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  • Join us for an epic day out on the Keswick to Barrow Walk! 

    Join us for an epic day out on the Keswick to Barrow Walk! 

    Are you looking for a challenge this year? Are you wanting to improve your fitness, enjoy a social day out and do something for the planet all at the same time? Then look no further! The Keswick to Barrow Walk is back and we are on the lookout for keen climate-conscious individuals to join our team and walk to raise money for local climate action.

    Held on 13 May, the route is a challenging 40 miles in length and winds its way from North Cumbria through the beautiful Lake District valleys to reach its destination on the outskirts of Barrow. Thousands of people take part each year and there are opportunities to win awards for all completers as well as for the fastest time and number of times completed – some people have completed the challenge a staggering 40 times!

    Want to take part, but feel it is all a step too far? Why not try the Coniston to Barrow Walk? Half the distance, but still just as much fun!

    Interested? We need to sign up our teams soon, so please get in touch with our friendly fundraising team on [email protected] for more info.

  • £15k boost for Climate Grants

    £15k boost for Climate Grants

    Our Community Climate Grant fund  has been given a £15,000 boost by South Lakeland District Council. 

    The fund, also backed by the National Lottery, is aimed at helping local community groups fight climate change. SLDC’s contribution will fund carbon reducing projects led by voluntary sector groups in the South Lakeland area. 

    Open to not-for-profit groups within Cumbria, the grants range from £200 to £10,000, for projects and events that raise awareness of the urgent need to stop climate change and to reduce carbon emissions from energy use, land use, waste and transport.   

    Helen Attewell, Coordinator of the Cumbria Sustainability Network, said: “Groups based in South Lakes which are aiming to cut carbon and do their bit for the environment have already benefited from £22,485 from the Community Climate Grants scheme.  We are delighted to have an additional £15,000 from the District Council to put towards this important work to bring communities together and build a greener future.  I’m looking forward to more proposals coming forward and am always happy to offer my support to help get things off the ground.” 

    The £15,000 grant from SLDC was one of the final awards from SLDC’s Locally Important Projects (LIPs) scheme, which used New Homes Bonus funds to address the needs of local communities and distributed £1.2 million to 118 projects since 2013. 

    Councillor Dyan Jones, portfolio holder for climate action and biodiversity, said: “I am delighted that South Lakeland District Council has been able to pledge support for carbon reducing projects led by voluntary sector groups in the South Lakeland area through CAfS’ Community Climate Grants Fund.  

    “Collaboration and partnership underpins so many things already accomplished and in progress as we meet the challenges of climate change. So it is fitting that one of the final grants from our LIPs fund goes to a partner we have developed a close and effective relationship with, which will in turn support many projects in local communities.” 

    Most grants will be awarded in small amounts, with straightforward application process that’s been designed with community groups in mind. Funding of £750 can be available within a matter of days for projects that meet the eligibility criteria, with medium grants of up to £2,000 being assessed and awarded within a month.  Organisations that are looking to raise larger amounts are encouraged to get in touch with the Community Climate Grants team to talk about their projects. 

    The grants are part of an ambitious Cumbria wide programme being driven by the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership of over 80 organisations which aims to make Cumbria carbon neutral by 2037.    

    CAfS is running the grant scheme in partnership with the Cumbria Sustainability Network of more than a dozen community groups from across the county that are working to tackle climate change.  For full details, see https://cafs.org.uk/climate-grants/

  • Pioneering partnership will tackle carbon reduction barriers for rural businesses

    Pioneering partnership will tackle carbon reduction barriers for rural businesses

    An innovative partnership project aimed at helping move South Lakeland towards net zero has been backed to the tune of nearly £75,000 – with the potential to draw down millions more. 

    The project will look at the barriers that are stopping rural businesses from cutting their carbon emissions and how those challenges can be reduced or removed. It’ll be delivered by a collaboration between CAfS, South Lakeland District Council and the University of Cumbria, thanks to the £74,625 funding from Innovate UK, the government innovation agency, announced today. 

    Such barriers include high transport costs, inability to achieve economies of scale, green skills shortage, inefficient housing stock and lack of funding. 

    CAfS chief executive Karen Mitchell welcomed the announcement that South Lakeland’s bid is among the thirty from across the UK that have been successful in the ‘Net zero living: Pioneer places’ competition – and from which six will be picked to share £30 million to put their carbon reduction plan into action. 

    “We’re really pleased that this crucial project can go ahead,” Karen said. “Rural areas like South Lakeland can be hard hit by the kinds of extreme weather events caused by climate change. We look forward to working with local communities and businesses to figure out how to reduce their use of fossil fuels in ways that benefit their lives and livelihoods.” 

    Helen Manns, director for the University of Cumbria’s Institute of Science & Environment, said: “The University of Cumbria is pleased to be a partner in such an exciting project. We were established in Cumbria for a reason, and this drives us. We work in and through student, educational, employer, sector and place-based partnerships and collaborations, to co-create and apply new knowledge and to positively embrace our civic responsibilities. The project’s focus on carbon reduction aligns with our own carbon reduction ambitions and commitment to supporting research into sustainability and carbon reduction.”

    Councillor Dyan Jones, South Lakeland District Council’s portfolio holder for climate action and biodiversity, said: “As a council, we declared our position back in 2019, recognising the climate emergency, committing to action and unanimously agreeing to make this a public commitment by informing, influencing and implementing in all areas under our direct control, where feasible and realistic. 

    “We feel passionately that working collaboratively to support action is the only way to have a chance of meeting the challenges brought about by climate change and moving to net zero. I am delighted our project has been backed by Innovate UK and can’t wait to see the outcome.” 

    The other partners in the project are the Victorian House Hotel in Grasmere, Fell Brewery, Holker Estates, Kendal Nutricare, Ourea Events, Pelta Medical, Playdale Playgrounds and the Heaton Cooper Studio. Tim Bloomer, managing director at Fell Brewery, welcomed the support the project will offer his small independent craft brewery and bars business:

    “With operations spanning the production, distribution and hospitality sectors, we are well versed in and aware of the unique challenges that the economy of South Lakes faces. The prospect of developing and adapting our processes to become truly environmentally sustainable is something we are committed to above all else at Fell. Having begun to get to grips with the task at hand, it is undoubtedly daunting but nevertheless exhilarating, exciting and presents huge opportunities for our local economy.”

    The South Lakeland project builds on the work of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership (ZCCP), which brings together more than eighty public, private and third sector organisations working towards a net zero county. 

    The project will focus on the priority areas for carbon emissions reduction that the ZCCP has already identified, including improving the energy efficiency of buildings, enabling active travel and electric vehicle infrastructure, decarbonising local manufacture and production, and the rural economy. 

  • Job: Customer Administrator

    Job: Customer Administrator

    Closing date: 9am 24 January

    SALARY RANGE: £21,225 to £24,000 full-time equivalent. Starting salary dependent on skills and experience.

    LOCATION: Contractually based at our office, Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET. Homeworking can be agreed. Occasional meetings required at venues across Cumbria.

    HOURS: 22.5 – 30 hours a week with flexibility to be worked across 3, 4 or 5 days.

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    DURATION: Fixed term contract for 6 months

    We are expanding our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service in order to deliver more free home energy advice support across all districts of Cumbria. The service supports vulnerable people who may be living in cold, draughty or damp homes. 

    Our  Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service includes:  

    • Advice about home energy efficiency over the telephone and in-home by trained CAfS employees and contractors. 
    • Events and training about home energy efficiency for householders and volunteers.
    • Providing energy saving measures to households

    We also increasingly offer a range of commercial services to householders, including energy audits and advice.   

    We are looking for Customer Administrator who will play an important part in delivering Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria, as well as other services we provide. The role provides the first point of contact for customers when they enquire about and apply for services. The role also includes booking in appointments for clients and booking our home energy adviser team to provide the services. 

    The role is to:

    • Assist the Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria team to deliver home energy advice and paid services.  
    • Provide excellent customer service to our clients, including vulnerable customers.  
    • Deliver a range of administrative duties in support of the project team. 

    Working for CAfS

    As an employee of Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), you’ll be working for an organisation that is flexible, supportive and values your wellbeing. We can offer you a healthy work/life balance, including some flexibility in when and where you work your hours, along with an employer pension contribution of 6% from day one of employment and holiday entitlement of 22 days pro rata plus bank and public holidays.

    CAfS is Cumbria’s climate change organisation. Our vision is a zero carbon Cumbria which is socially, environmentally, and economically beneficial for all. We aim to achieve this by promoting and facilitating low carbon living and its benefits – inspiring and supporting individuals, communities, and organisations across Cumbria and beyond to decarbonise lives and businesses by 2037 or sooner.

    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. 

    We hope you will consider joining us and being part of Cumbria-wide efforts to tackle climate change while making lives better.

    Job description: customer administrator

    Download the full job description and person specification to see full details about the role

    Customer Administrator Job Description

    How to apply

    Apply with the application form. CVs will not be accepted.

    Interviews will be held in week commencing 30 January 2023. 

    Interviews will be via Zoom. The interview process will involve one or more tasks relating to the role. Candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted by 9am on 26 January 2023. 

    If you would like more information about the role, please email: elena.parsons@cafs.org.uk 

    CAfS Application-Form

    Some great benefits of working at CAfS

    Deciding whether to apply? Working at CAfS comes with some great benefits. You’ll be joining a friendly and supportive organisation, and your wellbeing and work/life balance are hugely important to us. As well as flexibility around your working hours and location, as mentioned above, you’ll have 22 days of paid annual leave pro rata, plus bank/public holidays. We pay an employer pension contribution of 6% from day one of employment.  

    Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

  • Volunteers sought to lead Zero Carbon Cumbria sector groups

    Volunteers sought to lead Zero Carbon Cumbria sector groups

    The Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership is looking for four dynamic and visionary people to lead the county’s four industry sector groups. These voluntary roles present a unique opportunity to use your skills and experience to steer a critical and influential project in tackling the climate crisis in Cumbria.

    Through the Carbon Baseline Report for Cumbria, the partnership has identified the county’s major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and these make up the four sector groups – transport, buildings, land use and agriculture, and consumption. We know the scale of emissions and the actions that can be taken to reduce them. Alongside that, we know the scale of opportunity for carbon sequestration from natural systems such as peatlands and woodland.

    Working together with partners and stakeholders, the partnership now needs to build on that knowledge to determine the pathway to net zero carbon emissions for each of the four sectors. This will be led by the four sector group leads, supported by the ZCC Partnership manager, Tim Gale.

    Closing date is 31 Jan – For more details, including an information pack and details on how to apply, please visit the ZCC website >

  • Job: Finance and Resources Manager

    Job: Finance and Resources Manager

    Closing date: 15 Feb

    SALARY RANGE: £30,000 – £40,000 a year full-time equivalent. Starting salary dependent on skills and experience.

    LOCATION: Contractually based at our office, Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET, however we encourage flexible working patterns and blended home and office working.

    HOURS: 22.5 – 30 hours a week with flexibility to be worked across 5 days.

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    DURATION: Permanent contract

    We’re looking for a finance professional to take the lead on the day to day management of our finances who also has the appetite to work strategically and develop new, more efficient ways of managing our budgets and staffing capacity. It is a role which sits at the heart of CAfS, working across our teams and closely with the chief executive and board of trustees.

    You will have a track record of developing and implementing financial management, monitoring and reporting systems. You will have an interest and ability in working at a strategic level. Your numeracy skills will be excellent as will your ability to develop collaborative relationships with your colleagues.

    The role also leads our tight-knit finance and admin team of five part time employees with one direct report. This team is the backbone of CAfS. The finance manager line manages our office and people support manager, who ensures the day–to–day implementation of various aspects of office administration and HR including recruitment, induction, performance management, data protection and health and safety. The team also includes a dedicated administration and finance officer who delivers day to day support for financial management.

    Working for CAfS

    As an employee of Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), you’ll be working for an organisation that is flexible, supportive and values your wellbeing. We can offer you a healthy work/life balance, including some flexibility in when and where you work your hours, along with an employer pension contribution of 6% from day one of employment and holiday entitlement of 22 days pro rata plus bank and public holidays.

    CAfS is Cumbria’s climate change organisation. Our vision is a zero carbon Cumbria which is socially, environmentally, and economically beneficial for all. We aim to achieve this by promoting and facilitating low carbon living and its benefits – inspiring and supporting individuals, communities, and organisations across Cumbria and beyond to decarbonise lives and businesses by 2037 or sooner.

    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. 

    We hope you will consider joining us and being part of Cumbria-wide efforts to tackle climate change while making lives better.

    Before applying, you’re encouraged to email [email protected] to arrange a half hour phone call with our chief executive, Karen Mitchell, during which she will talk through the role and answer questions.

    Job description: finance and resource manager

    Download the full job description and person specification to see full details about the role and the skills and experience you’d ideally have:

    Finance & Resources Manager – job description

    How to apply

    Apply with your CV (to include details of your education, qualifications, training, roles, responsibilities and references) and a completed Expression of Interest form.  

    We will assess and interview candidates as we receive applications, so do please submit early. The closing date is 28 Feb. 

    Before applying, you’re encouraged to email [email protected] to arrange a half-hour phone call with our chief executive, Karen Mitchell, during which she will talk through the role and answer questions. 

    Finance Manager – expression of interest

    Some great benefits of working at CAfS

    Deciding whether to apply? Working at CAfS comes with some great benefits. You’ll be joining a friendly and supportive organisation, and your wellbeing and work/life balance are hugely important to us. As well as flexibility around your working hours and location, as mentioned above, you’ll have 22 days of paid annual leave pro rata, plus bank/public holidays. We pay an employer pension contribution of 6% from day one of employment.  

    Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

  • It’s the wrong choice: Cumbrian coal mine approved

    It’s the wrong choice: Cumbrian coal mine approved

    The government has made the wrong choice in approving the Whitehaven coal mine. It will add to damaging climate change exactly when we need to be adopting new, clean technologies for steel production instead of polluting fossil fuels and flies in the face of promises made at the UN climate summit hosted by the UK government last year.

    West Cumbria needs new jobs and people may have welcomed the mine for that reason, but it is extremely unlikely it will have the lifespan that West Cumbria Mining has suggested. Instead, we could be growing the industries that are crucial to our future and which help to create a better world. We know from independent research that we could have decent, long-term, well-paid jobs in Cumbria in the industries of the future – like installing and maintaining wind turbines, solar panels and heat pumps, driving ahead with the switch to electric vehicles, and insulating homes so that they’re warm and cheap to run for families.

    The evidence could not be clearer that we must stop digging up and burning fossil fuels in order to protect the world that we and future generations rely on for our health and wellbeing. The potential is here for Cumbria to shift its path to a better future, with the right training opportunities, investment, collaboration, resources and planning.

    See CAfS research report The Potential for Green Jobs in Cumbria report

  • Great ways to give this Christmas

    Great ways to give this Christmas

    With Christmas now less than a month away, many of us will be starting to think about gifts and cards for family and friends and perhaps how we can make our festive celebrations a little more climate friendly this year.

    We’ve brought together a few hassle-free ways to do some climate good this Christmas.

    Give the gift of a donation

    If you’re struggling to think of a gift for that person who has everything and want your money to do some real good for the planet this Christmas, give the gift of a donation to support local climate action this Christmas. £15 could help more people in energy crisis access our services through our energy helpline, £25 could support young people to get their climate concerns heard and £50 could help a community initiate a renewable energy project.

    Make Christmas a little greener by donating to CAfS or click here to make a business donation.

    Send festive e-cards and ditch paper card waste

    We have signed up to the online platform Don’t Send Me a Card for you to send virtual festive wishes, and in the process, do something for the planet by reducing Christmas card waste. Save your precious time, and 140g of carbon for each card you don’t send, and donate the cost of your cards and stamps to us! There are several designs to choose from including a couple by our team and their children – head on over to have a look and donate the cost of your stamps to support CAfS this Christmas!

    Send virtual Christmas cards though Don’t Send Me A Card

    Give the gift of carbon literacy

    If you’re looking for an alternative gift to give this Christmas or know someone who would be interested in learning more about the climate crisis and what they can do to make change, sign them up for one of our carbon literacy courses to help them start the new year in a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way.

    Give a carbon literacy course – see our forthcoming events.

    Give as you Live and support climate action through your festive shop

    Raise money for CAfS through your online shopping at no extra cost to you by signing up to Give as you Live. Over 6,000 stores are involved so whether you’re shopping for sprouts, or purchasing Christmas PJs, by using the Give as you Live website or app we get a donation each time you shop!

    Support CAfS through Give as you Live – Sign up now!

  • Volunteer Climate Champions spread the message

    Volunteer Climate Champions spread the message

    Did you know about the growing network of climate champion volunteers across Cumbria?  

    In July we recruited a team of volunteer ‘climate champions’ for the second year in a row. Each champion completed accredited Carbon Literacy training delivered by us and further training to prepare them for setting up and delivering events in their community.  

    This year many of the events have had creative themes, such as green bunting and banner making and a plant-based brunch to engage families. In fact, one champion set up a dedicated Facebook group for parents to reduce their carbon emissions (which you can join; search ‘Cumbrian Parents Carbon Challenge’). Following that, a group of three champions held an online webinar sharing a whole range of ways to reduce both household costs and impact on the planet. 

    Our champions have been engaging their parish councils in putting climate matters on the agenda (for example in Levens in South Lakes, and St Bees in Copeland) or demonstrating composting best practice in Caldbeck and Gosling Sike. Another champion connected with an organisation that enables adults to deliver talks in schools to encourage students to make green career choices (this champion recently spoke to thirty 6th formers at a school in Appleby). We have even seen musical events, such as a concert with musicians performing songs about the climate and our relationship to the earth, with each artist explaining why they had chosen that song and why it is so important to drive down our emissions.   

    There are some events planned for December – why not go along? 
    • 5th: ‘When climate change makes you move’ – A talk and presentation about how extreme weather events in the Global South are forcing people to migrate. Friends Meeting House, Cockermouth, 7.30pm. Register (free of charge) on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-climate-change-makes-you-move-a-talk-by-joe-human-tickets-466301629727?aff=ebdssbdestsearch   
    • 7th: Participatory Practice in Action – learn how to engage an audience in a discussion through taking part in this lively workshop. We’ll be tackling the ever present issue of how to bring more people into taking action on the climate crisis. Eden Rural Foyer, 10.30am – 3pm. Lunch included! Contact Clare, project coordinator.  
    • 15th: ‘When climate change makes you move’ – A talk and presentation about how extreme weather events are forcing people in the Global South to migrate. Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven. 

    Next year, funding permitting, we would like to recruit a new cohort of champions to continue igniting the ambition within all Cumbrian residents to help our county reach net zero by 2037.

    Watch this space for more details. 

  • Young people draw a roadmap to greener transport

    Young people draw a roadmap to greener transport

    Schoolchildren from all over Cumbria have called for local action to ensure sustainable, safe transport and to tackle climate change, at a Youth Climate Summit held on 20 October in Carlisle.

    The event, supported by CAfS through the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme, explored the theme of Making Change in Your Community: Transport Solutions. The pupils questioned how they could steer climate action in the county. They heard from guest speaker Richard Ingham, Bicycle Mayor of Cumbria, about his mission to convince policy-makers to invest in more infrastructure for cycling in the county, and to grow a culture of cycling for transport.

    The young people then developed ideas for green and safe local transport options and how to bring them into action. They examined how to communicate messages through different artforms, and how to plan a campaign that could influence their local community and beyond. The children re-imagined what Cumbria might look like with fewer cars and sustainable transport solutions.

    One of the young people who attended said: “We really enjoyed the summit. Meeting other young people and building connections and finding out more about the impact transport has on the climate. It was great to have the opportunity to share our ideas and the projects we have been working on in our schools and taking part in workshops.”

    The summit closed with schools making pledges and thinking about their next steps. Following on from the event, the pupils will now present their findings and discussions to decision makers in Cumbria.

    “It is always an inspiration to work with young people to build solutions for issues they are passionate about,” said Laura Goad, director of Cumbria Development Education Centre, who organised the event in association with CAfS, on behalf of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.

    “We look forward to supporting our schools and young people to turn their ideas into actions. We are also grateful to the range of partners who supported the day, by delivering workshops and bringing their expertise. A special thanks goes to Isabella, Clare and Matilda – the young people who hosted and facilitated the event.”

    Partnership co-chair and CAfS chief executive, Karen Mitchell, said: “It’s been incredibly inspiring to see our young people use their voices and develop their ideas on how Cumbria can tackle the really difficult issue of reducing our polluting emissions from transport. Involving young people in this way is a hugely important part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership’s approach to fighting climate change. Decision makers must now respond to what our young people are demanding as it’s their futures that we must protect.”

    The event was hosted at Carlisle United’s ground. Carlisle United Charitable Sports Trust sustainability officer, Natasha Messier, said: “The Trust was really pleased and excited to support the Youth Climate Summit event. It builds on our sustainability work as a trust. The young people were inspirational and powerful.”

    The Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership brings together 80 organisations working towards the goal of net zero carbon emissions in the county. Co-chaired by CAfS and Cumbria County Council, the partnership is supported by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund.