Futureproof Cumbria

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  • CAfS celebrates achievements of EV partnership

    CAfS celebrates achievements of EV partnership

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    The end of this month marks the end of CAfS’ involvement in the electric vehicles project that we’ve been working on since late 2019 and we thought that it would be a good time to mark a few of the most significant parts of the brilliant progress that has been made over the past 18 months.

    During our involvement with the project, over thirty installations of chargepoints have been completed, allowing locals who don’t have access to off-street parking to countenance switching from a petrol/diesel car for the first time.

    Because of a successful collaboration with the city council, a great number of these are in Carlisle where they can be of use to the many residents who live in terraced housing and thus find it tricky to charge a car from their home.

    The first public chargepoint on Walney Island was installed in early 2020 thanks to the unbridled enthusiasm of the folks at West Point House (and despite a few challenges going on in the wider world that you may be familiar with).

    Kendal College accepted the offer of a chargepoint while at the same time launching into a process of adding EV technology to their engineering courses, leading the charge in more ways than one!

    A whole host of parish councils and village hall committees saw an opportunity to add an asset for their community, ensuring that the more rural areas of Cumbria aren’t left out of the EV revolution by large companies concentrating on motorway service stations.

    The county’s bicycle mayor officially opened one chargepoint in Penrith when it became the first to have integrated E-bike charging.

    We’ve added a whole new wing to our sustainable living guide which contains all we’ve learned throughout the year on electric vehicles and how they integrate into a vision for a zero carbon Cumbria. In this is included all written and video content that we’ve created with the help of our superb EV volunteers who have been eager and willing from the first.

    We welcomed hundreds of viewers to our EV webinars to discuss the practicalities of charging and costs with panels of all-knowing experts. It was heartening to see that, despite the fact that everyone was adapting to remote ways of interacting, so many people continued to show up to support our efforts!

    And most recently, we released a report that investigates just how many chargepoints we’re going to need in Cumbria to service the needs of residents and visitors by 2030. Not wishing to spoil anything, it’s quite a few.

    On top of this, we’ve had an absolute blast working with the entire partnership of endlessly impressive people who have been supporting Charge My Street in their upscaling of EV charging. We’ll most definitely be keeping an eye on their website to check on where the latest host site suggestion is and we look forward to charging up in our local communities as more of their distinctive sockets sprout up across the county.

    For one last time, it’s our pleasure to remind you that if you have an idea for a potential host site for a chargepoint, you can register it at www.chargemystreet.co.uk/host

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  • Huge funding boost for PLACE project

    Huge funding boost for PLACE project

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    We at CAfS are delighted to announce that a project in which we are a partner has received a huge boost of funding this week. The PLACE project is being run by Cumbria Development Education Centre and they have just been awarded a grant of £248,600.

    The grant comes from the Government’s £40 million second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery

    Ninety nature projects across England have been awarded grants from £68,100 to £1,950,000 to create and retain over 1,000 green jobs, backed by the Government’s £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

    Work will be carried out on over 600 sites from North Northumberland to the tip of Cornwall, and combined with the first round, almost a million trees will be planted, contributing towards the Government’s commitment to treble tree planting rates across England by the end of this Parliament.

    The PLACE project is being delivered by a partnership- CDEC, North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Play-ful Nature and CAfS.  PLACE will empower young people as agents of change within their communities- inspiring them to take action through nature based community projects to enhance beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment. It will equip a minimum of 12 groups of children and young people (240-300yp) with the skills, competences and values required to develop a deep connection to place: people, nature, cultural and landscape heritage.

    This connection to place and heritage, and the range of skills built, will address climate change, strengthen their mental health and wellbeing and secure the future of the heritage they have curated and enhanced.

    Laura Goad, Director at CDEC commented, “This funding from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund provides us with a project to build on our vision as an organisation to empower young people to build a fair and more sustainable world. It also gives us the opportunity to work collaboratively with organisations across Cumbria, pooling our collaborative advantage and specialisms. We are incredibly excited to begin work on this project with young people and communities.”

    The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. Connecting people with nature is another priority theme: by increasing access to nature and greenspaces, projects will support both physical and mental wellbeing. The Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies  The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

    Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said:

    “The diverse and ambitious projects being awarded funding today will help environmental organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and crucially, help more of the public to access and enjoy the outdoors.

    “Through our £80 million Fund, we are on track to support over 2,500 jobs, plant almost a million trees and increase nature recovery at a huge scale across the country, which will help us deliver against our 25 Year Environment Plan.”

    Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

    “From wetland restoration, to creating wildlife-rich habitat for bees, it is vital that we value, protect and rebuild our natural heritage. This new funding will not only allow projects to carry out direct conservation which is essential in protecting our biodiversity, but it will increase awareness of how and why we need to change our behaviours in order to protect our future.”

    Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

    “By supporting jobs from Northumberland to Somerset, the Green Recovery Challenge Fund will help deliver a nature positive future. The fund supports young people to develop skills needed to protect nature, build back greener and prepare for climate impacts, like floods and heatwaves.”

    Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:

    “Our environmental and conservation charity sector does an incredible job in protecting, improving and restoring the natural environment for the benefit of communities and the economy.”

    Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said:

    “This funding will help deliver thousands more trees and help us achieve our target of trebling tree planting rates in England by the end of the Parliament. We need to work towards net zero emissions by 2050; to address biodiversity loss; to better connect people with nature; and to create more green jobs in doing so. Trees are central to this and the projects being awarded these grants will have a hugely important role in helping us realise these objectives.”

    A full list of awards is available to view here.

    The Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm’s-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.’

    The National Lottery Heritage Fund

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  • Ambleside to Zero – the launch!

    Ambleside to Zero – the launch!

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    Ambleside Action for a Future (AAFAF) is gearing up for their public launch of ‘Ambleside to Zero’ on 23rd September 2021 in Ambleside Parish Centre, and we’re proud to be supporting them. AAFAF aims to get the town to zero carbon by 2030 and is working with local residents, business and multiple partners to get there.

    This will be an all-day drop-in session, with periodic welcome talks to explain the group’s aims and introduce the projects. There will be information-packed displays, AAFAF members and project partners there to talk to, and hopefully some fun gadgets to play with! Everyone is welcome, either from the local area or further afield. Detailed information will follow on the AAFAF website.

    The morning will be dedicated to supporting local businesses to decarbonise. As well as demonstrating our own CAfS business carbon footprint calculator, we’ll be joined by a host of specialists, (including Green Small Business), who can help businesses think about energy and resource efficiency, environmental certification, and innovation. Businesses will also be able to meet the Lake District Foundation, who can offer grants of up to £20k to small to medium sized businesses wishing to reduce their carbon footprint.

    From lunchtime we’ll be focussing on our community projects and will be encouraging local residents to get involved. Opportunities include: our solar PV project, which will identify a trusted partner to install solar PV on multiple homes in the area; the warmer homes project, which will help you understand where your home might be leaking heat; getting advice and draft-proofing work from the CAfS Cold to Cosy Home service (eligibility criteria apply); and finding out about the CAfS Retrofit for Cumbria project, which will support homeowners to carry out extensive home energy improvement works. We’ll also be introducing the CAfS household carbon footprint calculator and AAFAF’s other projects around tree planting and sustainable transport.

    We’re delighted to have been successful in supporting AAFAF to secure a grant from the MCS Foundation to fund this event and further community engagement. We’re also grateful for the on-going support from South Lakeland District Council, who fund us to work with AAFAF and bring in other project specialists.

    The launch event is timed to take place during the Great Big Green Week, a national week of events celebrating action on climate change, organised by the Climate Coalition. See our earlier news article for more information about this exciting week.

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

    Research to find good businesses who do retrofit work in Cumbria

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

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

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

    Take the survey.

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

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

    Apply here.

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  • Job: Senior Marketing Officer

    Job: Senior Marketing Officer

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    Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 August 2021

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

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    Application & Interview Process

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

    In your letter, please also answer the following questions:

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

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

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

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

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

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    Job description

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

    Senior Marketing Officer – Job Description

    BENEFITS: CAfS offers an excellent working environment, with benefits ranging from flexible working to a pension contribution. Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

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    THE EMPLOYER: Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

    LOCATION: Contractually based at our office, Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET, however, homeworking can be agreed.

    REPORTS TO: Marketing & Communications Manager

    HOURS:  30 hours (4 days) a week

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

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

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    ABOUT CAfS

    Our vision is a zero-carbon Cumbria and we strive to bring about a better way of life, in balance with our environment.

    Our mission is to empower and enable people, communities and businesses to live and work more sustainably by sharing our knowledge, practice, skills, networks and practical experience. We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a zero-carbon Cumbria.

    Formed in 1998, CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of 25 highly skilled staff, working with specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver a range of transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria driving action on climate change and serving as the first point of reference on sustainability co-chairing the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership of nearly 80 organisations working to reduce our county’s emissions.

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE: 

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

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

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

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

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

    MAIN TASKS:

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

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    Essential skills and attributes:

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

    The following are desirable but not essential:

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

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

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  • Job: Marketing Officer

    Job: Marketing Officer

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    Closing date: 9am on Monday 16 August 2021

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

    [/fusion_text][fusion_separator style_type=”default” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” sep_color=”” top_margin=”” bottom_margin=”20″ border_size=”” icon=”” icon_size=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” /][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” content_alignment_medium=”” content_alignment_small=”” content_alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” font_size=”” fusion_font_family_text_font=”” fusion_font_variant_text_font=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]

    Application & Interview Process

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

    In your letter, please also answer the following questions:

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

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

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

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

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

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    Job description

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

    Marketing Officer – Job Description

    BENEFITS: CAfS offers an excellent working environment, with benefits ranging from flexible working to a pension contribution. Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

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    THE EMPLOYER Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

    LOCATION: Contractually based at our office, Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET, however, homeworking can be agreed.

    REPORTS TO: Marketing & Communications Manager

    HOURS: 22.5 hours (3 days) a week

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

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

    START DATE: As soon as possible

    ABOUT CAfS

    Our vision is a zero-carbon Cumbria and we strive to bring about a better way of life, in balance with our environment.

    Our mission is to empower and enable people, communities and businesses to live and work more sustainably by sharing our knowledge, practice, skills, networks and practical experience. We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a zero-carbon Cumbria.

    Formed in 1998, CAfS is an award-winning charity with a team of 25 highly skilled staff, working with specialist contractors and volunteers to deliver a range of transformational low-carbon projects each year. CAfS is the leading organisation in Cumbria driving action on climate change and serving as the first point of reference on sustainability co-chairing the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership of nearly 80 organisations working to reduce our county’s emissions.

    MAIN PURPOSE OF ROLE

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

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

    KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

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

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

    MAIN TASKS

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

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    Essential skills and attributes:

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

    The following are desirable but not essential:

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

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

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  • Job: Project support officer – Cold to Cosy Homes

    Job: Project support officer – Cold to Cosy Homes

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    Closing date: 9am on Tuesday 27 July 2021

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

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    Application & Interview Process

    Please apply by completing the application form below. We do not accept CVs. Guidance for submitting your application is included in the form.

    Application Form – Project Support Officer

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

    Interviews will be held via Zoom on 3 Aug 2021.

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    Job description

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

    Job Description – Project Support Officer

    BENEFITS: CAfS offers an excellent working environment, with benefits ranging from flexible working to a pension contribution. Find out more about the benefits of working at CAfS >

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    THE EMPLOYER: Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS).

    LOCATION: Contractually based at our office, Eden Rural Foyer, Old London Road, Penrith, CA11 8ET, however, homeworking can be agreed.

    REPORTS TO:  Project Manager – Cold to Cosy Homes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    NUMBER OF POSTS RECRUITING: Two.

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    ABOUT CAFS:

    Our vision is a zero-carbon Cumbria and we strive to bring about a better way of life, in balance with our environment.

    Our mission is to empower and enable people, communities and businesses to live and work more sustainably by sharing our knowledge, practice, skills, networks and practical experience. We manage and deliver events, advice, training and practical projects across the county as well as providing specialist consultancy services to enable individuals, communities, businesses and local authorities to drive a shift towards a zero-carbon Cumbria.

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

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

    BACKGROUND TO COLD TO COSY HOMES

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

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

    MAIN TASKS:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    Essential criteria

    To be able to demonstrate:

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

    Desirable criteria

    To be able to demonstrate:

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

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

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  • Climate training available for all County Council staff and Members

    Climate training available for all County Council staff and Members

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Growing the sustainability network

    Growing the sustainability network

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

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

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

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

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

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  • Announcing Great Big Green week!

    Announcing Great Big Green week!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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