Homepage

The UK's biggest ever celebration of tackling climate change and protecting nature is back! Great Big Green Week is celebrated this year between the 8th and 16th of June, Last year was the biggest here in Cumbria, with over 70 events listed on the Zero Carbon Cumbria site, and a huge diversity of events which appealed to a range of audiences across the county. This year the theme from The Climate Coalition is 'Let's Swap Together for Good' -and whilst events can cover any aspect of climate change and nature protection the theme encourages groups to explore events that reduce [...]

We are absolutely delighted to say WE DID IT! We beat our £20K target! A massive thank you to everyone who donated to our Big Give campaign this year to Fight for our Future, and to those of you who shared or retweeted our social media posts. Launching at lunchtime on Thursday 18 April, the week-long appeal saw a strong start, getting to 44% of our target after just four days. Donations continued to trickle in and after a mad flurry - and mild panic! - on the morning of Thursday 25 April, the target of £20k was met [...]

Are you ready to spring into climate action? CAfS are excited to announce that the 2024 Big Give appeal is now open for donations - with every penny matched thanks to the Green Match Fund. Your donations will support positive action right here in Cumbria; let's turn the tide on the climate crisis and create a brighter, greener future for all. Here in Cumbria, we are working to reduce carbon emissions as quickly as possible. We have made good progress in many areas, but we need your help to increase our impact and take significant action to tackle the [...]

As delivery partners in the Westmorland and Furness Green Enterprise Hub, CAfS have been able to support small and medium enterprises with tailored carbon reduction and sustainability support. “Our mission is to empower organisations to reduce their carbon footprint, drive innovation, and unlock the benefits of a cleaner, greener future.” One of the businesses we’ve been working with is Alpacally Ever After, a social enterprise that rehomes alpacas and llamas from all over the country and give them a wonderful new home with the very best of care, while bringing people in touch with the landscape and the natural world [...]

Our recent Solar Made Easy event in Grange Over Sands saw over 100 people from 70 households in attendance. The receptive and knowledgeable audience posed a raft of technical and testing questions to the installers Create Energy and Glow Solar who are two of five installation companies vetted by CAfS and working with us on the Solar Made Easy project. Many of the households have already progressed to obtaining quotes. The solar map commissioned by CAfS identifies over 4,500 rooves across the seven towns and villages on the Cartmel Peninsula that are suitable for solar panel installations, with the [...]

CAfS are gearing up for their "Fight for Our Future” appeal, to raise awareness of the effects of climate change on Cumbria’s young people and promote urgent action to protect their futures. CAfS aims to raise £20,000  to support this work, and between the 18th and 25th of April, any donations made will be doubled thanks to the Big Give’s Green Match Fund.  With the effects of climate change becoming more acutely felt, through extreme weather events, such as severe flooding, heatwaves and air pollution, recent studies have highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on young people. One [...]

It’s just 3 days until Easter and if you’re looking to celebrate sustainably you may be wondering about the footprint of your Easter egg and how you can do your bit for the climate.  Alongside issues such as child labour and workers’ rights, climate issues such as palm oil, excess packaging and whether to go vegan are all to be considered when making any chocolate purchase. Ethical Consumer have a useful guide to navigating your Easter egg choices here: Easter Eggs | Ethical Consumer  If you are in the habit of sending cards at Easter, why not check out our E-cards: [...]

Over the last year, the UK has experienced drought, widespread flooding and frequent storms. This has been mirrored across the globe where extreme weather events are becoming the norm. Here in Cumbria, we are working hard to reduce carbon emissions as quickly as possible, working with individuals, businesses and communities on everything from domestic and community energy to retrofit, green business support and sustainable agricultural practices.   Earth Day this year falls on Monday April 22nd - and we are talking to local schools, and youth groups, to encourage activities and conversations to raise awareness of climate action.  Earth [...]