Join our photography competition this June. 

We’re looking for engaging and positive photos which best demonstrate how our work has supported your climate projects here in Cumbria.  

The competition is open until noon, Wednesday 28th June. Great Big Green Week is the perfect time to get involved.  

We are looking for inspiring images to share on our social channels and website that raise awareness of the broad array of climate action that we have supported in Cumbria. We will showcase the best photos on our website. At the end of the competition we will choose our three favourites to enter into The Big Photo Challenge for the chance to be featured on The Big Give site. 

Our favourite will receive a subscription to Ethical Consumer Magazine.

Your photo could win us a cash prize from Big Give support us to deliver our local climate action projects. 

 Terms and Conditions: 

By submitting images to CAfS each entrant confirms that: 

CAfS have permission to use all imagery for their marketing and can submit them to The Big Give’s Photo Challenge.  

They own the copyright and any other intellectual property rights of each image, and have given provided full credit of the image owner; 

They have permission of anyone pictured in the image (or, where the image shows any persons under 18, the consent of their parents / guardian) for the usage rights required by Big Give and CAfS and will indemnify Big Give and CAfS against any claims made by any thirs parties in respect of such infringement.  

They have received any necessary permission from the owner(s) of objects, including buildings including in submitted images for the usage rights required by CAfS and Big Give.  

Digital adjustments are acceptable and will be taken into account.  Cropping is allowed.

You can read The Big Give’s Terms and Conditions here: Salesforce 

Funding success from Energy Redress means that our very successful Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria project can continue to provide support, advice and practical help to hundreds of householders across Cumbria.

The Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme gathers funds from Ofgem’s enforcement and compliance scheme.  These are then distributed to organisations across Great Britain that provide energy advice, support decarbonisation activities and develop innovate energy-focused services and products.

CAfS success in the second round of Energy Redress funding means that we have received vital funds of over £290,000 specifically to support our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria project.

Andrew Northcott, our energy services manager explains, “We are delighted to hear about our application success for Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria. Our service is receiving incredibly high demand currently with over 100 clients waiting for a home visit and this new funding means we will be able continue for 2 more years. We’ll be providing lots more free and independent advice sessions to vulnerable customers to help them keep warm, reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions. We’ll provide advice at home visits, by telephone and at drop-in events.”

Read more about the Energy Redress Scheme

Find out about Cold to Cosy

You won’t have been able to avoid the news last week when scientists confirmed that our continuing use of fossil fuels means a high chance that we could see the world’s climate warming by 1.5° before 2027. 

Why warming of 1.5° is important.

The global temperatures warming by 1.5° is spoken about frequently because it represents a ‘tipping point’ for many of the world’s ecosystems.  It would mean that 14% of the Earth’s population will be exposed to severe heatwaves once every five years and a devastating effect on habitats and ocean systems. If it reaches 2°, 37% of the Earth’s population would be exposed to disastrous heatwaves and we could see the annihilation of most coral reefs as well as a complete loss of summer ice in the Arctic.  

Here in Cumbria, a 2010 report by Natural England predicted the changes we will experience, and are already experiencing due to climate change. An increase in extreme weather such as flooding and summer droughts, more soil erosion and wildfires impacts on water quality, the effects of which will significantly impact farming and tourism.  Local wildlife such as the mountain ringlet butterfly will also face changes to their habitat.   

But what can we do here in Cumbria?  

This predicted breach of 1.5° warming may only be temporary, but it could be the wake-up call that our governments and communities need.  Cutting carbon emissions has never been so urgent, and CAfS runs numerous projects across Cumbria to help do this, such as: 

• Supporting householders to reduce the amount of energy being wasted from heating damp, draughty homes. Our Cold to Cosy team have given advice that could prevent 520 tonnes CO2e from entering the atmosphere over the next ten years.  
• Our ‘Farming for a Future’ projects works with different types of farms across the county to explore renewable energy sources, making savings in money and energy.  
• Our award-winning Climate Literacy courses have helped over 1200 people understand the climate crisis, their own carbon footprint and identify the action they will take to reduce it. 

As part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria partnership we are supporting a wide range of community based and sustainability groups.  The partnership is working Cumbria-wide across four sectors, identified as key sources of emissions in our baseline report.  

• Farming and other and use 
• Consumption, waste and the circular economy 
• Transport and mobility  
• Buildings 

It involves over 80 organisations, has a grants programme to support local community groups to reduce their carbon footprint, has developed citizens juries and is building strong relationships across all sectors. Together we can do our bit to reduce emissions. You can find out more on the Zero Carbon Cumbria site.

Read more:  

NASA: Why Global Temperatures Matter  

2010 Report: Impact of Climate Change in Cumbria