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Cumbria seeks Cold to Cosy Champions

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As the clocks go back, the days get shorter and people are switching on their lights and heating, Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) is seeking to recruit 20 energy champions as part of the Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria energy-saving service.

“We’re looking for people from across South Lakes, Eden and beyond who are keen to save money on energy bills and are prepared to tell others about the help that’s on offer,” says Tina Holt, energy efficiency project officer with Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), which runs the service. “These champions could be volunteers in their communities, frontline workers who support people as part of their job, or individuals who are keen to help their neighbours. They will be given training and support and the main thing we’re looking for is enthusiasm rather than expertise.”

The Cold to Cosy team is already visiting homes and ensuring that simple measures such as low-energy lighting, draught excluders and radiator reflectors are in place to reduce energy use and costs. The champions will have an important role in spreading the word and encouraging more referrals to CAfS.

The Cold to Cosy Homes service started in South Lakes and is now available across Eden, gradually extending to other areas of Cumbria.

“Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria is aiming to do exactly what it says, improving people’s homes to save them money and save energy,” says Tina. “Becoming a champion is a great opportunity for people to help others and get involved in a very worthwhile scheme. The first step is to book onto our half-day training session in November at www.cafs.org.uk/events. If that date doesn’t suit, we have another one planned for early in 2020.”

Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria is delivered by CAfS, with a network of trusted Cumbrian tradespeople carrying out the more substantial draught proofing installations. It is funded through the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme and partners are Local Energy Advice Partnership (or LEAP), South Lakeland District Council, Eden District Council’s Warm Homes Eden project and Carlisle City Council.

Householders can apply for a free Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria visit and help here on our website, or by calling CAfS on 01768 210276.

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30 October 2019
New video charts renovation progress at 33a Chapel Street

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If you cast your mind back to last summer, you might recall that we started following renovations at an old, stone-walled terraced house in Appleby.

33a Chapel Street’s journey from a flooded, damp building to a warm and cosy home is well under way, and you can see the progress so far in our latest video – a seven-minute recap on the works that have been done and the materials used.

You’ll see how the old concrete floor and renders have been stripped out, replaced with an insulated limecrete floor and different types of lime plasters on the walls. These will stop moisture being trapped in the floor and walls, helping this older building to ‘breathe’ (release moisture) in the way it was intended to.

The house now boasts a new roof, specified by a conservation architect to be breathable while also keeping in heat.

These techniques and materials go hand in glove with older buildings constructed before 1920, when cavity walls started to come in.

If you’ve got one of Cumbria’s lovely old solid or rubble-filled stone or brick walls, you’ll pick up lots of information from all our videos following this renovation.

You’ll also see some of the measures that have been taken to minimise damage if the house floods again in the future, including raising up the electrics on the ground floor, beyond the previous flood level.

Keep an eye out for more videos soon!

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We’ve been able to follow this renovation with video diaries thanks to support from Historic England.

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30 October 2019
Cumbrians asked for views on climate change in county’s first survey

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People who live, work or study in Cumbria are being invited to share their opinions on climate change and ways to tackle it in a new survey launched this week.

Cumbria Action for Sustainability is running the survey and we want to hear from people from all walks of life and across all viewpoints, to help shape actions to reduce carbon emissions.

“There is unprecedented momentum in Cumbria to tackle the causes of the climate crisis and we want to make sure that the voices of people in Cumbria are heard and taken into account as the pace towards a zero carbon Cumbria quickens,” said Hazel Graham, chief executive of CAfS.

“The majority of district councils have declared climate emergencies and are now starting to plan the actions they will take in their districts. Meanwhile, business leaders are planning how they can reduce emissions in their operations. What none of us knows for sure is how people in our county feel about climate change. How concerned are they? What actions do they want to see – and, just as importantly, what actions do they not want to see?”

We hope the survey will also show what steps people are taking in their own lives to reduce their carbon footprint, and any challenges that are making it difficult for them, which the charity may be able to help overcome. There are questions from national and international surveys, too, so that views in Cumbria can be compared to wider trends.

“The survey results will be hugely helpful to CAfS for shaping our future projects, so that we give people the support and information they tell us they need,” Hazel said. “The data will also be incredibly useful as evidence for funding bids, helping to bring money into the county to support efforts to cut emissions, with all the potential benefits that can bring – from warmer homes to a healthier, less polluted environment.”

The overall survey results will be shared publicly to help a range of organisations with future planning, from councils and other public-sector bodies to businesses.

CAfS intends to repeat the survey annually, to track any changes in opinions and to ensure its services continue to reflect local needs. It’s funded this year by the National Lottery Community Fund, as part of the Rebuilding Together programme to help Cumbria to adapt for the challenges of flooding and extreme weather.

“Whether you think there’s too much focus on climate change, or whether you’re on the streets protesting for urgent action, please do fill in the survey so that we hear the full range of views,” Hazel said. “This is your opportunity to have your say and influence what happens in our county. And there’s even a chance to win £100 in our prize draw.”

The survey closes on 30 November. It’s available online here on our website, and paper copies will be available at events around the county – from farmers’ markets to coffee mornings. If you’re holding an event and would like some paper copies, please email [email protected] and we’ll send you some.

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2 October 2019
Carbon literacy trials prove successful

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Spreading awareness about the causes of and solutions to the climate crisis is a critical first step if we’re to empower Cumbrians to play a role in tackling it, and that’s what we hope to achieve with a new training course called carbon literacy.

CAfS ran two pilot courses during our Cumbria Green Build & Sustainable Living Festival in September 2019, with all the places snapped up by organisations and community groups keen to learn more climate science, carbon footprints and solutions.

This very interactive and fast-paced day was led by certified carbon literacy trainer Sarah McClelland of Great Places Housing Group, supported by Sarah Donaldson from Small World Consulting.

“The presentations we heard give an excellent overview of the climate science, how we know climate change is happening, how it will affect us in the future, what we are already doing about it, and what we can do about it,” said Hazel Graham, chief executive of CAfS. “There were lots of interactive exercises to get us all thinking about the things we do in our daily lives that contribute to climate change, and how we might do things differently.”

CAfS is now preparing a bid for funding to tailor the course for Cumbria and set up a programme to roll it out widely among organisations and communities here.

“We’ve had some great feedback after the courses, including one organisation that now intends to roll out carbon literacy training to their staff,” Hazel said. “That’s exactly what we want to see happening across the county, if we can secure funding.”

CAfS is grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund, Electricity North West, Carlisle College, Kendal College, Carlisle One World Centre and Sustainable Brampton for their support with these pilot courses.

If you are interested in attending our next session of Carbon and Climate Literacy training, you can book onto the event here.

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29 September 2019
Climate emergency action summit helps forge next steps

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Councillors, council officers and community groups came together on Saturday 22 September to pick up lots of practical information about next steps after a climate emergency has been declared.

The Cumbria Climate Emergency Action Summit, organised by CAfS and sponsored by Ecology Building Society, was designed specifically for everyone grappling with what to actually do after declaring a climate emergency – what actions to take, whether to set up a citizens’ assembly, how to engage the public, what partners to involve. The event aimed to answer those questions, drawing from the experience and knowledge of experts and those who’ve begun the journey.

13-year-old climate campaigner Ada Wood opened the event with the voice of young people, describing the impact that the climate emergency is having on her life now and what she fears for her future.

Councillor Simon Pickering from Stroud District Council explained the actions his council has taken since becoming the first council in Europe to declare itself carbon neutral, back in 2015. Simon, who had an instrumental role to play in driving the council’s actions, as chair of its environment committee, gave lots of practical information and tips on creating an implementation plan.

Pete Bryant, chief executive of Shared Future CIC, shared his expertise in public engagement, including citizens’ assemblies and juries. He gave real-life examples of his work, organising and running engagement forums on a wide range of topics across the UK for the past 15 years.

Paul Allen from the Centre for Alternative Technology set the scene with the national context for actions to tackle climate change. For the past decade, Paul has been coordinating ground-breaking research into how the UK can be zero carbon with technology we already have. His seminal Zero Carbon Britain report is being updated right now, so Paul was able to share the very latest information on what needs to happen nationally and locally.

Hazel Graham from CAfS got everyone thinking about the partnerships they need to build in their districts, to help implement their climate emergency motions. Jaki Bell, also from CAfS, gave a whistlestop tour of planning communications with the public, to engage people in actions to cut emissions, with Henry Goodwin from Sustainable Carlisle outlining the role of campaigning.

Among the highlights of the day was undoubtedly the delicious hot vegan lunch served by Alisdair McKee of JoviAl catering, with support from Sustainable Carlisle.

“Feedback from attendees has been very positive, and we hope the event has given them the practical information they need at this stage, as councils and community groups gear up to implement climate emergency motions in their districts,” said Nigel Jenkins from CAfS, the event organiser and chair.

“We’re very grateful to our sponsor, Ecology Building Society, for helping to make the event possible, and to our very helpful hosts, Cumbria CVS.”

Videos of the main presentations will be available shortly. Please keep an eye on our social media for updates.

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29 September 2019
CAfS supports global climate strike

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Cumbrians took part in global climate strikes on Friday 20 September, joining with people from around the world calling for urgent action on climate change.

Rallies were held in Carlisle, Penrith, Ulverston, Kendal, Keswick, and Cockermouth.

Cumbrian businesses and organisations supported the strikes in large numbers. Ellergreen Hydro, RSPB and 2030 Architects were among those giving staff time off to support and speak at the strikes.

“Young people’s future is in our hands,” said Tracey Hart, associate director at 2030 architects in Penrith, and a trustee of CAfS. “What we do today will shape their tomorrow. We believe architects have a responsibility to make it a regenerative, living future and that every act of design or construction should make the world a better place.”

RSPB campaigns officer Natasha Yorke-Edgell added:

“It is time for politicians to decide whether we will be the ones who hand the next generation a planet scarred by the climate crisis. Nature doesn’t belong in a museum. But over 50 per cent of UK species are already struggling and climate change poses a catastrophic threat to wildlife. Young people all over the world have taken the lead, demanding urgent action. We are proud RSPB staff members and volunteers will support them in strike action. Our leaders must act immediately to avert climate disaster and mass extinction. The future of their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews depend upon it.”

Hazel Graham, chief executive of CAfS, spoke at the Carlisle rally. (Watch the video of her speech – you’ll find the link on this page.)

“We are living through a unique moment in history where, as understanding of the scale of the climate emergency grows, so does fear and anger and demand for real, meaningful action,” Hazel said. “At CAfS, our vision is a zero carbon Cumbria, a county with a better way of life in balance with the environment. This means warm homes that everyone can afford to heat, affordable transport that everyone can afford to use, improved health and the creation of thousands of climate jobs.

“Young people have shown extreme courage in standing up for their beliefs, striking from school and demonstrating. And they are absolutely right when they say that we already have the solutions that we need to rapidly reduce emissions. We must listen to their voices.”

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29 September 2019
Food businesses tuck into advice on changing diets

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Cafes, restaurants and caterers tucked into expert advice and experience to help them prepare for the trend towards diets with less meat and dairy, at our sustainable food event in September, co-hosted with Eco-innovation Cumbria.

A wide range of food businesses gathered at the National Trust’s Sticklebarn Tavern in Langdale on Monday 23 September to hear how they could cater for changing food trends and make their businesses more sustainable in other ways, too – from reducing food waste to using renewable energy.

We heard from carbon expert Mike Berners-Lee from Small World Consulting about the need to become more sustainable, in the face of the growing climate crisis, and why the food sector has such a big part to play.

We also heard from the team at Chesters restaurant about their experience of shifting to a vegetarian menu.

Gareth Fuke from the National Trust explained how the Trust’s Sticklebarn pub worked with Mike Berners-Lee to show the carbon footprint of their menu items, and the effect it has had.

Glyn Griffiths from Eco-innovation Cumbria outlined how this ERDF-funded programme is helping Cumbrian businesses to improve their sustainability – including this event. The event was also supported by South Lakeland District Council, as part of their strategy to cut carbon emissions in the district.

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29 September 2019
CAfS addresses business leaders

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CAfS chief executive, Hazel Graham, addressed the board of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership on Friday 27 September, explaining the urgency of the climate crisis. Hazel was speaking along with Colin Cox, director of public health, about the scale of the transformation required for a transition to a zero carbon Cumbria and the huge wealth of benefits this would bring.

LEP board members were extremely positive and it was proposed to include the climate crisis as a standard agenda item. Board members emphasized the potential benefits for businesses and communities of decarbonising and acknowledged the huge opportunity it offers.

Cumbria LEP will be represented at the county-wide climate change sub group and will feed their views into a funding bid being led by CAfS for a Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership, to enable a programme of work to cut emissions in the county.

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29 September 2019
CAfS team on Cold to Cosy mission!

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Our Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria team have been out spreading the word about this brilliant new service to help people to save energy and cut their bills.

Tina and Andrew from CAfS were at Ulverston’s bustling Eco Fair on Thursday 26 September, sharing information about the benefits that householders can tap into. A free home visit by our trained energy advisors, draughtproofing and energy-saving kit, LED bulbs, advice and referrals for other improvements are all on offer as part of the scheme.

“This free support is available to a wide range of people, so we’d encourage everyone to take a look at the broad eligibility criteria, which relate to health, benefits, income and some special circumstances,” Andrew said.

“For example, if you’re living alone and earning £14,520 or less we can help you, or a household with two adults and two children with an income of £31,020 or less. The criteria cover a wide range of health conditions and benefits, including child benefit. We can also help those who’ve been bereaved recently, recent immigrants and people moving in and out of homelessness, among other situations.”

If you’d like to have a chat with the Cold to Cosy Homes team, they’ll be at the Sedbergh Environmental Market on Saturday 12 October, at St. Andrew’s Church from 10am to 3pm.

There are more details here on our website or call CAfS on 01768 210276.

Cold to Cosy Homes Cumbria is funded through the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, in partnership with the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP), South Lakeland District Council, Eden District Council’s Warm Homes Eden project and Carlisle City Council.

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27 September 2019
CAfS appoints new CEO

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We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Karen Mitchell as our new chief executive, after a very extensive recruitment campaign.

Karen, who is currently the fundraising manager at Friends of the Lake District, will bring an exceptional breadth of expertise to CAfS. She has worked in the fields of sustainability and climate change for many years, for organisations including Natural England, Nurture Lakeland, Trees for Life and South Lakes Action on Climate Change.

“We are very happy to have found a new chief executive with the combination of experience, knowledge and networks that we need at this time of unique opportunity for CAfS,” said David Beuzeval, chair of CAfS’ board of trustees.

“Her significant experience in charity management, income generation and partnership development will add greatly to our strengths, as we grow our capacity to meet the unprecedented upsurge in demand for our support.”

Karen’s appointment will enable our current chief executive, Hazel Graham, to take up a new senior management position at CAfS, to develop and influence networks and partnerships at a strategic level.

“It’s an exciting time for CAfS, as we expand and realign our team so that we can make the most of emerging opportunities to drive the rapid change that climate science unequivocally demands,” Hazel said.

Karen will join CAfS in December. We look forward to introducing her to you then!

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27 September 2019