CAfS

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  • Research to find good businesses who do retrofit work in Cumbria

    Research to find good businesses who do retrofit work in Cumbria

    Over the last year, a growing number of householders across Cumbria have taken up our paid energy advice service and report: the “Home Retrofit Planner”. In order to help householders onward through the retrofit process, we are now collecting information on the building and retrofit industry in Cumbria. 

    If you’ve had work done to your home to make it more energy efficient, we would love to hear about your experiences of the suppliers and trades you used.  

    We will use your feedback to help us identify companies that might wish to join our network of suppliers involved in retrofit design, installation or building work.  

    Take the survey.

    This survey has 10 questions for each business. We are interested in all kinds of skills and trades including architects, surveyors, installers of renewable technologies, all kinds of insulation work, air tightness work and draughtproofing, ventilation systems, windows, roofing work, and others. 

    Alongside this, any tradespeople looking to become more knowledgeable can get training in home energy retrofitting and low carbon heat insulation by applying for free or subsidised training. This is under the BEIS Skills Training Competition scheme.

    Apply here.

  • Job: Senior Marketing Officer

    Job: Senior Marketing Officer

    Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 August 2021

    We are looking for an experienced communications professional for a new senior role within our growing marketing team. You’ll have the skills and experience to create and deliver creative and effective marketing strategies and action plans for our diverse projects, as well as supporting our wider communications. You’ll have hands-on marketing skills, from writing press releases and producing flyers through to digital marketing, and you’ll also be skilled at coordinating the work of others to ensure action plans are delivered on time and within budget. As part of a team of four marketing professionals, you’ll play a critical part in the success of our projects and in enabling us to achieve our vision of a zero carbon Cumbria.

    Application & Interview Process

    To apply, please send a CV along with a covering letter outlining the skills and abilities you can bring to this job. Please include in your letter any special qualities that you feel might differentiate you from other candidates, and identify how your experience and abilities relate to the essential/desirable qualities listed in the person specification.

    In your letter, please also answer the following questions:

    • Do you have a driving licence and access to a car for work? If no, please outline (in under 50 words) how you plan to travel independently throughout rural Cumbria.
    • How much notice do you need to give your current employer?
    • How did you hear about this job?

    Please indicate the title of the job you are applying for. Please submit no more than 2 x A4 pages of text in font size 11.

    Please send your CV and covering letter to: [email protected].

    INTERVIEWS: Online interviews via Zoom will be held on Tuesday 24 August 2021. (Applicants will be informed by Wednesday 18 August 2021 if they are invited for interview.)

    If you are selected for interview, you will be asked to prepare a short presentation, to be delivered during the interview. The interview process will also involve one or more marketing related tasks.

    Job description

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

    Senior Marketing Officer – Job Description

    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.

    REPORTS TO: Marketing & Communications Manager

    HOURS:  30 hours (4 days) a week

    SALARY RANGE: £23,000 to £28,000 full-time equivalent, (£18,400 to £22,400 for the 4-day week), depending on skills and experience

    DURATION: Fixed-term contract for 24 months (with potential to extend subject to additional funding)

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    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 nearly 80 organisations working to reduce our county’s emissions.

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE: 

    Motivating and empowering individuals and organisations to take action on climate change is what CAfS is all about, and marketing plays a critical role. As a senior member of our growing marketing team, your work will be crucial in making our many exciting projects a success – from the high-profile Zero Carbon Cumbria programme through to our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service.

    You’ll use your marketing skills and experience to engage people from different walks of life in our projects, whether that’s attracting attendees for our events and training courses, bringing in new customers for our paid and free services, and encouraging people to use the resources we provide to enable them to live and work more sustainably. Your work will help to broaden our reach, deepen our engagement and continue building our strong reputation and profile.

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

    You’ll develop marketing strategies and action plans for individual CAfS’ projects, working in conjunction with the marketing & communications manager for more complex strategies. You’ll ensure delivery of action plans, coordinating the work of marketing colleagues, contractors and suppliers.

    You’ll also support the marketing & communications manager with the development and delivery of CAfS’ organisational marketing and communications strategy and elements of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership’s communications strategy.

    MAIN TASKS:

    • Develop marketing strategies and action plans for individual projects and core work including recruitment and fundraising
    • Plan and carry out audience (and other) research to inform our strategies and refine our messaging
    • Plan, write and publish/distribute content such as newsletter articles, website pages and news posts, press releases, case studies, fact sheets
    • Contribute to building effective media relations, supporting our proactive and reactive media work
    • Plan and oversee delivery of digital marketing components of action plans, in conjunction with project managers, marketing officers and contractors
    • Oversee production of newsletters
    • Plan, create, schedule and monitor social media content
    • Plan, write and oversee production of publicity materials such as leaflets, posters and exhibition materials, working with designers and other suppliers
    • Oversee the use of partner channels to share content in support of action plans, such as their websites, newsletters and social media channels, and reciprocal sharing of partner content via CAfS’ channels
    • Source images and video footage, overseeing cataloguing media in CAfS’ digital libraries
    • Plan and oversee print advertising including design
    • Lead the expansion of our marketing lists for key audience groups
    • Evaluate the effectiveness of our action plans and identify opportunities for improvement, overseeing the collation of data and team members’ insights, and put forward recommendations for ongoing improvement of our communications
    • Attend internal (and occasionally external) project meetings to provide advice and coordinate delivery of action plans
    • Contribute to producing corporate documents such as our annual report
    • Manage the marketing budget for individual projects, logging and reporting expenditure
    • Support colleagues and partners to build their communications skills by giving advice, briefings and informal training sessions on aspects of marketing
    • Ensure adherence to CAfS’ brand, relevant best practice and regulations including data protection, accessibility, and media law such as libel and copyright
    • Assist in the management and improvement of the CAfS website
    • Support the marketing manager in developing, delivering and reviewing the CAfS’ organisational marketing strategy, and in delivering elements of more complex, strategic projects
    • Work with the whole staff team to carry out any other task or project required from time to time, as directed by the manager or trustees

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    Essential skills and attributes:

    • An understanding of and interest in the objectives that CAfS seeks to deliver
    • Around five years’ experience of developing and delivering successful communications and marketing strategies
    • Experience of digital marketing, including social media, websites, email marketing and online advertising
    • Experience of coordinating the work of others to deliver marketing action plans
    • Excellent writing and editing skills for a range of communications purposes, from web content and social media posts to flyers and corporate documents
    • Experience of audience research and segmentation for marketing purposes
    • Excellent verbal communication and influencing skills
    • Experience of writing press releases and responding to media approaches
    • Ability to coordinate photography and film making
    • Driven to keep up to date with developments in marketing and apply new knowledge, tools and trends to improve communications outcomes
    • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, managing workload and competing priorities
    • Working knowledge of regulations and standards relevant to communications, such as GDPR and accessibility

    The following are desirable but not essential:

    • Experience of developing and managing project branding.
    • Experience of managing communications assets such as imagery and video footage.
    • Experience of helping others to build their communications skills and comply with quality standards and brand guidelines.
    • Experience of working in the environmental sector.
    • An existing network of contacts across Cumbria.
    • Understanding of the characteristics of the voluntary sector.
    • Experience of recruitment marketing.
    • Experience of fundraising marketing.

    For more information about the role, please email Jaki Bell, marketing & communications manager: [email protected].

  • Job: Marketing Officer

    Job: Marketing Officer

    Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 August 2021

    We are looking for a communications professional with expertise in digital marketing for a new role within our growing marketing team. From Google and social media advertising to email marketing and analytics, you’ll enhance our capabilities and help us to expand our reach. As part of a busy team, however, you’ll also help to deliver other aspects of our marketing action plans, from writing press releases, newsletters and website content through to producing flyers. You’ll play a critical part in the success of our projects and in enabling us to achieve our vision of a zero carbon Cumbria.

    Application & Interview Process

    To apply, please send a CV along with a covering letter outlining the skills and abilities you can bring to this job. Please include in your letter any special qualities that you feel might differentiate you from other candidates, and identify how your experience and abilities relate to the essential/desirable qualities listed in the person specification.

    In your letter, please also answer the following questions:

    • Do you have a driving licence and access to a car for work? If no, please outline (in under 50 words) how you plan to travel independently throughout rural Cumbria.
    • How much notice do you need to give your current employer?
    • How did you hear about this job?

    Please indicate the title of the job you are applying for. Please submit no more than 2 x A4 pages of text in font size 11.

    Please send your CV and covering letter to: [email protected].

    INTERVIEWS: Online interviews via Zoom will be held on Wednesday 25 August 2021. (Applicants will be informed by Wednesday 18 August 2021 if they are invited for interview.)

    If you are selected for interview, you will be asked to prepare a short presentation, to be delivered during the interview. The interview process will also involve one or more marketing related tasks.

    Job description

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

    Marketing Officer – Job Description

    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.

    REPORTS TO: Marketing & Communications Manager

    HOURS: 22.5 hours (3 days) a week

    SALARY RANGE: £21,000 to £25,000 full-time equivalent (£12,600 to £15,000 for the 3-day week), depending on skills and experience

    DURATION:  Fixed-term contract for 12 months (with potential to extend subject to funding)

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    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 nearly 80 organisations working to reduce our county’s emissions.

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE

    Motivating and empowering individuals and organisations to take action on climate change is what CAfS is all about, and marketing plays a critical role. As part of our growing marketing team, your work will be crucial in making our many exciting projects a success – from the high-profile Zero Carbon Cumbria programme through to our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service.

    You’ll use your marketing skills and experience to engage people from different walks of life in our projects, whether that’s attracting attendees for our events and training courses, bringing in new customers for our paid and free services, and encouraging people to use the resources we provide to enable them to live and work more sustainably. Your work will help to broaden our reach, deepen our engagement and continue building our strong reputation and profile.

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

    You’ll enhance the digital marketing expertise in our team, spending over 50% of your time on this increasingly critical aspect of our marketing.

    As part of a small and busy team, however, you’ll also deliver other aspects of our marketing plans, from writing website content to responding to media enquiries and producing publicity materials.

    MAIN TASKS

    • Contribute to the development of marketing strategies and action plans by senior marketing staff, feeding in your insights and ideas
    • Create, schedule and monitor organic social media content
    • Google ads – researching keywords, setting up and monitoring ad campaigns across the search and display networks
    • Social media advertising – developing ad content (text and imagery), setting up and monitoring campaigns on a range of platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
    • Google analytics and tag manager – setting up and monitoring conversion events and traffic on our website and reporting on the outcomes of campaigns
    • Maximising our use of email marketing, integrating into our wider digital marketing
    • Write and publish/distribute content such as newsletter articles, website pages and news posts, press releases, case studies, fact sheets
    • Liaise with other organisations to arrange sharing our content/messages through their channels
    • Support our reactive media relations work, helping to respond to media requests
    • Write and produce publicity materials such as leaflets, posters and exhibition materials, working with designers and other suppliers
    • Take and source images and video footage, cataloguing media in CAfS’ digital libraries
    • Arrange print advertising including overseeing design
    • Expand our marketing lists for key audience groups
    • Collate data and feed in ideas to support the evaluation and ongoing improvement of our communications
    • Contribute to audience research, such as setting up online surveys written by senior marketing staff
    • Attend internal (and occasionally external) project meetings to provide advice and support delivery of action plans
    • Contribute to producing corporate documents such as our annual report
    • Support colleagues across CAfS to adhere to relevant best practice and regulations
    • Work with the whole staff team to carry out any other task or project required from time to time, as directed by the manager or trustees

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    Essential skills and attributes:

    • Basic knowledge of sustainability issues and an interest in the objectives that CAfS seeks to deliver
    • Ability to plan and manage digital ad campaigns using a range of social media channels and Google ads
    • Ability to set up and manage Google analytics and tag manager
    • Experience of email marketing
    • Experience of adding content to websites
    • Experience of producing a wide range of communications materials, such as press releases, web content and leaflets, and working with external partners such as designers
    • Driven to keep up to date with developments in marketing and apply new knowledge, tools and trends to improve communications outcomes
    • Ability to tailor content for different audiences
    • High standard of written communication, grammar and spelling, with excellent proofreading abilities and a high level of attention to detail
    • Good verbal communication skills
    • Ability to source, optimise and edit images for a wide range of uses
    • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word and Excel
    • Proactive and creative, with the ability to manage own workload, take responsibility for tasks, prioritising and scheduling work to meet deadlines, with minimal supervision
    • Ability to work cooperatively as part of a small team

    The following are desirable but not essential:

    • Experience of search engine optimisation
    • Experience of using WordPress
    • Experience of using social media management platforms, such as HootSuite and Buffer
    • An existing network of contacts in Cumbria
    • Knowledge of GDPR and copyright
    • Experience of developing marketing strategies and action plans
    • Experience of evaluating the effectiveness of communications
    • Experience of making basic videos for social media use

    For more information about the role, please email Jaki Bell, marketing & communications manager: [email protected].

  • Job: Project support officer – Cold to Cosy Homes

    Job: Project support officer – Cold to Cosy Homes

    Closing date: 9am on Tuesday 27 July 2021

    We are looking for two new colleagues with excellent customer service and administration skills to join our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria team, helping households to save energy and money, and enjoy a warmer home. Thanks to new funding, we are expanding the service to reach even more people. 

    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 – Project Support Officer

    Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by 29 Jul 2021.

    Interviews will be held via Zoom on 3 Aug 2021.

    Job description

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

    Job Description – Project Support Officer

    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.

    REPORTS TO:  Project Manager – Cold to Cosy Homes.

    HOURS: Part time, minimum of 22.5 hours per week up to a maximum of 26.25 hours per week. Please state your preferred number of hours per week in your application. There is potential to extend to further hours subject to funding and role holder availability. As an employer, we support work-life balance and hours can be worked flexibly across 5 weekdays.

    START/END DATE: Start ASAP. Fixed term contract to 31 May 2022 (with potential for extension subject to funding).

    SALARY RANGE: £18,500 to £22,000 FTE (equivalent to £11,100 to £13,200 for a 22.5 hour week, or £12,950 to £15,400 for a 26.25 hour week).

    LEGAL RIGHT TO WORK: You must have a legal right to work in the UK as CAfS is not in a position to act as a sponsor.

    APPLICATIONS BY: 9am on Tuesday 27 July 2021. Please apply using the application form. CVs will not be considered.

    INTERVIEWS: Online (Zoom) interviews arranged for 3 Aug 2021. (Applicants will be informed by 29 July 2021 if they are invited for interview.)

    If you are selected for interview, you will also be asked to complete customer service focused and computer tasks as part of the interview process.

    NUMBER OF POSTS RECRUITING: Two.

    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.

    Now in our 23rd year, CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of more than 20 highly skilled staff, working with a pool of specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver around 20 low-carbon projects each year.

    CAfS showcases low-carbon living, energy-efficiency improvements, renewable technology and reduced use of fossil fuels, both on a domestic scale and in the community and is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability. CAfS is a dynamic, pro-active and responsive organisation delivering projects that drive real change towards a low carbon future.

    BACKGROUND TO COLD TO COSY HOMES

    Our Cold to Cosy Homes service is expanding due to additional funding to deliver free home energy advice services across all districts of Cumbria. Service includes:
    • Telephone enquiries, scheduled telephone and in-home energy advice provided by CAfS employees and a team of contractors.
    • Events and training for householders and volunteers.
    • Installation of energy measures by professional installers.
    Our paid for services are also expanding with increasing range of services being offered to householders for energy audits and advice.

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE:
    The role includes a range of administrative duties to support the Cold to Cosy Homes team to deliver home energy advice and paid services and to provide excellent customer service to our clients, including vulnerable customers.

    MAIN TASKS:

    1. To provide the first point of contact for clients by telephone, email and online application forms.

    2. Handling enquiries and requests, ensuring accurate input of client details onto the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.

    3. Processing client referrals by inputting information onto the CRM system or other external databases.

    4. Booking and amending energy advice calls/visits via the CRM system and Outlook calendars of team member’s and contractors and providing confirmation to the client.

    5. Assisting in the coordination of draughtproofing installation visits, including telephoning clients to arrange, referring to contractors and updates of installation records.

    6. To provide support to events. To include administering bookings on our website and CRM, managing sign-ins, preparing and packing event kit, setting up rooms and attending where required.

    7. To provide support for the ongoing implementation of GDPR requirements and the CRM system.

    8. To undertake additional administration tasks as directed by the relevant staff member, including but not limited to: ordering equipment and stationary, meeting administration, providing client data for update reports

    9. Undertake relevant training to ensure continued personal development relevant to the area of work.

    10. Perform other duties that may be required from time to time.

    The working times are flexible but must include core office hours of 10am-3pm. There may also be occasional need to work evenings/weekends for event or meeting support.

    This job description is not exhaustive but is provided to assist the postholder to know what the main duties are. It may be amended from time to time without change to the grade of the post and in discussion with the postholder.

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    Essential criteria

    To be able to demonstrate:

    • Proven delivery of excellent customer service.
    • Experience in providing administrative support in a dynamic and demanding environment.
    • Excellent customer skills in telephone call handling as well as online enquiry handling.
    • Experience in recording in CRM systems.
    • Ability to proactively handle a wide range of tasks and prioritise these effectively.
    • Willingness to learn about and provide basic advice to clients about heating their home, reducing costs and becoming more sustainable.
    • Ability to use initiative and make effective decisions.
    • Ability to use a comprehensive range of IT systems (Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Customer Relationship Management) and the willingness to train in additional IT skills as and when required.
    • Accuracy and attention to detail, and the ability to work to tight timeframes.
    • A good level of numeracy.
    • Good written and proofreading skills.
    • Tact, patience and diplomacy.
    • Empathy with CAfS aims, values and objectives.

    Desirable criteria

    To be able to demonstrate:

    • Experience of data gathering, manipulation and reporting e.g. customer data.
    • Experience of dealing with vulnerable people.
    • Experience of confidentiality and anti-discriminatory practices when dealing with people and personal data.
    • Experience of working in a remote team and using Microsoft Teams or similar.
    • An understanding of energy efficiency in the home.
    • An understanding of the work of CAfS and the impact of climate change on the environment and economy.

    If you would like more information about the role, please email: [email protected]

  • Climate training available for all County Council staff and Members

    Climate training available for all County Council staff and Members

    CAfS are delighted to be working in partnership with Cumbria County Council to deliver climate and carbon literacy training to 550 of their staff and elected members.

    All elected representatives, senior managers and extended leadership team are able to book a place on either a full day, accredited climate and carbon literacy training course, a 90 minute ‘Climate Science and Solutions for Cumbria’ overview or a 30 minute climate coffee break chat. Places are also available for any interested staff across the organisation.

    The uptake so far has been fantastic with an inspiring number of council staff eager to learn more about how to serve Cumbria’s ambitious sustainability goals.

    If you are an officer or member of CCC, please take a look at your learning pages to book a place or contact [email protected] to hear more. There are limited spaces left so book yours ASAP!

    Assistant Director Environment and Enterprise Allan Harty said: ‘CAfS has delivered the training in a really engaging way to staff from across a diverse range of services and our Members. I have received brilliant feedback about delivery and the subject matter. I get a sense those who attended now have a really good understanding of Climate Change and Science and are energised to take this learning into their professional and personal lives.

    ‘I want to thank CAfS for agreeing to partner with us to deliver what is a vitally important area of learning for our workforce’.

    Please spread the word about this offer to all Cumbria County Council staff and members that you know.

    Some of our activities are funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and are part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership’s ambitious emission reduction programme to make Cumbria carbon neutral by 2037.

    The Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership brings together over 70 organisations in the public, private, and third sectors and is jointly chaired by CAfS and Cumbria County Council.

    To achieve its goal, the partnership will be delivering a range of projects and activities, many of which have been inspired and developed by local communities. A number of these community-led projects and activities, including (the name of your project/organisation), have been made possible by a £2.5 million grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.

    For more information about the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, go to Zero Carbon Cumbria Programme – CAfS

  • Growing the sustainability network

    Growing the sustainability network

    On June 22nd representatives from the Cumbria Sustainability Network came together for a virtual discussion on how to take their work forward and build a strong community of groups and individuals working across the county to raise awareness of the climate emergency and to take practical action to reduce carbon emissions in their area.

    Resources are available to support the development of the Cumbria Sustainability Network as part of National Lottery investment in the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.  The Network is an informal group of community-based organisations whose mission is to promote environmental sustainability.  Members include Ambleside Action for a Future, PACT (Penrith Action for Community Transition), South Lakes Action on Climate Change, Sustainable Brampton, Carlisle, Keswick, Staveley and many more.

    Cumbria Sustainability Network Coordinator and CAfS team-member, Helen Attewell, said ‘There is an inspirational range of expertise and experience amongst current Sustainability Network members.  By working together across the county, sustainability groups and organisations can share learning and good practice, and become a strong voice for communities seeking urgent action on climate change.  We welcome new members and I would encourage you to get involved.

    ‘The Cumbria Sustainability Network would like to hear from any new or existing groups who are not currently connected into our communications, or interest from individuals hoping to start a group in their area.  Support and advice is available to help new groups get off the ground, and we may be able to put you in touch with others in your locality.’

    Please get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to join the network mailing list, or if you would like some support on getting started / developing a new project.

  • Announcing Great Big Green week!

    Announcing Great Big Green week!

    Ahead of November’s crucial COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, communities across the UK will join together for the Great Big Green Week, organised by The Climate Coalition. The festival takes place during 18th – 26th September, and aims to be the largest event for climate and nature ever seen in the UK. Everyone’s invited!   

    COP26 has already been delayed by a year due to the pandemic. It’s being billed as a pivotal moment in the fight against runaway climate change, at the start of what is a critical decade for our planet.  

    The run-up to this year’s summit is the key period when countries update their plans for reducing emissions, which need to go much further than even the commitments made at the historic Paris summit in 2015, to retain any hope of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 deg C.   

    During Great Big Green Week community hubs will celebrate local activity, raise the profile of climate change, and show why it is so relevant to local communities and decisionmakers. It will also call on politicians to raise their ambition and champion urgent action on climate change.  

    A growing number of organisations across Cumbria are already keen to mark the lead-up to COP, by running their own events and campaigns to raise awareness about what’s at stake.   

    CAfS is inviting members of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership and the Cumbria Sustainability Network to align relevant events and communications with the Great Big Green Week, which together we can then use to generate a real buzz around Cumbria, showcasing great examples of positive grassroots action.   

    There’s loads for us to celebrate right across Cumbria, whether that’s community energy schemes, food growing, tree planting, repair and reuse initiatives such as Repair Cafes, arts & culture projects, green building, youth campaigning, and much much more.   

    In these challenging times, events and campaigns can be either online, or a cautious return to carefully-planned physical events for those who feel able to do so.   

    If you or your organisation are planning to run an event in Cumbria as part of Great Big Green Week then we’d love to hear from you! Contact [email protected] to find out how you can get involved.  

  • Over 9,000 new chargepoints may be needed for Cumbria by 2030

    Over 9,000 new chargepoints may be needed for Cumbria by 2030

    A new study by Cumbria Action for Sustainability has found that an estimated 70 public chargepoints would need to be installed every month for the next 9 1/2  years in Cumbria to meet expected demand for electric vehicles by residents and tourists.

    CAfS undertook the complex task of forecasting the potential demand for publicly accessible chargepoints across Cumbria by 2030, as a partner in a project to install community-owned chargepoints across the north of England, led by Charge My Street and funded by Innovate UK.

    Nigel Jenkins from our EV team created the report, with peer support from several sustainable transport specialists.

    Download the full report below:

    Electric Vehicle Charging Deployment in Cumbria – Analysis & Forecasting

    Here are a few of the key take-aways from the report, which show the need for all sorts of sectors in Cumbria – from businesses and local authorities to the tourism sector – to start driving a rapid increase in the county’s EV infrastructure. These should be viewed bearing in mind that forecasting 9.5 years into the future is an extremely complex business, especially in a sector that is rapidly evolving. Nevertheless, the following findings should make all stakeholders consider the implications for their organisation, stakeholders and customers alike:

    1. As of May 2021, Zap-Map listings include 139 chargepoint locations / 259 connectors currently in Cumbria.
    2. It is a likely requirement that by 2030 between 2,100 and 6,400 public chargepoints will be needed to service residents’ needs in Cumbria.
    3. Meanwhile each year the number of visitors to Cumbria in peak times adds up to 50% to our population (even more so in certain honeypots) and many of these visitors will, in future, travel to the county by EV.
    4. It is not unreasonable (even as a conservative forecast) that the above projections for public chargepoints should therefore be increased by at least 50% to service visitors’ charging needs…..so between 3,150 and 9,600 public chargepoints by 2030.
    5. Cumbria must also fully consider servicing the charging needs for the commercial sector and for through traffic, including major arterial routes such as the M6 / A66 / A69.
    6.  These forecasts suggest that, using a mid figure, 70 new chargepoints could need to be installed every month for the next 9 ½ years to 2030 (as an indication of the current rate of expansion of the public charging network in Cumbria, in the 5 months to May-21 there were just 32 chargepoint connectors added on Zap-Map listings).
    7. These forecasts must be seen as indications of orders of magnitude, not as absolute values.
    8. Few public organisations have set any of their own targets, and those that have are significantly underestimating the demand.
    9. A range of significant implications follow these forecasts, including: meeting the county’s climate change targets; electricity supply capacity; co-ordination and interoperability of charging systems; social inclusion; tourism management; planning policies; logistics for business, public bodies and emergency services; training, skills and employment; and the capacity to install, operate and maintain a public charging network at the scale needed.
    10. Currently the expansion of the charging network is largely market driven, and it is very clear that without appropriate intervention there are risks that people, communities and business may inadvertently be left marginalised or even excluded from the switch to electric transport.

    CAfS hopes that the report will support those planning for Cumbria’s future, but in tandem with redoubled efforts to reduce private car use wherever possible and encourage the use of other modes of sustainable transport.

  • Partnership to Galvanise Green Investments for Cumbria Launches

    Partnership to Galvanise Green Investments for Cumbria Launches

    A new and innovative green investment plan for Cumbria is being developed by a consortium of local and national partners. The plan will enhance the county’s competitiveness nationally, benefit the county’s economy, boost employment opportunities and help tackle climate change. Eden Works logo

    The investment plan will identify a set of iconic projects across Cumbria in sectors such as energy generation, transport, agriculture and waste management, along with exploring the sources of finance required from institutional investors, banks, public finance and community funding institutions. Key partners involved include Grantham Research Institute of the LSE, the multinational engineering and design company Arup, local charity Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) and local consultancy EdenWorks Green. The project is also collaborating closely with Friends of the Earth, Cumbria Local Economic Partnership (LEP), local authorities, utilities, businesses, NGOs, community groups and residents who will also help develop the plan.

    Professor Nick Robins of Grantham Research Institute and project chair said: “More and more banks and investors recognise the opportunity of investing in green projects and for good returns from supporting climate friendly projects. This project will highlight Cumbria’s significant green economy potential and will bring together a range of investable projects that will work for the Cumbrian people.”

    Project lead, Ciara Shannon of EdenWorks Green, said: “Cumbria’s outstanding mix of natural assets and workforce skills makes its potential to reduce carbon emissions unprecedented. To fully capitalise on this potential, we need a joined-up investing strategy which can unleash a wave of green investments and employment possibilities.”

    Michael Osborne, Director of Arup, said: “Cumbria’s potential for generating green electricity is massive. For example, the county could produce green hydrogen from wind energy quite quickly. Investment in Cumbria’s net-zero energy system needs to start as soon as possible. This innovative plan will attract vital climate finance in Cumbria’s future.”

    Karen Mitchell, CEO of Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), said: “We are delighted to be the NGO partner on this project.  Our ‘Potential for green jobs in Cumbria’ report earlier in the year showed that investments of £8.88 billion could put in place measures to reduce Cumbria’s carbon emissions to reach net zero, create thousands of jobs and deliver big savings on energy bills for businesses. This work will help to make that vision a reality.”

    Chief Executive of Cumbria LEP, Jo Lappin, said: “Cumbria LEP is fully committed to achieving a net zero Cumbria at the earliest opportunity through supporting clean energy generation and helping our businesses to decarbonise. The green investment plan can clearly help to deliver on these priorities alongside supporting wider clean energy initiatives. Cumbria has the potential to make a significant national contribution to clean energy generation based on our nuclear, advanced manufacturing, offshore wind and renewable capability, alongside outstanding natural capital, which has allowed our visitor economy, agricultural sector and food production to flourish. The green investment plan will help us to deliver major green projects and create substantial new job opportunities.”

    The investment plan will be published in November 2021 and is intended to lead to significant new funding coming into the county from a host of different sources.

  • Great feedback from our carbon calculator users

    Great feedback from our carbon calculator users

    Lots of individuals and businesses have now had a go with our carbon footprint calculators and some have fed back to tell us about their experience. Which is incredibly helpful!

    Happily, the vast majority feel that it was definitely a worthwhile experience, which has helped improve their understanding of their environmental impact and focus their efforts to reduce it. Here are some of the comments received.

    “I was impressed with the tool, having looked at a number of other, much more gimmicky tools which claim to do the same thing, didn’t in my view ask all the right questions… The CAfS tool was no-frills, not trying to sell anything, and I found it easy to use.”

    Richard, near Lancaster

    “I had tried several before and I have the impression that if this one is used carefully it is more accurate than others. I was already motivated so I don’t think I needed more motivation but it is nevertheless good to have a measurement to compare with future results.”

    Mike, Ambleside

    “It helped to refocus on my whole life and family impact.  It was comforting in some areas, and of continuing concern in others. Actions – eat less meat, other than that, continue to curtail consumption and waste and ask ‘do I need to do this’.”

    Adrian, Eden

    “I needed to have a line in the sand for applying for a grant. It then led me on to look at other options that fed on from the exercise, so looking at what the green power options actually offer in terms of carbon reduction… My action plan going forward: reduce the volume of my possessions, don’t buy any new clothes, grow my own, brew my own, keep chickens, stop eating beef regularly, installing solar thermal pv and an air source heatpump with or without the grant.”

    Susan, The Wild Wool Barn and Workshop, Ennerdale

    It was worthwhile, it has shown that for my wife and I the biggest problem is the gas heating boiler… I am looking at things like Octopus Energy’s smart metering and vehicle to grid technology, but at the moment they are not available here in Cumbria.  What Octopus can provide is the ability to charge the car at times when there is excess renewable energy available and demand is low, such that the price you pay is also very low and you may even get paid for using it!  My car has a 40Kw battery, which is more than capable of supplying all my electricity needs for the house for about a week.  So I could run an electric combi boiler [when the technology is available] for a very low price on fully renewable energy. 

    Chris, Keswick

    “Yes [it was a worthwhile exercise], because I could see most aspects of my life collated in one place. [I am] saving for an electric car, although surprisingly that didn’t seem to be the main driver of my (too big) footprint. Also it just increases awareness of the contributors to our footprint.”

    Jane, Ambleside

    “It was a worthwhile exercise to show what matters and what doesn’t in the context of reducing my footprint. As a family we have our eye on the ball all the time but we have a huge mote in that eye! I have two daughters, one lives nearby… but the other lives in California. All my calculations were ‘acceptable’, but once I get on the plane to the USA it all falls over!”

    Paul, Keswick

    “Calculating one’s impact on the environment is always worthwhile.  The motivation has always been there [to take action] but the calculator has given us a better indication of areas where we can make more impact. Future plans include buying an electric car, investing in a renewable source of heating and ongoing reductions in our use of plastic.”

    Neil, Penrith

    Some aspects of the calculator were queried.

    The first was the goods and services tab, which some people found difficult to assess and queried the degree of accuracy and the basis of the calculations. It’s correct that this area of the calculator is not as accurate as the other sections. The greenhouse gas emission factors used for each category are averages across a huge range of products within that category. Drilling down into more detail would be unmanageable within the calculator.

    The approach of using ‘money spent’ to measure the goods and services area has also been questioned, particularly as the environmentally friendly option is often not the cheapest option. Again, unfortunately the calculator is not nuanced enough to unpick these subtleties. But the benefit of using ‘money spent’ is that everyone can measure their consumption in this way, even if it is an estimate, and in general terms, higher consumption is linked to higher spending.

    As around a third to a half of an average UK resident’s carbon footprint is associated with the goods and services we consume, we felt it was important to include this in the overall picture, despite the limitations of how these elements are calculated.

    The second query was around the offsetting option. There’s information about offsetting on our website.  In summary, CAfS recognises the role of offsetting as part of a range of measures needed to ensure Cumbria can achieve net-zero carbon by 2037.  However, reducing emissions is the priority and offsetting should only be used to offset your carbon emissions that are currently unavoidable.

    If you are considering offsetting, it is important to make sure that you choose a scheme that is high quality and independently verified. Carbon Footprint Ltd, which produced our calculators, runs its own offsetting programme, and the link from the calculator is to this programme. This is completely optional and we would encourage you to first review the information about the programme on its website to help you decide whether it is something you wish to invest in.