – £15,000 for the 22.5-hour week), dependent on skills and experience.   

    DURATION: Initial fixed-term contract from October 2021 to 31 August 2022 with potential to extend subject to additional funding. 

    START DATE: As soon as possible 

    APPLICATIONS BY: 9am on Monday 20 September 2021

    CAfS strives to be diverse and inclusive in all aspects of its work. We value different perspectives and backgrounds on the team. The wellbeing of our staff is important and we are a flexible employer.     

    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.   

    Formed in 1998, CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of 25 highly skilled staff, working with specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver a range of transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria driving action on climate change and serving as the first point of reference on sustainability co-chairing the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership of more than 80 organisations working to reduce our county’s emissions.   

    BACKGROUND TO THE YOUTH PROJECTS:  

    This role will manage and integrate two differently funded youth projects. 

    1.) The Greener Schools project will work with 16 primary and secondary schools across Cumbria providing school children with the skills and confidence to respond positively to climate emergency and improve their environmental footprint and that of the school.  

    It will involve working with schools to identify their individual needs through an environmental audit/review, advise on solutions, and support new initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. Students will be trained in the skills needed to carry out a school environmental audit, will conduct the audit and report the results to the school. They will also lead debates on the actions that should be taken and then deliver the actions with teachers and others. 

    The project aims to: 

    • Improve education, confidence and skills of young people involved.  
    • Support children and young people to: 
    • Design projects, make decisions, influence others, and take direct action. 
    • Improve research and analysis, debating and critical reflection skills. 
    • Gain knowledge and skills to lower their schools and their own carbon footprints, empowering them to share knowledge and ideas in the wider community. 
    • Be introduced to opportunities for careers in the built environment, energy efficiency and nature sectors.  
    • Carry a better understanding of climate change action, carbon and resource efficiency into their adult lives. 
    • Help to improve the learning environments by making schools warmer and more energy efficient, with more space to engage with nature and the opportunity to eat healthy, low carbon meals. 

    2.) CAfS has also been awarded £2.5 million from the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund on behalf of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership (ZCCP) for a five-year “Zero Carbon Cumbria – by the People for the People” project.  

    This 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. 

    Part of the project includes funding for a Cumbria Youth Climate Action Programme which will include:  

    • Youth Voice – young people will be coordinated and supported to develop skills and capacity to talk with confidence to people in power.  
    • Youth Climate Council – a group of children and young people will be supported to run a Youth Climate Council and to connect with key decision makers to question and explore ways that they can reduce emissions effectively.  
    • Youth Climate Reporters – young people will be supported and trained to enable them to report on climate related news.  
    • Youth Climate Summits – which bring together children, young people and teachers from over 50 schools and colleges.  
    • Schools events programme to harness passion and encourage action in more children and young people across schools.  
    • Training for teachers – carbon literacy, to help empower young people to lead projects, take safe social action and influence parents to support young people’s ideas.  

     As a consequence, young people will: 

    • Be empowered to engage in meaningful ways with politicians, business leaders, policy makers and the media.  
    • Have greater knowledge and clearer understanding of ways they can influence a reduction in carbon and wider environmental impacts.  
    • Be trained in communication skills and climate science and solutions and will be empowered to run events with others. 

    More information about the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme is available here: https://cafs.org.uk/our–projects/zero–carboncumbria–programme/ 

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE: 

    Supported by the ZCC Project Manager and other colleagues, the main purpose of this role is to work with schools, youth organisations and other partners to coordinate the successful delivery of youth projects managed by CAfS. 

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY AND MAIN TASKS: 

    • Act as a first point of contact for the youth projects delivered by CAfS. 
    • Responsible for the successful delivery of the Greener Schools project. 
    • Oversee a quality product, providing direction and input into resources, lesson plans and other aspects of delivery.  
    • Establish and manage a pool of environmental trainers/auditors who could provide advice and support to schools to help them undertake environmental audits/reviews and support children in implementing the associated recommendations.  
    • Support the implementation of the recommendations arising from the environmental audits/reviews. 
    • Establish and support a peer climate action support network to facilitate peer-to-peer communication following the audits/reviews. 
    • Liaise with the Climate and Carbon Literacy Training manager to arrange carbon literacy training for teachers, youth organisations and young people. 
    • Liaise with the CAfS marketing and communications team and youth organisations to develop and implement a marketing plan for each youth project. 
    • Establish partnerships with youth organisations, schools and other organisations to support delivery of the various youth projects.  
    • Provide support to the ZCC Project Manager to help establish and deliver the Cumbria Youth Climate Action Programme. 
    • Liaise with our Events and Training Coordinator to organise climate related events for children and young people. 
    • Liaise with the Cumbria Sustainability Network Coordinator to facilitate opportunities for young people to be actively involved in grassroots sustainability groups. 
    • Collate feedback and other information from the various youth projects to inform the on-going delivery of the services and for reporting purposes, including reporting to funders. 
    • Ensure compliance with safeguarding, data protection and other relevant regulations/policies/procedures. 

    KEY DELIVERABLES: 

    • 16 schools supported through the Greener Schools project 
    • 2,625 children reached (target age group 10-14. Year 6+) 
    • At least 10 carbon literacy training sessions for teachers 

    PERSON SPECIFICATION  

    Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

    • Experience of working with young people, schools and/or youth organisations. 
    • Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively with children, young people and their representative groups/organisations. 
    • Ability to develop effective working relations with schools, partners and contractors. 
    • Ability to manage a wide range of tasks and prioritise these effectively.  
    • Good contract management skills. 
    • Ability to use initiative and make effective decisions.  
    • Strong IT skills with the ability to use a comprehensive range of software (Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and MS Teams).  
    • Knowledge of available low-carbon solutions required to become a carbon-neutral society. 
    • Experience of project management, budget management and procurement. 
    • Understanding of and commitment to CAfS’ aims, values and objectives.  
    • Driving licence and access to car, or other means to travel independently around the county. 

    Desirable skills, knowledge and experience: 

    The following skills, knowledge and experience are desirable but not essential:  

    • Experience of teaching or training young people. 
    • Knowledge of the national curriculum 
    • Knowledge of schools and youth organisations in Cumbria. 
    • Experience of gathering feedback, analysis and reporting to funders. 

    If you would like more information about the role, please contact John Forbes, Zero Carbon Cumbria Project Manager, [email protected]. 

  • Shed 1 continues with CAfS’ as its charity partner for 2021

    Shed 1 continues with CAfS’ as its charity partner for 2021

    The award winning, Ulverston based, Shed 1 Gin approached us to be one of their 2020 charity partners.

    They are committed to pursuing a low carbon path and were keen to help support our work while doing so.

    Each year they run fundraising events and donate the proceeds of their Gin Jelly Marmalade to local charities, as well as a donation from every bottle and jar returned to them.

    However, 2020 wasn’t a year in which we could hold any events, so we were delighted when they kept us on as a partner this year as well.

    Our first fundraising evening with them is also a networking opportunity for local businesses wanting to cut their carbon footprint.

    It’s on 7 October and you can book here. If you want to find out more about CAfS partnering with your business, please visit our business partnerships page, or get in touch with [email protected]

  • New scheme boosts fruit and vegetable growing in Cumbria

    New scheme boosts fruit and vegetable growing in Cumbria

    Cumbrian farmers have dedicated acres of land to growing fruit and vegetables this year, thanks to support from a new initiative, Home Grown Here.

    The scheme will see a tasty range of fresh produce grown in the county, from peas and potatoes to apples to rhubarb. Fresh from the fields, it will all be enjoyed by Cumbrians and visitors through local retailers, cafés, restaurants, hotels, farm shops and veg box schemes.

    It’s the brainchild of the Eden-based growers’ co-operative VistaVeg, and is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund as part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership’s ambitious emission-reduction programme to make Cumbria carbon neutral by 2037.

    Lynn Barnes of VistaVeg says, “Cumbria has long had an enviable array of local meats, cheeses, preserves, artisan pies, baking, confectionery and drinks, but very few fruit and vegetable producers.  And it’s not because you can’t grow fruit and vegetables in Cumbria – you really can!  This project aims to offer something new to the local supply chain, making it much easier for Cumbrian businesses and ultimately residents and visitors to source locally-grown fruit and vegetables.”

    Keeping home grown produce here in the county will offer Cumbrians a host of delicious benefits. It will reduce food miles, encourage people to eat seasonally, involve less processing and packaging, and reduce waste by picking to order and re-using boxes.  All this is good news for Cumbria’s carbon footprint and for anyone thinking about moving to a low-carbon diet.

    “Many of the crops being grown this season require hand-picking, so that means more people will be out in the fields in place of machinery,” Lynn said. “That’s better for the environment, and it also means more jobs and consequently more money being spent in the local economy.” adds Lynn.

    Following a call-out to the local farming community earlier this year, 26 farmers and growers expressed an interest in growing at least one edible acre over the next five seasons.  Four farms were selected to begin sowing this spring, with another scheduled to plant fruit trees this winter.  A total of 17 acres has been brought into first-time vegetable production during 2021, in addition to a planned 12 acres of mixed fruit trees and grazing (agroforestry).  This all signifies an encouraging start to Home Grown Here.

    Henry Scholefield at Aikbank Farm at Calthwaite has just started picking his acre of peas this week which he sowed back in May.  The crop is heading off to various local buyers each week, who collect direct from the farm.  French beans, carrots, beetroot, turnips, swede and potatoes are in the pipeline from other farms involved in the project.

    “I decided to get involved in the project as I was looking for a way to diversify the business and liked the idea of more locally produced food being consumed in Cumbria. Peas were a crop which suited our cropping rotation and require very few artificial inputs so work well in our system,” said Henry.

    The next step for the scheme is to set up a new website – www.homegrownhere.co.uk – through which local wholesalers and businesses will be able to see what Cumbrian produce is available and source it directly.

    The intention is for Home Grown Here to evolve into a grower’s co-operative to provide advice, skills-sharing and networking opportunities to its grower members, a tool ring to share equipment, bulk purchasing of seed, plants and soil testing, personalised branding, and a route to local market for crops via online ordering on the website.

    John Forbes from Cumbria Action for Sustainability, project manager for the lottery-funded Zero Carbon Cumbria project, said, “It’s really pleasing to see how this exciting project is sprouting up.  I am sure that the first five brave vegetable pioneers will inspire many more local farmers to get involved with Home Grown Here in subsequent years.”

    Lynn would love to hear from businesses who’d like to source fresh produce through Home Grown Here, anyone who’d like paid work picking this season or any farmers interested in growing a crop next season.  She can be contacted on 07584 251352 or [email protected].