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Job: Project Manager – Zero Carbon Cumbria
Date posted: Thurs 24th September 2020
Closing date: 9am, Mon 19 October 2020

Join our busy team in delivering the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership along with a huge host of organisations from around the county. The ZCCP involves nearly 70 partners spanning the public, private and third sectors with the aim of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The role includes taking overall responsibility for the coordination and management of the project, recruiting other members of the ZCCP team, developing a rolling programme plan and creating a programme management framework as well as a host of other responsibilities that come with heading up Cumbria’s effort towards carbon neutrality.

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 Manager – ZCCP

The closing date for return of applications is 9am on 19th October 2020. Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by Wednesday 21 October 2020. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 3rd November 2020 via Zoom.

Job description

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

Job Description – Project Manager – ZCCP

EMPLOYER: Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

LOCATION: Principally home working. Occasional meetings may be required at our office in Penrith (Rural Eden Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET) and other Cumbria locations when Covid-19 restrictions allow.

REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer.

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

SALARY RANGE: £24,000-£30,000 per annum full-time equivalent (£14,400 to £18,000 for the 22.5-hour week), depending on skills and experience.

DURATION: Fixed-term contract from Nov 2020 (or sooner) to end Dec 2025.

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.

CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of seventeen highly skilled staff, working with a pool of specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver around 20 major, transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria showcasing low-carbon living, energy-efficiency improvements, renewable technology and reduced use of fossil fuels, both on a domestic scale and in the community. Now in our 22nd year, CAfS is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability. CAfS is a dynamic, pro-active and responsive organisation, continually striving to deliver effective projects that make an impact and drive real change towards a low-carbon future. As such, we continually initiate, scrutinise, refine and launch new projects, accessing funding from a variety of sources or earning income from delivering specialist services.

BACKGROUND TO THE ZERO CARBON CUMBRIA PROJECT:

Cumbria Action for Sustainability is one of a small number of organisations to be successfully awarded £2.5million from the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund for the five year ‘Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership – By the People, For the People’ project. The bid was led by CAfS on behalf of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership (ZCCP) which involves nearly 70 organisations spanning the public, private and third sectors with the aim of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Eleven of the organisations in the ZCCP will be involved in directly delivering elements of the Lottery-funded project and the whole partnership will be involved in wider decarbonisation programmes in order to reach the county’s zero carbon goal. There will be a Partnership Manager based at Cumbria County Council who will be co-ordinating the wider Partnership projects that fall outside of this National Lottery funded project.

Through this project, people who live, work and study in Cumbria will be able to take advantage of a whole range of opportunities to cut their own carbon footprint and that of their communities, playing their part in global actions to stop climate change.

The 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. The sub projects have been devised by a range of community organisations and chosen because of their wide benefits to local communities. More information about the project is available here: https://cafs.org.uk/our-projects/zero-carbon-cumbria-programme/

MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE:

The post has several key roles: principally to establish and coordinate the effective delivery of the Zero Carbon Cumbria project, to manage the day to day running of the project, manage the grant budget, coordinate and support delivery partners and liaise with the National Lottery, coordinate the project steering group, manage a team of project staff and work closely with the delivery partners.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Take overall responsibility for the coordination and management of the Zero Carbon Cumbria: By the People, For the People lottery-funded project.

Recruit and manage the Communications Manager, Events & Training Officer, Community Carbon Literacy Officer and Cumbria Sustainability Network Coordinator and manage the Project Administrator.

Work closely with the Partnership Manager to ensure the smooth running of the project.

Develop a rolling programme plan which enables activities, outcomes and budgets to be effectively monitored.

Develop an effective programme management framework which will allow the whole suite of projects to be viewed as an integrated whole, and within which partners can develop detailed and consistent project plans (while being mindful of the need for effort to be proportional to the scale of each partner’s project).

Develop a framework to monitor, measure, evaluate and report on success and produce routine and exception reports on the programme (budget, capacity, deliverables, outcomes etc) which allow the CAfS CEO, Trustees, The Lottery and all delivery partners to understand and respond to the progress of the project.

Work alongside Project Delivery Partners to maximise outcomes and ensure partners are delivering to plan, capturing learning, sharing information and networking locally and nationally.

The effective management and mitigation of project risks.

TASKS TO INCLUDE

To co-chair meetings of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.

To convene the Project Board on a quarterly basis, ensuring adequate representation from delivery partners and key communities, and reporting mechanisms.

To coordinate all payment and reporting processes for the project.

To work alongside partners and project staff to raise additional funds that will allow the benefits of the programme to be maximised.

To develop consultant briefs, commission, contract and manage consultants to carry out a range of expert advice and project work.

To manage the central funding pots for the partnership: to overcome disadvantage; share learning; and access expert advice where needed.

To liaise with other National Lottery Climate Action Fund grant recipients.

To work with all delivery partners to ensure consistency and timeliness regarding staff recruitment and/or contracting delivery of posts in their organisations.

To act as media spokesperson for the project as required.

To maintain and ensure compliance with the project delivery partnership agreement.

To adhere to CAfS project management processes.

To develop and maintain all project documentation including project GANTT chart, risk log, action log etc.

To assess and manage any changes to the project baseline.

To arrange and deliver project planning meetings.

Person Specification

Essential skills and attributes:

An understanding of and personal commitment to the objectives that CAfS seeks to deliver.

Ability to develop a shared vision across a diverse and multi-organisational project and drive momentum to deliver agreed goals.

Strong networking skills and ability to effectively communicate and negotiate with a wide range of partners from a variety of backgrounds, including community groups and young people.

Experience of complex programme management, including planning, organising, scheduling, budget management, financial analysis, risk management, management information, report writing and monitoring and evaluation of multiple projects.

Experience of capturing and sharing learning.

Experience of tendering, letting, and managing contracts and partnership agreements.

Experience of recruiting and managing staff.

Ability and willingness to prioritise, work to deadlines and juggle multiple priorities.

Ability to travel independently throughout rural Cumbria.

Understanding of relevant requirements of Data Protection Act 2018.

Ability to work to tight deadlines.

Flexible working including evening and weekend working by agreement.

Computer skills specifically Microsoft office applications, including Excel, and PowerPoint, Zoom and MS Teams.

Desirable criteria

The following attributes are desirable but not essential:

A degree-level qualification in a relevant field e.g. project management, sustainability, community development.

Experience of delivering community-led projects or schemes, especially concerning energy generation, food growing and sourcing, and repair cafes or managing other emission reduction programmes.

Experience of reporting to project boards/steering groups and major funders.

Experience in running online meetings and webinars.

Experience of liaising and reporting to The National Lottery.

If you would like more information about the role, please email Karen Mitchell, CEO: [email protected]
24 September 2020
Education leads the charge in South Cumbria

A sunny Monday morning saw the latest electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint installation from Charge My Street resplendent in a delicately adorned red ribbon. This wasn’t to last long though as the ribbon was promptly cut by staff from Kendal College to announce the chargepoints official opening for public use. On site were two Nissan Leafs and a Renault Zoe whose owners were eager to get in on the first kilowatts of juice from the sockets.

The two new chargepoints are located in the college’s small car park off Vicarage Drive and represent the latest step forward in our partnership with Charge My Street to install 100 of them throughout Cumbria and Lancashire.

The installation enhances Kendal College’s drive for sustainability, and the college is planning an extensive campaign to educate its staff and students, as well as the wider community about the new chargepoint stations to encourage more electric vehicle users.

As part of a £200,000 development of the college’s automotive facilities, the college have also purchased two electric and hybrid cars and specialist equipment, to enable the college to train the next generation of automotive students and local employers in new hybrid and electrical transport technology. This new equipment will see hybrid and electric automotive courses start from September 2020.

Principal Kelvin Nash said “adding these charging stations, and investing in electric and hybrid specialist equipment for our automotive department, not only positions us as a leader in sustainability, but also ensures we are preparing our students for the future”.

Daniel Heery, Charge my Street Director said “we are delighted to have collaborated with Kendal College to install our first community chargepoints in Kendal and its fantastic that community investment from local people has helped make this happen”.

South Lakeland District Council became the first local authority in Cumbria to declare a climate emergency in February 2019, as part of its commitment to tackling climate change and its ambition is to be a ‘Carbon-Neutral’ Council by 2030 and support a district wide target by 2037.

Councillor Dyan Jones, SLDC’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Emergency and Localism, said “At South Lakeland District, we are delighted to be one of the delivery partners on this exciting and forward-looking project. Everybody can make a difference, no matter how small, to reduce their carbon emissions and help address the impact of climate change. Increasing the number of chargepoints in the district is an important, key factor in making the use of electric vehicles more accessible.”

“SLDC is making great strides with our Climate Action Plan, which places emphasis on working collaboratively with other authorities, partner agencies, businesses, charities, community group and residents. This project at Kendal College is a fantastic example of great partnership working, and is welcomed wholeheartedly.”

Charge my Street would like to hear from community organisations across Cumbria, including parish councils, community/village halls and private businesses who may be interested in hosting an EV chargepoint, as well as local residents who would like to make the switch to an electric vehicle, but can’t because they don’t have off-street parking to be able to charge a vehicle. Anyone who would like to suggest a potential site can do this at https://chargemystreet.co.uk/cluster/cumbria or for more information email [email protected]

23 September 2020
Cold to Cosy Champions training goes virtual

The Cold to Cosy Homes team here at CAfS are announcing a brand new roster of free training sessions for people interested in becoming a Cold to Cosy Champion.

The training will give you (or relevant members of your team or community) a thorough understanding of the service, how to refer clients and what their customer journey will be. You’ll be able to fully explain the service to clients and help them to access this fantastic free support for vulnerable individuals.

Cold to Cosy Homes offers clear advice and practical help on how to save energy in your home – including free draught proofing and energy saving equipment, LED bulbs, advice on energy tariffs and referrals for other improvements.

The service has been an enormous success, helping Cumbrian households over the last winter. We’re now planning for the cold weather coming again and have new, ambitious targets to reach even more homes.

To help us reach as many households as possible we work with an expanding group of Cold to Cosy Champions who can share info about the service or refer clients. Many champions are frontline workers who help and care for others in their job, some are volunteers in their communities who attend events and look out for their neighbours and some are simply those who let their friends and relatives know that the service is available.

You don’t need to be an energy expert and no prior knowledge is required to turn you into a Cold to Cosy champion!

The free training sessions for Champions will be held via zoom link with several dates available. These are:

Friday 4th September 2020 -10:00 – 11:30

Tuesday 15th September 2020 – 10:00 – 11:30

Thursday 24th September 2020 – 10:00 – 11:30

Monday 5th October 2020- 14:00 – 15:30

Thursday 22nd October 2020 – 11:00 – 12:30

If you can’t make any of the sessions , we can run an extra one to suit. Please email [email protected] or call 01768 216500 to register an interest in this training instead.

21 August 2020
Tackling climate change in Cumbria gets £2.5 million National Lottery boost

Cumbria’s bid for £2.5 million of National Lottery funding to cut carbon emissions in the county has been successful, it was announced today.

CAfS is one of nearly 70 organisations from many walks of life in Cumbria that came together to submit the bid to the National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. The award to the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership will fund a five-year programme of action aiming to make Cumbria the first carbon-neutral county in the UK, in a way that benefits communities and is led by them.

“This is incredible news for Cumbria and we’re delighted to have developed this successful bid on behalf of the partnership!” said Karen Mitchell, chief executive of CAfS, which co-chairs the partnership. “The grant brings a significant investment into the county just when we need it most, as we begin to rebuild after the Coronavirus pandemic. It will create 12 green jobs and will see a whole range of activities led by communities that will make them more sustainable, stronger and more resilient for the future.”

An ambitious programme will begin in January 2021 led by the partnership, which spans the public, private and third sectors, including community groups, councils, the NHS, police, national parks, businesses and the farming community, among others.

“This community-led programme will tackle some of the main sources of carbon emissions in our county, with a particular focus on food, energy generation and the goods we buy. Thanks to this funding, we can make the shift towards a zero-carbon Cumbria at the urgent pace required by the climate crisis,” Karen said.

The programme will also build strong working relationships among a wide range of organisations across the county, raising their ambition to tackle climate change and sharing learning and resources. The voice of local people will be at the heart of it.

“People from all walks of life will be able to influence and drive climate action through citizens’ juries and other projects, with community groups steering the programme,” Karen said. “Young people, whose futures will be particularly affected by the climate crisis, will be able to take advantage of a leadership programme to help them make their voices heard, enhancing their skills and giving them access to people in positions of influence.”

Another example of the diverse range of projects, activities and events is Grow Local Eat Local, which will see local producers growing more fruit, vegetables and cereal crops in Cumbria for local use. The number of repair cafes will be expanded, saving people money while reducing waste. Cumbria will also be a test bed for two new community-energy projects, with innovative community-owned models of generating, storing and sharing energy, with benefits staying in communities.

Climate change has been identified as a risk to public health in Cumbria, and therefore reducing the emissions that are causing it is part of the county’s Public Health Strategy, led by Cumbria County Council. Colin Cox, director of public health, jointly chairs the partnership along with CAfS. All six district councils have also committed to the county’s carbon-neutral goal.

“Cumbria is on the front line of the climate crisis in the UK, feeling the devastating impacts of extreme weather, from increased flooding and storms to longer dry spells,” Karen said. “We also have particular challenges here, such as rural isolation, which make our communities even more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.”

The breadth of partners and community involvement were strong points for Cumbria’s bid, along with the fact that it will also contribute to climate action beyond the county, by trialing projects and ways of working that could be replicated elsewhere.

“We’re extremely grateful to the National Lottery for entrusting our partnership with this award,” Karen said. “Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant offers Cumbria an unprecedented opportunity to drive real, positive change in our carbon emissions and our sustainability, while benefiting our communities for generations to come.”

This grant is one of the first fourteen awards to be announced as part of the National Lottery-funded Climate Action Fund, a ten-year £100 million fund that will reduce the carbon footprint of communities demonstrating what is possible when people take the lead in tackling climate change. All the projects across the UK will work together, share their learning and be active participants in a broader movement of change within and beyond these communities.

Find out more about the programme of action made possible by the National Lottery funding >

See the National Lottery’s announcement >

17 August 2020
New government scheme for improving energy efficiency of homes
The government has announced a new scheme to help households to make their homes more energy efficient. Here we share our view on it and some advice for anyone thinking of taking advantage of it.

About the new ‘Green Homes Grant’

On Wednesday 8 July 2020, the Chancellor announced a voucher scheme for households to help with the cost of measures such as insulation. It is part of the government’s new ‘Plan for Jobs 2020’, aiming to stimulate the economy. You can read the plan in full on the Treasury website >

Here is what the plan says about the new energy-efficiency scheme for households:

“To meet the UK’s target of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, emissions from heating buildings need to be significantly reduced. To support this objective, the Plan for Jobs announces that over £2 billion will be provided to support homeowners and landlords in making their homes more energy-efficient in 2020-21. This funding could support over 100,000 green jobs, so that local tradespeople can make homes warmer, cheaper to heat and more environmentally friendly.”

“The government will introduce a £2 billion Green Homes Grant, providing at least £2 for every £1 homeowners and landlords spend to make their homes more energy efficient, up to £5,000 per household. For those on the lowest incomes, the scheme will fully fund energy efficiency measures of up to £10,000 per household. In total this could support over 100,000 green jobs and help strengthen a supply chain that will be vital for meeting our target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The scheme aims to upgrade over 600,000 homes across England, saving households hundreds of pounds per year on their energy bills.”

We understand that the scheme will start in September and we’ll be interested to see the full details when released.

CAfS’ view on this scheme

While this funding is a good start, it must be part of a much bigger programme. As the government said in its announcement, heating buildings accounts for a fifth of the UK greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change, and to properly address the poor energy efficiency of UK properties would require a suite of measures, including:

financial support for households to retrofit their properties;

much more stringent building regulations for energy efficiency in new buildings (with the ideal being a standard such as Passivhaus);

training for construction professionals in building ultra-low-energy homes and retrofitting pre-1920s properties in an appropriate way; and ensuring these are a strong focus on these in construction and architecture courses for students.

Unfortunately, the chancellor’s announcement addresses only the first of these.

Our advice for householders

We would urge any householders thinking of taking part in the scheme to seek independent advice before you commission work, to make sure it’s right for your property.

If you have a pre-1920s home (e.g. solid wall/rubble-filled wall):

Using cement-based and non-breathable products in a pre-1920s building can trap moisture, making them damp, and therefore unhealthy and uncomfortable to live in, as well as harder to heat. It can also degrade the stone over time – particularly sandstone, which is softer. Unfortunately, it’s still common to see cement used for flooring, pointing and render in these properties, along with non-breathable insulation. It’s a problem we’ve come across many times when offering energy-efficiency advice to households in Cumbria.

One of the challenges is the shortage of builders with the skills and knowledge to use materials that allow these properties to manage heat, moisture and ventilation in the way they were intended to – for example, lime-based materials. This is a problem we’ve been trying to help overcome, by offering training courses for construction professionals, including architects and builders.

If you have a cavity-wall home:

If you are considering cavity-wall insulation, it’s important to make sure that it is appropriate for your property. Cavity-wall insulation may not be right for your property – particularly if it is exposed. It can lead to damp, and may have to be removed at a later date.

If cavity-wall insulation is appropriate for your home, it’s crucial to choose the most appropriate type of insulation. Some materials that are still commonly used can leave gaps, or gaps can develop over time, leading to cold spots and damp.

How CAfS can help

Our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service can offer advice as well as free energy-saving equipment, and referrals for more substantial improvements.

There is guidance on our website about retrofitting different types of properties. Visit the For your home section >

We also run events throughout the year to upskill householders and construction professionals. Please keep an eye on our events page and social media for details, or sign up for our newsletter to be first to hear about new events.
14 July 2020
Contract: Development of carbon footprint calculators

Date posted: 2 July 2020
Closing date: 9am on 17 July 2020

We are seeking a contractor to develop two online carbon footprinting calculator tools: one for residents and one for businesses.

These tools will be piloted and tested in Ambleside, with a view to rolling them out elsewhere in Cumbria.

The proposed timescale for developing and testing these tools will be September to December 2020, with training of facilitators planned for January 2021 and roll-out from February 2021.

The total budget available for delivery of both carbon footprint calculators is £16,000.

How to apply for this contract

Please Pre-application questionnaire (PAQ) for full details of the work required and instructions on applying.

Deadlines

Bidders intending to submit a response to the PAQ should confirm their intention to submit by emailing [email protected] by 9am 8 July 2020.

Completed PAQs should then be submitted electronically to the same email address, by 9am on 17 July 2020.

2 July 2020
Deputy mayor opens Walney’s first electric vehicle chargepoint

The newest electric vehicle (EV) chargepoint in our project with Charge My Street has been installed in Barrow and charged its maiden car, this week.

West Point House is now the first place on Walney Island and one of the first in Barrow to be equipped with EV chargepoints. A double socket has been installed with the hope of increasing charging opportunities for locals and the 40 residents of West Point House.

Deputy mayor of Barrow Helen Wall officially opened the chargepoint as it gave its first charge this week. Helen said: “I was very thrilled to take part in launching the chargepoint today. We in Barrow are proud to have a low carbon committee and all our members are extremely passionate about low carbon issues. This chargepoint represents a great step forward for Walney”.

The installation was part of an ongoing project to establish 100 new publicly accessible EV chargepoints across Cumbria and Lancashire. Charge My Street are still looking for sites that are eligible for further installations.

Heather Cockett Phillips, joint owner of West Point House said:
“We are truly delighted that we are able to offer our residents and the wider community the opportunity to go green and use an electric car. Recent weeks where people have had to stay at home and not travel in their cars has shown a reduction in pollution levels -wouldn’t it be great if we could keep this going to reduce the damage humans do to the earth!”

Will Maden of Charge My Street said: “The level on enthusiasm for more sustainable ways of living we’ve seen on Walney has been brilliant to see. We are looking for sites where landowners have a desire to see more EVs on the roads and a sense of benefit to their community and we have certainly found that at West Point House”.

Charge My Street will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday 30th June about their project to install 100 EV chargepoints. Anyone who would like to discover more about the project or attend the webinar should register.

25 June 2020
Cumbrians’ concern about climate revealed in CAfS survey

Cumbrians are very concerned about climate change and are already taking action in their own lives to tackle it. That’s according to the results of the first-ever county-wide climate survey run by CAfS at the end of last year.

More than a thousand people shared their views on the seriousness of climate change and what the government and individuals could do to tackle it.

The survey respondents were more concerned about climate change than the national average, with 91 per cent saying they are either very concerned or fairly concerned, compared to 76 per cent in the latest national government survey by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

“We expected that respondents who are in touch with CAfS would have a higher level of concern, but about a third of the respondents hadn’t heard of CAfS before, and concern among them was still above average, at nearly 84 per cent,” said Jaki Bell, CAfS’ marketing manager, who organised the survey.

Nearly ninety per cent of respondents think we’re already feeling the effects of climate change in Britain, and that it’s caused mainly by human activities. Eighty per cent feel Britain’s target for zero carbon should be sooner than 2050, with ten per cent thinking 2050 is about right.

We then asked people what action they’d be in favour of the government taking to tackle climate change. They were very keen to see support for public transport, and help for people to replace oil and gas heating, and with draughtproofing and insulating their homes. There was also wide support for making producers and supermarkets pay for dealing with packaging waste, and helping businesses to use less energy.

Respondents were less keen to see the government supporting nuclear power, discouraging flying and encouraging people to eat less meat and dairy products.

The majority of people supported the use of renewable energy, with the strongest support for solar, off-shore wind and wave or tidal power. Interestingly, people were more ambivalent about biomass energy.

We then delved into the actions that people can take in their own lives to tackle the causes of climate change.

“Food and drink make up around a quarter of the average person’s carbon footprint – the biggest single chunk – so we were keen to know about any barrierspreventing Cumbrians from reducing this,” Jaki said. “When it comes to eating less meat and dairy, which have a high carbon footprint, the biggest barrier was that people didn’t think it was necessary. About 15 per cent felt this way about meat, and 22 per cent for dairy. The survey also showed that people felt it would be too difficult to move away from dairy, in particular. It perhaps shows that there’s a need for more awareness about the carbon footprint of these foods, and how to reduce them in our diets.”

Buying more food from local producers was viewed as too difficult by many respondents, with cost and lack of time being barriers as well.

When it came to changes in the home to reduce energy use, the biggest barrier for most changes was cost, followed by difficulty.

Difficulty was also the main issue for most low-carbon travel options, and cost was an added problem for electric vehicles and public transport. Flights is a big source of emissions, but the majority of respondents said they already do fly less.

We asked people about their efforts to buy fewer goods and to reduce waste. Most are already taking a variety of actions. For those who don’t already buy secondhand goods, people felt it wasn’t necessary or worthwhile, and repairing was seen by some as too difficult, too costly and they don’t know how to do it.

“The survey gives us a really good snapshot of people’s views on different ways to reduce carbon emissions, and how much action they’re already taking themselves,” Jaki said. “It’s extremely useful for us to see what the main barriers are for people to reduce their carbon footprint. We will look at how we can help Cumbrians to overcome those, when we’re planning future projects.”

The survey was carried out as part of the Rebuilding Together project to help Cumbria to adapt for future flooding and other extreme weather, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

10 June 2020
The green road to recovery – Message from our CEO

It has been 10 weeks since we were last in touch. I hope you and yours have stayed safe and well during this challenging time.

In the last few months, we have experienced changes to our lives that we probably never thought possible. Sadly, the pandemic has highlighted that, as with the impacts of climate change, the disadvantaged are the most badly affected – from the keyworkers at risk of illness to people in fuel poverty hit by higher energy bills from staying at home. It has also highlighted the link between fossil fuels, air pollution and public health.

Despite the depth of changes to economic activity, the best estimate by analysts is that global carbon emissions will have reduced by only eight per cent this year. It is sobering to know that that scale of drop is needed each year for ten years in order to keep climate change to 1.5 degrees C. It’s a big challenge but we now know that fast and comprehensive changes, informed by science, are possible to tackle a recognised threat. In April, a global IPSOS Mori poll showed 71 per cent of people agree that climate change is as big a threat as Covid-19.

As the lockdown eases, increasingly the ‘recovery’ is dominating thoughts. That same poll found 65 per cent of people support a green economic recovery from C19 and there is growing momentum behind #BuildBackBetter. In the last few weeks alone, we have seen 200 businesses nationally calling for the Government to deliver a recovery plan that prioritises the environment. The Progressive Policy Think Tank has convened a new Environmental Justice Commission, which has published a vision for a clean, healthy and environmentally rich economy. A group of experts from universities in the UK, which are part of the COP26 Universities Network (30 institutions so far and growing), have identified for policymakers ten fiscal recovery policies that would enable the UK to meet its target of zero carbon by 2050.

Closer to home, many local authorities in Cumbria declared climate emergencies last year and now have the opportunity to put zero-carbon targets at the heart of their Covid-19 recovery plans. A green recovery in Cumbria could give us more safe cycle routes, a decarbonised and improved public transport system, energy-efficient housing that is warm and cosy, more community-owned renewable-energy generation and electric-vehicle charging points, connectivity for efficient homeworking, a localised sustainable economy, skills training for new low-carbon jobs, such as housing retrofit for energy efficiency, and more.

CAfS has already been working on many of the kinds of activities that could be part of a green recovery. With most of our staff now back in action, working from home, we will continue to do all we can to drive the shift towards a zero-carbon Cumbria, with a determination to see our county #BuildBackBetter.

Karen Mitchell
CAfS Chief Executive

10 June 2020
Job: Project Support Officer
Date posted: 9 June 2020
Closing date: 11pm, Tue 30 June 2020

CAfS is growing, and we are looking for an experienced project support officer to join our busy administrative team. It’s a role with a lot of variety, helping us to deliver our wide range of projects and keep CAfS running smoothly. The postholder will support our events, assist customers, answer our busy phones, coordinate meetings, and support our HR, payroll and financial management, among other tasks. They’ll be part of a friendly and supportive team, helping CAfS to tackle climate change in Cumbria.

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

The closing date for return of applications is 11pm on 30 June 2020. Candidates shortlisted for interview will be informed by Wednesday 8 July 2020. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 July 2020. These are likely to be online.

Job description

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

Job Description – Project Support Officer

EMPLOYER: Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

LOCATION: Principally home working, with meetings required at our office in Penrith when Covid-19 restrictions allow. Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET.

REPORTS TO: Administration Officer

HOURS: 30 hours a week, with flexibility to be worked across 4 or 5 days (with potential to expand to full time subject to funding).

SALARY RANGE: £18,500 to £22,000 per annum full-time equivalent (£14,800 to £17,600 for the 30-hour week) depending on skills and experience.

DURATION: Start ASAP. Fixed-term contract to end Feb 2021 (with potential for extension subject to funding).

APPLICATIONS BY: 11pm on Tuesday 30 June 2020. Please apply using the application form. CVs will not be considered.

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.

CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of fourteen highly skilled staff, working with a pool of specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver around 20 major, transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria showcasing low-carbon living, energy-efficiency improvements, renewable technology and reduced use of fossil fuels, both on a domestic scale and in the community. Now in our 22nd year, CAfS is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability. CAfS is a dynamic, pro-active and responsive organisation, continually striving to deliver effective projects that make an impact and drive real change towards a low-carbon future. As such, we continually initiate, scrutinise, refine and launch new projects, accessing funding from a variety of sources or earning income from delivering specialist services.

MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE:

To provide a professional, friendly and comprehensive support service to all staff working in CAfS, as well as excellent customer service to our clients, including vulnerable customers. The role includes a range of administrative duties to support our core team and project managers to deliver their work. A major part of the work will be assisting our energy efficiency team to deliver the Cold to Cosy Homes project.

MAIN TASKS:

To perform a telephone reception function; taking enquiries and requests and ensuring clear and full messages via phone, email or in person are relayed to the relevant person, input onto the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system or followed up as necessary.

To undertake administration tasks as directed by the relevant staff member. This includes: providing quality customer service; arranging appointments; event administration; project administration; inputting and analysing data; organising and minuting meetings; liaising with clients and contractors; drafting letters and emails; ordering equipment and stationery; collating and monitoring financial information.

To respond to online information enquiries, logging enquiries in line with CAfS’ processes.

To coordinate meetings where required. To include booking rooms, arranging catering, preparing and circulating agendas, action lists and confidential minutes.

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.

To support the administration officer in reviewing CAfS’ policies and procedures, including organising training and record keeping.

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

Assist with maintaining office systems; organising, storing and destroying paperwork, documents and computer-based information; researching insurance options; updating policies and procedures; keeping inventory updated and storeroom tidy.

To undertake finance and administration tasks as directed by the administration officer. This includes inputting of data onto Quickbooks finance recording systems; issuing and coding of invoices and receipts; chasing unpaid invoices; generating reports from Quickbooks; arranging for cheques and online bank payments to be paid on time.

To undertake payroll tasks as directed by the administration officer. This includes inputting of data onto payroll recording systems, collating timesheets and expenses.

Provide HR support to our staff, volunteers and trustees. To include: ensuring relevant inductions take place; volunteer leads are appointed; and that paperwork is completed and filed appropriately.

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

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

The hours of work are flexible but must include core office hours of 10am-3pm. There may also be an 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 her/his main duties are. It may be amended from time to time without change to the levels of responsibility appropriate to the grade of the post and in discussion with the postholder.

Person Specification

Essential skills and attributes:

To be able to demonstrate:

Experience in providing administrative support in a dynamic and demanding environment.

Excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.

Experience of reception function.

Event organisation, meeting administration and effective minute taking skills.

Ability to proactively handle a wide range of tasks and prioritise these effectively.

Ability to use initiative and make effective decisions.

Ability to use a comprehensive range of IT software (Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) 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.

Ability to maintain a sensitive and professional approach towards colleagues and service users, mindful of confidentiality and anti-discriminatory practices.

Empathy with CAfS’ aims, values and objectives.

Desirable criteria

The following attributes are desirable but not essential.

To be able to demonstrate:

Experience in undertaking invoice processing, managing incoming and outgoing payments.

Experience in inputting information to finance/bookkeeping packages.

Experience of Quickbooks finance package.

Experience of Database/Customer Relationship Management systems

Experience of data gathering, manipulation and reporting e.g. customer data

Experience of providing HR support.

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].
9 June 2020