Futureproof Cumbria

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  • Call for Climate Champions to support Cumbria’s drive to net zero.

    Call for Climate Champions to support Cumbria’s drive to net zero.

    CAfS putting out a call for volunteers to be part of our third year of community climate champions.

    Our Climate Champions receive accredited Carbon Literacy training and full support from our brilliant team here at CAfS. They increase their knowledge of climate science and solutions and actively promote actions and ideas that can be developed and maintained in their community. They build confidence and develop relationships within their community, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

    The Climate Champions project has been very successful so far, training over 35 volunteers and reaching over 1300 people thorough a wide variety of events both online and offline. Art exhibitions, clothing and toy swaps, online support groups and a webinar for cost cutting ideas provided energy and enthusiasm to generate sustainable action against climate change.

    This year, thanks to support from the Copeland Community Fund, we are looking for volunteers who want to generate more climate action in West Cumbria, and ensure that priorities set by the Copeland People’s Panel are developed. We want to hear from you if you are interested in building a strong community for a green future, if you want to raise and embed climate change within your parish council, or want to explore a career in a ‘green’ job.

    Clare Taylor, Community Climate Champions Coordinator for Zero Carbon Cumbria at CAfS explains: ‘We’re so excited to be able to extend this project into West Cumbria and to support
    the recommendations of the Copeland People’s Panel. Our volunteers tell us that they feel empowered and motivated following the training, and more positive about the impact they can have. We’re looking for volunteers who want to develop their skills or confidence, they don’t need any experience, just enthusiasm!’

    This fantastic opportunity is open to over 18s only; if you are interested you can apply here.

     

  • Priority community projects receive funding to cut carbon in Cumbria

    Priority community projects receive funding to cut carbon in Cumbria

    Seven community-led projects, aimed at raising awareness of the climate crisis in Cumbria and helping people to reduce their carbon emissions, have been awarded a grand total of £47,725 from CAfS’ Community Climate Grants scheme, which is funded by the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund, Allerdale Borough Council and South Lakeland District Council.

    The projects seeking support for a diverse range of action including a cycling festival, shuttle bus, anaerobic digester and other ideas, were presented to an audience of community groups on March 23rd. Participants then voted for their preferred projects.

    Among the winning projects was The Rebuild Site CIC, which received a £10,000 award for its innovative tool library and workshop project. The social enterprise, based in Carlisle, diverts excess building materials from landfill and offers them to the public at a reduced cost, whilst also supporting community projects with free building materials. The Tool Library and workshop scheme is a complementary addition to this, promoting cheap and practical ways for people to reduce their carbon footprint.

    Masie Hunt of the Rebuild Site CIC said, ‘We are absolutely thrilled to receive a climate grant to support the first year of the Carlisle tool library. The funding will be instrumental in training our volunteers and staff, and in running our first DIY workshops. The tool library will give our local communities the means to reduce their carbon impact and spending by borrowing instead of buying DIY equipment. Our thanks to CAfS and the Cumbria Sustainability Network for making this possible.”

    £10,000 was also awarded to South Lakes Action on Climate Change, for its low carbon food café. The ‘Waste into Wellbeing’ initiative, located in Kendal,  uses surplus and waste food. This project builds on recommendations from the Kendal Climate Jury and will provide a hub for climate change help and support.

    Chris Rowley of SLACC said; “Reducing carbon emissions is pivotal in our plans for a hub that puts good fresh food from surplus at the heart of supporting our community when responding to the cost of living and climate crises. Receiving this grant will make a big difference to us as we develop the partnership between SLACC (Waste into Wellbeing), Kendal town council and Stricklandgate house, to act on to recommendations from the Kendal Climate Jury.”

    Other grants awarded were: £7,000 to Handpicked Productions CIC with The Promise Opera; £10,000 to Barton & Pooley Bridge Community Fund with the Ullswater Valley Hopper Bus; £4,400 to Brampton and Beyond Energy Ltd with anaerobic digestion market research; £5,000 to Brampton 2 Zero for a Community Engagement Office and finally £1,325 to Wellbeing Westmorland CIC with support for Kendal Cycling festival.

    The Community Climate Grants are part of a programme of work being led by Cumbria Action for Sustainability on behalf of the countywide Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, a consortium of organisations which have a shared ambition for Cumbria to be the first county to achieve net zero carbon by 2037.

    Helen Attewell, Coordinator of the Cumbria Sustainability Network said, “The Community Climate Grants are an excellent way of encouraging new ideas to tackle climate change by raising awareness and cutting carbon emissions.  Although the large grant programme is closed for now, we are still allocating grants of up to £2,000 so it remains a great opportunity for community-based groups to take action in support of a zero carbon Cumbria.”

    For more information and ideas on how you can get involved please visit: Zero Carbon Cumbria – Community Climate Grants – CAfS

  • What the IPCC report means for Cumbria

    What the IPCC report means for Cumbria

    You’ll have seen the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in the news this week. You’ll have heard the latest warnings, an appeal to governments to listen, and the stark retelling of the scale of challenge that we are facing. What you won’t hear is what it means locally, for your town or village, your business, or your home. What does the IPCC report mean for Cumbria?  

    IPCC tells us Cumbria can make a difference 

    The report tells us that globally ‘there are multiple, feasible and effective options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change, and they are available now’. We know this well in Cumbria. At Cumbria Action for Sustainability we run multiple projects to fight the cause of climate change – from supporting businesses to decarbonise, to supporting community renewable energy schemes, through to improving the energy efficiency of homes. Other initiatives in Cumbria include local solutions to cut transport emissions such as eBike loan and electric vehicle charging. The diversity of organisations involved in Cumbria’s Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership  is indicative of the momentum we have in Cumbria.  A quick glance through the event listings on ZCCP’s website shows the commitment and spread of climate actions taking place here. As individuals, as an organization, and as a lead partners in ZCCP the CAfS team will continue to demonstrate the ingenuity and the motivation to make a difference. 

    The tools are available to reduce greenhouse gases, and we can make sure that they are used. 

    Is Cumbria off track?  

    IPCC is telling the international community that we are off-track. ‘The pace and scale of what has been done so far, and current plans, are insufficient…’. This sounds bleak. But it is a call to action, and it should spur us to take the next steps quicker. And for Cumbria what are these next steps? The ZCCP has sector groups exploring what we can do about the most significant causes of carbon emissions. CAfS is training climate champions and home energy efficiency champions, working with businesses and supporting our soon to be new councils. Our carbon literacy training alone has been incredibly successful in improving knowledge, raising awareness of solutions, and securing commitments to action. We are a part of over 50,000 people trained nationwide in carbon literacy and aim to keep up this momentum.   

    The report warns the world that every increment of warming results in rapidly escalating hazards. This is why CAfS aim of a zero carbon Cumbria is so vital. By playing our part, by being an inspirational country that leads the way, we can make a difference. Small actions add up to cause big waves.   

     

    Read the report

    Banner picture credit: visitcumbria.com

  • Big Give application success and a big thank you to all our supporters!

    Big Give application success and a big thank you to all our supporters!

    We are delighted to announce that our application to the Big Give to match fund our annual appeal has been successful! Between 20th-27th April every donation we receive will be doubled, meaning twice the climate action will be made possible here in Cumbria! 

    Last year, our fantastic supporters helped us to raise a massive £12,241 for our Big Cumbrian Climate Challenge campaign. Our infographic shows some of the amazing climate action we achieved over the year. From youth work to community energy projects to smashing carbon literacy targets, our supporters help make positive climate change a reality here in Cumbria. A big thank you to everyone who has helped make our work possible by donating, coming to events, volunteering and spreading the word! 

     

    If you would like to get involved and show your support for climate action in Cumbria, you can pledge your intention to donate to our upcoming appeal here today. This will allow us to send you a reminder along with the donation link as soon as the appeal is launched. 

     

    Click here to pledge your support. Thank you! 

  • CAfS chosen as Manning Elliott’s charity of the year: Driving sustainability and green building practices

    CAfS chosen as Manning Elliott’s charity of the year: Driving sustainability and green building practices

    Manning Elliot partnership, an architects firm based in Penrith, have chosen to partner with CAfS as their charity for 2023. They are planning fundraising activities throughout the year that will help support our efforts to combat climate change. 

    Manning Elliot specialise in creating bespoke, forward thinking, and sustainable architecture.  

    Director Nick Bailey said: “Our role as architects is filled with responsibility, this being towards our clients, our projects, our design ethos and very significantly towards our environment and the inherent impact our designs have upon our communities and the way we live and work. 

    “Delivering sustainability and promoting design concepts that engender sustainable processes and solutions that promote the use of green technology and reduce our carbon reliance, remain core tenets of our thinking. 

    “We believe that in supporting CAfS, we can help our clients to embrace and better understand the choices that we make, and to promote and encourage the greener technologies that are available to us. 

    “This might be done through sustainable design, further promoting recycling of materials, or less reliance upon fossil fuels for lighting, heating and transportation. 

    “We will be undertaking various activities during the course of this year, including sponsorship and fundraising, to support Cumbria Action for Sustainability, and we will also be encouraging our clients to assist us with that support.” 

    Some of the activities planned for throughout the year include a hike up Helvelyn, a 20 mile walk around Lake Ullswater and then a 100km cycle ride. 

    We are thrilled to have been chosen as Manning Elliott’s charity of the year and are excited about the potential impact of the initiative. The funds raised will go directly towards supporting our projects which are vital in the fight against the impact of climate change in Cumbria. We’re confident that our shared commitment to the environment will lead to a brighter, more sustainable future for all of us.

    We will be following Manning Elliott’s activities throughout the year- so stay tuned! 

    To find out ways you can support fundraising for CAfS have a look here. 

     

  • Great Big Green Week grants available thanks to funding from Cumbria County Council

    Great Big Green Week grants available thanks to funding from Cumbria County Council

    We’re very excited to announce that Cumbria County Council has allocated CAfS £6,000 for grants to not-for-profit community groups hosting events during Great Big Green Week, 10-18 June.

    The funding, from the Council’s Environment Fund, will mean grants of up to £300 can be made available to help community organisations arrange and host their own event. The funding can be used for venue hire, publicity, speaker expenses, film hire, or other resources.

    Great Big Green Week, a national campaign organised by the Climate Coalition, aims to raise awareness of climate change and get more people involved in taking action to reduce their carbon footprint.

    The week will see a variety of celebratory events taking place across communities in the UK including wildlife walks, films, talks, litter picks, forest school events, vegetable growing, as well as larger events to support sustainable business and sustainability festivals. Last year we listed over 90 events – and this year, we hope to list even more on the Zero Carbon Cumbria events page.

    In addition to the funding, we will be providing supplementary resources for the events, including materials with information on how to reduce your carbon footprint, and our other projects such as Cold to Cosy Homes which aims to provide support and advice to people struggling with their energy bills. An event to help community groups plan their activities also takes place on the 27 April.

    Councillor Celia Tibble, Cumbria County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

    “I am delighted that the council is able to support CAfS with providing grants for this year’s Great Big Green Week. Climate change is already a threat to Cumbria and is one of the greatest threats to humanity globally so this campaign is a great opportunity for us all to consider the effect our actions have on climate change and the part we can play in tackling it.

     “Collectively there’s so much we can do to make a difference and reduce our impact on the planet so if you’re thinking about putting on an event, I’d encourage you to get in touch.”

    Helen Attewell, CAfS Cumbria Sustainability Network Coordinator, added:

     “These grants are an easy way to enable community groups to put on an event for Great Big Green Week in June. Up to £300 can be provided towards expenses to help make the event a success.

    “We’re looking to encourage events in areas which have maybe missed out in the past, and with more vulnerable communities, such as migrants and refugees, older people, younger people, and people with disabilities. We are all going to have to live with the impact of climate change, but it’s important that people who already face challenges in their lives, for example around the cost of living, aren’t disadvantaged further.”

    For more information and how to apply for a grant, visit Zero Carbon Cumbria – Great Big Green Week.

  • Job: Digital Marketing and Design Officer

    Job: Digital Marketing and Design Officer

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    We’re looking for a talented, energetic and above all creative individual to help us reach our vision of a zero carbon Cumbria. As a creative you’ll enhance the digital marketing and design ability in the marketing team. You come with a knowledge of the multi-media digital world we live in, furthering our mission through visual and written content.

    You’ll use your digital marketing and design 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

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    Closing date: 9am Wednesday 05 April

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    SALARY RANGE: £21,500 – £24,000 (full time equivalent) Starting salary is dependent on skills and experience. 

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

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

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    DURATION: Fixed term contract for 12 months

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    Marketing at CAfS

    Our marketing and communications team plays a critical role in motivating and empowering individuals and organisations to take action on climate change. The team supports our many projects – from the high-profile Zero Carbon Cumbria programme, through to fundraising campaigns and our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service. The team uses all forms of marketing and communications to broaden our reach, deepen our engagement and continue building our strong reputation and profile. 

    The role 

    • Responsible for the design output of the marketing team  
    • Managing our digital channels  
    • Delivering other aspects of our marketing plans

    Working for CAfS

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

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

    We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a Zero Carbon Cumbria. 

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

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    Job description: Digital Marketing and Design Officer

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

    Word doc: Digital Marketing and Design Officer Job Description

    PDF doc: Digital Marketing and Design Officer Job Description

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    How to apply

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    Please send your CV and portfolio / examples of design work, along with the Expression of Interest form by 9am | Wednesday 05 April to [email protected]

    INTERVIEWS: Interviews will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 12 April 2023. Please let us know when submitting your application if you are unable to make that date. Short-listed candidates will be contacted by 5pm | Thursday 04 April

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    Some great benefits of working at CAfS

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

    Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

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  • Community climate champions generate momentum towards net zero Cumbria

    Community climate champions generate momentum towards net zero Cumbria

    In August 2022, we recruited and trained 15 enthusiastic volunteers in the latest climate science and solutions, to equip them with the knowledge and skills they needed to go out into their communities and share their learning with others. The aim was to engage audiences who might not have been to a climate-themed event before, and encourage them to do something to reduce their carbon footprint or do something climate positive, to contribute towards Cumbria reaching its net zero goal. Champions were active across the county, and occupied a diverse age range from 20s through to 80s!

    Armed with knowledge gained from CAfS Carbon Literacy training, the Centre for Alternative Technology’s Zero Carbon Britain training day along with internal ‘Train the Trainer’ guidance and support from CAfS, the volunteers conjured up a wide range of events and activities to attract a diverse audience.

    Six months on, nearly 40 events have taken place, including climate themed craft and art exhibitions, talks to schools and children’s youth groups, workshops, presentations and discussions, lobbying local councils, a carbon-cutting Facebook group, and a Toy Swap. The project has also increased the membership and number of local sustainability groups, with many champions having joined or even founded their own local group!

    We’re continuing to support our Climate Champions and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the outcome of funding application which would enable us to recruit a fresh team of volunteers for this fun and impactful project.

    If you’re inspired by any of what you’ve read to get involved in the project, either by applying to become a climate champion yourself or to set up an event led by a champion in your area – we think a pub quiz incorporating climate topics would do well to reach new audiences! – please get in touch with Clare Taylor, Project Coordinator: [email protected] or call her directly on 01768 593243.

    We’d like to end with a massive shout out of appreciation to all our climate champions, for the huge amounts of hard work and determination they have applied to the project, and moreover for the success they have achieved in increasing the awareness and engagement among ordinary people about the climate emergency and how to tackle it, across the county.

  • Funding boost to help Cumbria households cut energy bills

    Funding boost to help Cumbria households cut energy bills

    Households in South Lakeland and Eden will get an extra helping hand to cut their energy bills thanks to a funding boost for Cumbria Action for Sustainability.  

    CAfS is expanding support for households wanting to make energy-saving home improvements or fit solar panels, after successful bids to the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, via South Lakeland and Eden district councils.  

    The funding of £92,294 in South Lakeland and £9,171 in Eden means we will be able to reach even more households through our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria draughtproofing and advice service, as well as expanding our support and advice service for people retrofitting their homes to make them warmer, cheaper to heat and to reduce their carbon footprint.  

    It will also allow us to extend our Solar Made Easy scheme in South Lakeland, which supports households wanting to install solar panels.    

    The funding means an extra 150 households in South Lakeland and 15 in Eden will benefit from support by CAfS by the end of March this year. It’s a very welcome and timely boost for our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria service in particular, given the surge in demand for our help as people struggle with rising energy bills and the wider cost of living crisis.  

    Andrew Northcott, who heads up our energy services, said:  

    “This is great news about funding for Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria and means we can now provide more home energy advice visits to households in South Lakeland and Eden this winter. This advice will help many households who are affected so substantially by the energy price crisis.” 

    CAfS’ low-carbon communities manager Molly Hogg, who leads our Solar Made Easy scheme, said:  

    “We’re very grateful for the ongoing funding and support that we’ve received from South Lakeland District Council. This additional boost from the Shared Prosperity Fund will allow us to build on our pilot Solar Made Easy project and help accelerate solar panel installations in other communities in South Lakeland.” 

    CAfS is currently supporting nearly ninety households to get quotations and place orders with solar panel installers in Ambleside, Kendal, Keswick, Arnside, Levens and Duddon Valley. Plans are well under way to extend the support to Penrith, Ulverston and a cluster of villages in the Greysouthen area, with more communities to follow soon. The project has helped people overcome some of the barriers to installing solar panels.  

    “We’re able to give people advice, answer their questions and help them decide whether solar is right for them, as well as connecting them with local vetted installers,” Molly said. “It’s quite difficult for people to get quotes now as demand is high. We’re able to make these installations more attractive and efficient for installers by grouping them at a community level and doing some of the upfront work for them.” 

    Find out more about our services: 

    Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria > 

    Retrofit support > 

    Solar Made Easy > 

     

    Image Credit: visitlakedistrict.com

  • Job: Administrator

    Job: Administrator

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    Closing date: 9am Thursday 9 March

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

    LOCATION: Contractually based at our office, Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith. Some home working may be possible with line manager’s agreement.

    HOURS: 25 – 30 hours 25-30 hours per week, preferably 5-6hrs per day Monday-Friday, but open to negotiation

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    DURATION: Fixed term contract until 31.03.24

    APPLICATIONS BY: 09:00 on Thursday 9 March. Application forms should be emailed to [email protected], CVs will not be considered. Applicants selected for interview will be contacted on Friday 10 March.  Interviews will be held on Thursday 16 and/or Friday 17 March.

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    We are looking for an Administrator to provide a professional, friendly and comprehensive reception service, as well as support service to all staff working in CAfS. This includes a range of administrative duties in support of the core team as well as occasional support to project delivery.

    Working for CAfS

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

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

    We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a Zero Carbon Cumbria. 

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

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    Job description: administrator

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

    Administrator Job Description

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    How to apply

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    To apply complete and send the CAfS Application Form. CVs will not be considered. Applications close 09:00 on Thursday 9 March. Application forms should be emailed to [email protected].

    Applicants selected for interview will be contacted on Friday 10 March.  Interviews will be held on Thursday 16 and/or Friday 17 March. Interviews will be via Zoom. The interview process will involve one or more tasks relating to the role. 

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

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    Some great benefits of working at CAfS

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

    Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

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