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  • Job: Green Build and Sustainable Living Festival Coordinator

    Job: Green Build and Sustainable Living Festival Coordinator

    Posted: 28 March 2019
    Closing date: 9am, Thu 18 April 2019

    You’ll take overall responsibility for our annual green build festival. You’ll coordinate and deliver a series of open home events, site visits, bus tours, training events, film showings and other green build and sustainable living events. The main festival runs throughout September, followed by monthly events across the following year.

    There are full details in the job description and person specification below.

    How to apply

    To apply, please download and fill in the application form below. Instructions for submitting your application are included in the form.

    Application Form – Green Build and Sustainable Living Festival Coordinator – CAfS

    Closing date for return of applications is 9am on Thursday 18 April 2019.

    Interviews will be held on Wednesday 1 May in Penrith.

    Job description

    THE EMPLOYER: Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

    LOCATION: Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET

    REPORTS TO: Funding and Finance Manager

    HOURS: 22.5 hrs a week / 3 days a week

    SALARY RANGE: £18,000 – £24,000 per annum pro rata (dependent on experience)

    DURATION: Fixed-term contract from 1 May 2019 to 31 October 2019 (6 months – start date to be negotiated)

    MAIN PURPOSES OF ROLE:

    To take overall responsibility for CAfS’ Green Build Festival project.

    To coordinate and deliver a series of open home events, site visits, bus tours, training events, film showings and other green build and sustainable living themed events. We expect to coordinate and run up to 40 events throughout September followed by monthly events throughout the following year. The series of events aims to:

    • Share knowledge and inspiration about sustainable lifestyles
    • Inspire individuals, communities and organisations to make positive change
    • Provide a platform for individuals, communities and organisations who have done something transformational to share their learning with others.
    • Increase knowledge of climate science and solutions (carbon literacy)
    • Promote energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to individuals, through peer to peer information and support.
    • Provide examples of retrofitting energy efficiency measures in hard to treat homes and promote sustainable and lower cost alternatives to oil and electric heating.
    • Provide advice and information about ways to reduce bills and how to finance energy efficient refurbishments.
    • Train professionals from the construction industry to use low carbon building techniques and to understand how to retrofit for energy efficiency and flood resilience
    • Showcase waste prevention activity and sustainable transport options
    • Increase knowledge of sustainable approaches to food growing and low carbon diets
    • Bring in sufficient income from delegate fees to cover the costs of the festival including any staff time not covered by grant funding

    This is an outstanding opportunity for an individual to make a real impact in increasing awareness and take up of low carbon solutions in Cumbria. Every opportunity should be taken to ensure this work is integrated in to the other work that CAfS delivers so that benefits are maximised.

    MAIN TASKS

    • To coordinate a programme of Green Build events ensuring a broad coverage of topics and wide geographical reach.
    • To provide CAfS Marketing Manager with a comprehensive programme to promote
    • To manage the project budget, ensuring that ticket prices for chargeable events are reflective of the full costs of the events
    • To recruit and liaise with event hosts.
    • To coordinate staffing of events
    • To work with CAfS Marketing Manager to manage bookings and the donation process.
    • To produce case studies and coordinate production of films following some events.
    • To help distribute event programmes, posters and marketing literature.
    • To attend and introduce events where needed.
    • To write draft copy for newsletters and press releases and contribute to our social media activity.
    • Provide updates for CAfS Marketing Manager, Chief Executive and Trustees as required.
    • To be responsible for ensuring that a risk assessment is completed for every event
    • To recruit and manage volunteers to ensure the successful delivery of events.
    • To help secure sponsors and develop our relationships with them
    • To evaluate the project and provide reports to funders and sponsors
    • To be a conduit for information to individuals on wider CAfS projects.
    • To respond to information enquiries as and when necessary.
    • To contribute to the on-going work of CAfS generally including attending appropriate networking meetings, team meetings and training sessions.
    • Provide monitoring and evaluation of activities to meet reporting processes, measure success and inform future funding bids.
    • Collaborate with the wider CAfS team to carry out other tasks or projects required from time to time, as directed by the manager or trustees.
    • Help develop revenue streams and sponsorships for CAfS and help secure additional funding and develop a legacy for projects.

    Person specification

    Essential skills and attributes:

    • Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of sustainability issues and an interest in the objectives that CAfS seeks to deliver
    • Basic knowledge of sustainable living and low carbon solutions. May include domestic energy efficiency, renewable technology, transport, waste and food
    • Highly organised with experience of planning, scheduling and delivering projects and events
    • Pro-active with ability to suggest solutions and overcome problems
    • Event management experience
    • Ability to host and attend events and speak confidently in front of small groups
    • Ability to work flexibly including evening and weekend working
    • Highly motivated and independent worker requiring minimal supervision
    • Ability to work cooperatively as part of a small team
    • Good knowledge of Cumbrian geography and the ability to travel independently throughout rural Cumbria

    The following are desirable but not essential:

    • Existing network of contacts within Cumbria who can exemplify sustainable living or have undertaken green building work or sustainable refurbishment projects across the county.
    • Ability to bring specialist expertise or interest in one or more of: climate science, energy efficiency, building design, renewable energy, community energy projects, sustainable food, sustainable transport
    • Experience of managing grant-funded projects
    • Experience of coordinating chargeable events
    • Experience of volunteer coordination
    • Experience of web editing and use of social media
    • Experience of attracting funding through sponsorship
    • Experience of managing budgets
    • Experience of event marketing and production of promotional materials for a wide range of audiences
    • Ability to drive a minibus

    ABOUT CAFS

    Vision: Towards a Zero Carbon Cumbria – bringing about a better way of life in balance with our environment.

    Mission: 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.

    Our team of ten highly skilled staff work with a pool of 25 specialist contractors and 30 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. The charity is driving the shift towards a zero carbon Cumbria and provides information, advice and motivation through events, site visits and practical projects. Now celebrating our 20th 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 which create a ‘shift’. Our flagship project is the Cumbria Green Build and Sustainable Living Festival, the first in the country, which inspires hundreds of people each year to take steps to live more sustainably. The festival will run throughout September 2019, followed by monthly events throughout the following year. We are seeking a passionate, knowledgeable and extremely well-organised individual to coordinate the festival in our 20th year.

  • Job: Energy Efficiency Project Officer

    Job: Energy Efficiency Project Officer

    Posted: 27 March 2019
    Closing date: 9am, Tuesday 23 April 2019

    We are looking for a project officer to lead on the delivery of our new Cold to Cosy Homes scheme, which offers free energy services to households living in fuel poverty and other vulnerable people in Cumbria. You’ll also assist our energy efficiency manager with delivering our wider energy efficiency activities, including a national programme in which CAfS participates, called LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership).

    There are full details in the job description and person specification below.

    How to apply

    To apply, please download and fill in the application form below. Instructions for submitting your application are included in the form.

    Application Form – Energy Efficiency Officer – CAfS

    Closing date for return of applications is 9am on Tuesday 23rd April 2019.

    Interviews will be held on Thursday 2nd May in Penrith.

     

    Job description

    THE EMPLOYER: Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

    LOCATION: Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET

    REPORTS TO: Energy Efficiency Project Manager

    HOURS: 22.5 hours a week (potential to increase if additional funding secured)

    SALARY RANGE: £18,000 to £24,000 per annum pro rata, depending on skills and experience

    DURATION: Fixed-term contract to end January 2021 (start date to be negotiated)

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE:
    • Lead on the delivery of the Cold to Cosy homes project
    • Assist the Energy Efficiency Manager with delivery of CAfS wider energy efficiency related work

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
    • Provide a programme of energy advice home visits and installation of energy measures to vulnerable households throughout Cumbria.
    • Deliver a series of energy advice events for people at risk of fuel poverty.
    • Provide clear and accurate home energy related information and advice to clients at events and in their homes.
    • Provide a high quality of customer service, building a friendly rapport with clients and a strong and credible reputation for the advice service and CAfS.
    • Support CAfS other energy services.
    • Build on CAfS’s reputation as a specialist in the field of energy efficiency and providing services to vulnerable customers.

    MAIN TASKS
    1. Build networks with partner organisations across Cumbria and beyond to widen the uptake of CAfS services by vulnerable groups.
    2. Work with the Energy Efficiency Manager to strategically develop the project to ensure maximum reach.
    3. Recruit and support a network of home energy assessors and draught proofing installers to assist in delivery.
    4. Visit clients in their homes to conduct energy assessments.
    5. Deliver a series of energy saving advice sessions at community events which help promote services and actively take referrals.
    6. Coordinate marketing through a wide range of channels and contacts, with the support of the CAfS Marketing Manager.
    7. Research energy efficiency related issues and latest schemes to help homeowners with energy saving and fuel costs.
    8. Deliver promotional talks and short training sessions to small groups of people (householders and referral partners) with practical advice on CAfS schemes and how customers can benefit and be referred.
    9. Develop clear and accurate information resources to support these events.
    10. Assist in training a network of volunteer energy champions to act as energy efficiency advisors in their locality.
    11. Support delivery of energy measures and draught proofing services to homes, by promoting to clients, handling referrals, and liaising with other partners and organisations who provide client visits and fitting service.
    12. Provide monitoring and evaluation of activities to meet reporting processes, measure success and inform future funding bids.
    13. Manage spend in line with budget.
    14. Act as a conduit for information to individuals on wider CAfS projects.
    15. Collaborate with the wider CAfS team to carry out other tasks or projects required from time to time.
    16. Help secure additional funding and develop a legacy for the project.
    17. Contribute to the on-going work of CAfS generally including attending appropriate networking meetings, team meetings and training sessions

    Person Specification

    Essential skills, experience and attributes:

    1. Demonstrable skills and experience of providing high quality customer service.
    2. Strong team player and capability to work cooperatively as part of a small team as well as on own initiative without day to day supervision.
    3. Excellent communication skills, to network and reach out to communities and organisations supporting vulnerable customers and to provide clear energy efficiency advice.
    4. Good knowledge of energy saving in homes, and the issues that vulnerable people can have in heating their homes.
    5. Good knowledge of energy retrofit options, the domestic energy market, tariff comparisons and switching and other schemes to help people save energy and afford bills.
    6. Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of sustainability issues and an interest in the objectives that CAfS seeks to deliver.
    7. Ability to, deliver workshops and speak confidently to small groups.
    8. Experience of planning, organising and scheduling events.
    9. Good written communication and IT skills.
    10. Ability to work to tight deadlines and juggle multiple priorities.
    11. Ability to work flexibly including evening and weekend working by agreement.
    12. Ability to travel independently throughout rural Cumbria.

    The following are desirable but not essential:

    1. Experience providing energy saving advice.
    2. Qualification in providing energy advice – City & Guilds Level 3 Energy Awareness.
    3. Experience working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, including vulnerable individuals and community groups.
    4. Practical experience of improving energy efficiency in domestic settings.
    5. An existing network of contacts in Cumbria or demonstrable ability to build networks rapidly.
    6. Additional experience / qualification in energy auditing/thermography.
    7. Experience of research in the field of domestic energy efficiency.
    8. Experience of providing energy audits including site surveys, energy data analysis, thermal imaging and technical report writing.
    9. Experience of working with housing association tenants and knowledge of social housing.
    10. Budgeting and project management experience.
    11. Experience of securing grant funding and tenders.

    About CAfS

    Vision: Towards a Zero Carbon Cumbria – bringing about a better way of life in balance with our environment.
    Mission: 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.

    Our team of ten highly skilled staff work with a pool of 25 specialist contractors and 30 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. The charity is driving the shift towards a zero carbon Cumbria and provides information, advice and motivation through events, site visits and practical projects. Now celebrating our 20th year, CAfS is the first point of reference in the county for information on sustainability.

    We have been successful in securing £150,000 of Energy Redress Scheme funding, which allows us to provide a significant free energy services to fuel poor and other vulnerable households in Cumbria – with a project called Cold to Cosy Homes. We also participate in a national programme, called LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership).

  • CAfS’ work attracts Japanese professor of policy science

    CAfS’ work attracts Japanese professor of policy science

    CAfS hosted a visiting Japanese professor this week, who is exploring how community-owned renewable energy could help to turn the tide on his country’s rural depopulation and ageing.

    Nobutaka Matoba, a professor of policy science at Ryukoku University, met with Phil Davies, low-carbon development manager at CAfS on Monday 4 March 2019.

    Professor Matoba had been signposted to CAfS by the growing trail of Japanese business and academic delegates who have recently visited us, hoping to take back information and inspiration to counteract Japan’s chronic rural depopulation and rural ageing problem.

    They all hope that these trends might be reversed through the deployment of community-owned renewable energy. The professor’s specialism is local governance and sustainability, recently focusing on the regeneration of rural areas with local renewable energy in countries such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

    His research shows that environmental and especially energy policies could have a key role in reversing the trend of economic decline by creating alternative local employment opportunities and providing a better quality of life for local people.

    The meeting demonstrates just how wide CAfS’ work and reputation reaches. It provided a platform for sharing knowledge, experience and academic research, as well as underpinning an international consensus that community-owned renewable energy delivers multiple social and economic benefits beyond carbon reductions.

    Professor Matoba will be sharing his research findings with CAfS. We’ll keep you posted!

  • Carlisle City Council declares climate emergency

    Carlisle City Council declares climate emergency

    Carlisle City Council last night (Tue 5 March) passed a motion to declare a climate emergency. They are the second local authority in Cumbria to do so, following South Lakeland District Council on 26 February.

    Carlisle’s motion, proposed by Councillor Colin Glover, leader of the council, is one of the strongest in the country, committing the council to:

    • Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ that requires urgent action.
    • Make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030.
    • Ensure that all strategic decisions, budgets and approaches to planning decisions are in line with a shift to zero carbon by 2030.
    • Support and work with all other relevant agencies towards making the Carlisle district Zero Carbon within the same timescale.
    • Achieve 100 per cent clean energy across Carlisle City Council’s full range of functions by 2030.
    • Convene a citizens assembly in 2019 to oversee and feed into the development of related action plans and budgets.

    Dozens of protestors gathered before the meeting, urging the council to take the urgent action needed to prevent climate change. Inside the council chamber, the debate on the motion was opened by a question from six-year-old Emily Graham, daughter of the CAfS chief executive, Hazel. Emily asked the councillors what they intend to do to tackle climate change, adding:

    “If you don’t act now, in 12 years time, when I turn 18, when I am old enough to be a councillor, it will be too late. I will not get my chance to change things. My future depends on the decisions you make in this room. Please give me a chance to change the world too.”

    Watch Emily speak to the council (ITV Border News)

    After a lengthy debate, the motion was passed by 29 votes, with 22 councillors abstaining.

    CAfS congratulates Carlisle City Council for committing to the bold action that the climate science demands and we are incredibly heartened by the growing momentum to tackle climate change at a local level in the county and across the UK. We’ll continue to share information about possible climate emergency motions in other districts, as we hear it.

    Read the full motion agreed by Carlisle City Council

    Read the News & Star article with more on this story

  • CAfS chief executive among Carlisle’s top 40 female influencers

    CAfS chief executive among Carlisle’s top 40 female influencers

    Carlisle Living front cover March 2019It’s official… our chief executive, Hazel Graham, is one of the forty women under forty who are shaping Carlisle!

    Hazel has been featured in the March 2019 edition of Carlisle Living, in a list of the women described as the innovators and leaders who are shaping the city.

  • Cumbrian sustainability sites gain attention of national party leader

    Cumbrian sustainability sites gain attention of national party leader

    Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party, visited a community-owned solar PV scheme in Burneside and a zero-waste shop in Penrith as part of her recent visit to Cumbria.

    In the south of the county, she visited the James Cropper Ltd plant in Burneside, learning about their recycling of coffee cups and their community energy partnership with Community Energy Cumbria, supported by CAfS. She also visited Ulverston to hear about proposals for empty commercial properties.

    In Penrith, Sian learnt about initiatives to reduce plastic, including a visit to the new zero-waste shop, Another Weigh. Local Green Party members and activists also briefed her on a proposed Plastic Clever Penrith scheme for businesses by the town council in partnership with environmental and business groups, and the Masterplan for the area.

    Another theme running through her visit to the county was the issue of flood prevention and defences.

    Read more about Sian’s visit to southern Cumbria

    Read more about the visit to Penrith

  • Evening courses for trades, construction professionals and householders

    Evening courses for trades, construction professionals and householders

    We are offering evening courses especially for professionals and skilled householders involved in retrofitting existing buildings. You’ll learn about the techniques and materials to make buildings more energy efficient and weather resilient. The courses are priced at just £30, thanks to support from South Lakeland District Council and Kendal College, where all the courses will be held.

    The courses are led by James Innerdale (Crosby Granger Architects). James is a highly experienced architect specialising in the repair, conservation and adaptation of historic buildings.

    There are just 25 places on each course. Booking is now open.

    Here’s some basic information about the courses. For full details, please click the booking links below for each course.

    Course 1: First steps in Retrofitting Buildings

    Ideal for:

    • Trades
    • Householders

    Course dates:

    This course consists of two evening sessions, on 29 April and 7 May, from 6pm to 9pm. Participants should attend both sessions.

    Course level:

    The course is at a Level 3, meaning that the content will be taught at a similar level to A level.

    What the course covers:

    Refurbishment and improvement of existing buildings to make them more sustainable, weather resilient, and improving energy efficiency. We’ll cover approaches to domestic and non-domestic buildings.

    Full details & booking >>

    Course 2: Retrofitting for Energy Efficiency – Building Fabric

    Ideal for:

    • Building Surveyors
    • Building Control Officers
    • Architects
    • Other building professionals
    • Academic Staff
    • Heating engineers
    • Property developers
    • Householders who are at technical level of the professional building roles listed above.

    Course dates:

    This course consists of two evening sessions, on 8 and 14 May, from 6pm to 9pm. Participants should attend both sessions.

    Course level:

    The course is at a Level 4, meaning that the content will be taught at a similar level to a module of a university bachelor’s degree.

    What the course covers:

    The differences between modern construction and older buildings, how moisture behaves in the different building types and the options for thermal improvement. The main focus is on traditional (pre 1919) buildings.

    Full details & booking >> 

  • CAfS to host workshop at Cumbria Life Home & Garden Show

    CAfS to host workshop at Cumbria Life Home & Garden Show

    This year’s Cumbria Life Home & Garden Show will have opportunities to learn about making your home energy efficient and flood resilient – including a workshop by CAfS.

    CAfS is among the 80 exhibitors, for our third year at the show. We’ll be joined by Chris Morphet from Lake District Lime, so stop by for a chat about everything from draughtproofing to complete retrofits.

    We’re also hosting a workshop on making your home more resilient to extreme weather, such as flooding.

    Also among the exhibitors are architects with experience in low-energy buildings and extensions, suppliers of materials for low-energy builds, renewable energy installers, low-energy glazing, and compost specialists.

    The show runs from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 March, at Rheged near Penrith.

    Find out more

  • Chance to bring sustainability to the fore in Cumbria’s industrial strategy

    There’s a chance to take part in the final round of consultations on the development of Cumbria’s Local Industrial Strategy, which is the county’s key strategy for growing the economy, improving productivity and making sure that everyone in Cumbria can benefit from economic growth. It’s led by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

    The consultation events are an opportunity to contribute ideas for the further development of the Local Industrial Strategy and to share good practice, innovations and great ideas that are already being delivered in Cumbria and could be scaled up. The Local Industrial Strategy provides Cumbria’s response to government’s national Industrial Strategy, which includes maximising the advantages for UK industry of the shift to green growth.

    CAfS is liasing with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership to champion sustainability in the way that Cumbria develops, and we’d encourage you to go along to one of the four sessions in March:

    Mon 4 March 10am Penrith
    Mon 4 March 2pm Workington
    Tue 5 March 10am Penrith
    Tue 5 March 2pm Barrow-in-Furness

    Find out more and book a place online

    More about the Local Industrial Strategy

    The Local Industrial Strategy provides Cumbria’s response to government’s national Industrial Strategy, which looks to drive forward the national economy based on the five foundations of productivity

    • Ideas: the world’s most innovative economy
    • People: good jobs and greater earning power for all
    • Infrastructure: a major upgrade to the UK’s infrastructure
    • Business Environment: the best place to start and grow a business
    • Places: prosperous communities across the UK

    It also looks at four challenges:

    • Putting the UK at the forefront of the artificial intelligence and data revolution
    • maximising the advantages for UK industry of the shift to green growth
    • becoming a world leader in shaping the future of mobility
    • harnessing the power of innovation to help meet the needs of an ageing society
  • Whitehaven coal mine hearing postponed

    Whitehaven coal mine hearing postponed

    A hearing on the proposed coal mine at Whitehaven, which was due to have happened on Friday 22 February, was postponed. The new date appears to be Tuesday 19 March.

    South Lakes Action on Climate Change is among the organisations that have objected to the proposal.

    A web page has been set up, which will be updated with details of any protests planned for the day, and it also includes SLACC’s letter of objection and more information about the proposal.

    See SLACC objection plus updates on the hearing and demonstrations