CAfS

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  • Volunteer as a CAfS trustee

    Help CAfS shape the future of Cumbria.

    We are looking for dedicated, passionate individuals to join our board of trustees. This exciting role will empower you to make a real difference for the planet while also allowing you to grow professionally, develop new skills and knowledge, expand your network, and enhance your leadership abilities.

    We are searching for trustees who want to:

    • Be part of the dedicated team that makes up Cumbria’s leading climate change charity.
    • Work with a variety of stakeholders to support diverse community projects tackling climate change right here in Cumbria.
    • Direct and streamline the journey towards sustainable lifestyles for individuals, organisations and communities across the county.

    If this sounds like you, get in touch! To find out more about what the position involves and what sort of person we are looking for, watch the video below and read the detailed role description here.

    If you have any questions or would like an informal conversation about the role before you apply, you can contact Karen Mitchell via email at [email protected].

    Application pack

    How to apply

    Please email your CV and a covering letter (max. 400 words) to us by 9am on Monday 8 July 2024.

    Dates for interviews to be confirmed 

    Hear from our trustees:

    Key information:

    • LOCATION: Meetings will be held either online or at our office in Penrith. Travel to other sites in Cumbria may be required.

    • TIME COMMITMENT: Around six board meetings per year; up to two away days per year; other meetings as required.

    • START DATE AND DURATION: Start as soon as possible. Currently all Trustees resign annually and are re-elected at our AGM for an unlimited number of times.

    No governance experience? No problem.

    At CAfS we believe that anyone with enthusiasm, a passion for climate action, and willingness to learn and share their experiences would be a valuable addition to our board of trustees. To make this opportunity accessible to those without trustee experience, we are also offering the role of Associate Trustee. This position will be fully mentored and will offer the opportunity to become a regular trustee at its conclusion. To find out more, have a look at the detailed role description.

    Benefits of being a CAfS Trustee

    • Develop your skills in governance, leadership, strategy, and project management.

    • Increase your understanding of the science behind the climate crisis, its impact and the solutions, both here in Cumbria and beyond.

    • Improve your confidence, agility and resilience by solving real problems alongside a supportive and like-minded team.

    • Have your say – and be heard! As a CAfS Trustee, you will have significant influence on the charity’s direction and impact.

    What can you expect from us?

    • Collaboration with dedicated colleagues, communities, local authorities and other organisations who are striving towards the same goal.

    • A dynamic working environment in which we continually innovate to achieve the best outcomes for volunteers, employees, communities and planet.

    • A consultative working culture where everyone is encouraged to contribute to new developments.

    Deadline Extended!

    9am Monday 8 July 2024.

    Find out even more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

    Meet our current trustees >

  • Building Partnerships for Change

    Building Partnerships for Change

    We were thrilled to have our CEO, Karen, join Penrith Building Society’s AGM as they kicked off their Charity of the Year Partnership with us. Karen spoke about our impactful initiatives spanning across Cumbria, driving us closer to our ambitious goal of achieving zero carbon. In return she learned about the Society’s plans to further reduce their carbon footprint, and about their planned fundraising to support our work.

    During the event, members of the building society generously contributed to our cause by casting their votes, resulting in a remarkable £650 raised.

    A big thanks to Penrith Building Society and its members for their dedication to making a difference. Together, we’re forging a brighter, more sustainable future for our community and beyond.

  • Job – Low Carbon Food Project Manager

    Job – Low Carbon Food Project Manager

    This exciting new role will establish a Low Carbon Food steering group, liaising with the group and key stakeholders to identify research topics to support the transition to a low carbon food economy in Cumbria. The successful candidate will appoint and manage contractors and the £10k research budget, and disseminate the findings of the research as widely as possible.

    The post holder will work with stakeholders to promote low carbon food through their networks, and collaborate with the Cumberland Food Partnership to develop a sustainable food and drink charter for Cumbrian organisations/businesses. The role will oversee the on-going development of the low carbon food toolkit, covering low carbon menus and recipes, case studies, reducing food waste and details of other useful resources which inspire and encourage businesses to reduce emissions. The Low Carbon Food Project Manager will liaise with a wide variety of CAfS staff and teams to promote low carbon food, including events, podcasts and the on-going development of the low carbon food section of the Zero Carbon Cumbria website. They will support implementation of the food-related actions identified in Zero Carbon Cumbria’s Emission Reduction Action Plans and encourage community led-activities relating to low carbon food.

    In addition to collating regular activity and output reports and monitoring and evaluating the Low Carbon Food programme and the Place to Plate project, the post holder will share best practice relating to low carbon food across the county and in other parts of the UK, explore opportunities to secure funding and/or develop income generation relating to low carbon food, and maintain the database of low carbon food stakeholders and resources.

    To apply, please email your completed application form to us by 9am on Wednesday 12th June 2024.

    Interviews will be on Zoom on Wednesday 19th June. If you would be unavailable on this date, we will seek to arrange an alternative.

    Purpose of role

    • Widen engagement of businesses and other stakeholders throughout Cumbria with the concept of low carbon food through events, toolkits and other resources.
    • Establish and commission relevant research to help remove barriers to the decarbonising of systems associated with locally produced food and drink.
    • Coordinate action on low carbon food with other aspects of Zero Carbon Cumbria and the Rural Net Zero project and with other food-related initiatives in Cumbria.
    • Monitor, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of the two projects.

    This role integrates and delivers two related projects:

    1. The Low Carbon Food Programme, which is part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria (ZCC) project funded by the National Lottery and led by CAfS. The ZCC project supports a partnership of around 80 organisations in tackling some of the main sources of carbon emissions in Cumbria, with a particular focus on food, energy generation, transport and the goods we buy.
    2. Rural Net Zero: Westmorland and Furness – Place to Plate project, funded by Innovate UK Pathfinder Places which will build on the ZCC low carbon food programme by working with more farmers, food businesses and restaurants to reduce emissions across the food chain, commissioning relevant research and testing out what local low carbon food means.

    Essential skills

    • At least three years’ experience of planning, supporting and/or managing projects.
    • Experience of managing or delivering research projects.
    • Proven ability to develop effective working relations with colleagues, external partners and contractors.
    • Detailed knowledge of food and drink, from food/drink production to consumption including the associated environmental aspects and impacts.
    • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
    • Good negotiation skills.
    • Ability to manage a wide range of tasks, prioritise these effectively and work to tight timeframes.
    • Ability to use initiative and make effective decisions.
    • Strong IT skills with the ability to use a comprehensive range of software (Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and MS Teams).
    • Understanding of and commitment to CAfS’ aims, values and objectives.
    • Ability to travel independently around the county.

    Desirable skills

    • Knowledge/experience of food systems and/or stakeholders in Cumbria.
    • Experience of organising and delivering events.
    • Budget setting/management skills and experience.
    • Experience of fund raising/income-generation.
    • Knowledge of low carbon solutions required to become a net zero carbon society.
    • Procurement/contract management skills and experience.
    • Experience of data gathering, analysis and reporting.

    The important stuff

    • SALARY SCALE: £27,000 – £35,000 (FTE)

    • LOCATION: Flexible working patterns with blended home, site and office (Penrith) work.

    • HOURS: 22.5 – 30 hours per week.

    • START DATE AND DURATION: Start as soon as possible with a fixed term contract until end December 2025

    You’ll love working at CAfS

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

    What a job at CAfS offers you…

    • The opportunity to be on the frontline driving action on climate change as part of a respected organisation that is making a difference.

    • Collaboration with dedicated colleagues, communities, local authorities and other organisations who are striving towards the same goal.

    • A dynamic working environment in which we continually innovate to achieve the best outcomes for employees, communities and planet.

    • A consultative working culture where staff are encouraged to contribute to new developments.

    Our work culture and benefits…

    • We are a friendly and supportive team of colleagues and board of trustees

    • We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all that we do.

    • We will provide the equipment you need to do your job.

    • Employee wellbeing is very important to us. We do what we can to help colleagues achieve a great work/life balance.

    • We have a flexible working policy and we use it. Most staff work part time so we are accustomed to managing different work patterns. Staff can also work at home where possible.

    • We invest in learning and development and encourage people to develop their skills and commit time and resources to development.

    Find out even more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

  • Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: Lake District Log Cabins

    Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: Lake District Log Cabins

    Accessing advice and funding to install a low carbon heating system and EV infrastructure.

    View the case study here: Lake District Log Cabins

  • Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: CANDO FM

    Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: CANDO FM

    Identifying energy saving potential in an existing building to reduce costs and carbon emissions.

    View the case study here: CANDO FM

  • Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: Fell Brewery

    Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: Fell Brewery

    Preparing for electric vehicles, reducing delivery emissions and tackling food waste.

    View the case study here: Fell Brewery

  • Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: Basecamp North Lakes & Alpacaly Ever After

    Green Enterprise Hub Success Stories: Basecamp North Lakes & Alpacaly Ever After

    Tackling food waste, increasing renewable energy use and creating biodiverse landscapes.

    View the case study here: Basecamp North Lakes and Alpacaly Ever After

  • Great Big Green Week 2024 – Let’s swap together for good

    Great Big Green Week 2024 – Let’s swap together for good

    The UK’s biggest ever celebration of tackling climate change and protecting nature is back! Great Big Green Week is celebrated this year between the 8th and 16th of June,

    Last year was the biggest here in Cumbria, with over 70 events listed on the Zero Carbon Cumbria site, and a huge diversity of events which appealed to a range of audiences across the county.

    This year the theme from The Climate Coalition is ‘Let’s Swap Together for Good’ -and whilst events can cover any aspect of climate change and nature protection the theme encourages groups to explore events that reduce waste and encourage the reuse and recycling of goods.

    As they explain on their site, it can mean repair cafes, seed swaps, clothes swaps, book swaps, knowledge swaps and even skill swaps. The Climate Coalition also hold training webinars to support events, such as talking to the media and how to publicise your event.

    Zero Carbon Cumbria have put together a webpage with all the events, information and guidance you could need to plan your Great Big Green Week event. They will also list events, and share them on their socials so you can ensure your event is seen.’ 

     Ideas for events range from communities swapping skills in repair cafes or allotments, friends swapping fast fashion for second hand finds, neighbours swapping tips on insulation or electric vehicles, or toddler groups organising toy and equipment swaps – and organisers say that every swap adds up to make a big difference. 

    Helen Attewell, The Cumbria Sustainability Network Manager explains the idea behind the theme this year  “With the swapping theme, we’re looking for events that grasp the idea of buying less and sharing more; or sharing knowledge, skills and ideas. It could be things like recipe swaps, compost demos, talks about rubbish and recycling, film screenings about nature and the environment – I can’t wait to see what groups can come up with this year!” 

    To find our more, get advice, and to list your event go to the Zero Carbon Cumbria site here. 

  • We did it – we hit our Big Give £20K target!

    We did it – we hit our Big Give £20K target!

    We are absolutely delighted to say WE DID IT! We beat our £20K target!

    A massive thank you to everyone who donated to our Big Give campaign this year to Fight for our Future, and to those of you who shared or retweeted our social media posts.

    Launching at lunchtime on Thursday 18 April, the week-long appeal saw a strong start, getting to 44% of our target after just four days. Donations continued to trickle in and after a mad flurry – and mild panic! – on the morning of Thursday 25 April, the target of £20k was met with half an hour still to go.

    Every pound of the £10k that was donated by our supporters was doubled thanks to the Big Give Green Match Fund. Your donations will support even more action across the county, enabling us to turn the tide on the climate crisis and create a brighter, greener future.

    If you didn’t get a chance to contribute but would still like to, you can donate directly to CAfS by clicking here.

  • APPEAL NOW OPEN! Help CAfS turn the tide on the climate crisis

    APPEAL NOW OPEN! Help CAfS turn the tide on the climate crisis

    Are you ready to spring into climate action?

    CAfS are excited to announce that the 2024 Big Give appeal is now open for donations – with every penny matched thanks to the Green Match Fund. Your donations will support positive action right here in Cumbria; let’s turn the tide on the climate crisis and create a brighter, greener future for all.

    Here in Cumbria, we are working to reduce carbon emissions as quickly as possible. We have made good progress in many areas, but we need your help to increase our impact and take significant action to tackle the root causes of climate change. We know that our young people need us to be bold. We must act on their concerns and bring about the change they want to see. Through stepping up our work, we can make a happier and safer future possible.

    If you want to join us in the fight for our future, you can find out more about CAfS’ Big Give appeal here.

    Ready to donate? You can make your donation directly via the Big Give website here.