Links to climate change pages:
As part of its exit strategy LVSC will:
- Continue to improve on its carbon reduction activities and will carry encouraging the sector to apply for the City Bridge Trust Eco audits (see Eco Audit page)
- Produce a regular informal ebulletin with information and tips on carbon reduction activities and informing its network members of relevant up and coming events, training and resources. This ebulletin will be calld "LVSC sustainable network ebulletin"
- Incorporate the health impacts from fuel poverty and air quality in its health policy work where feasible and continue to seek joint action to tackling health, energy fuel poverty and climate change
- Continue to build on the work with the Greater London Authority Environment team and London Assembly Environment commitee where appropriate
- Continue to support the Energy Bill Revolution Campaign
For more information contact Sandra van der Feen:sandra@lvsc.org.uk
Climate Change Leaders was an initiative which started in 2011 to actively engage the mainstream VCS in carbon reduction activities by working with infrastructure organisations to help them to become leaders and advocates on climate change.
The work aimed to support the link between expert green organisations and the mainstream voluntary & community sector (VCS)
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London's VCS becomes fully aware about climate change and its impact on London and the most vulnerable in the capital and is enabled and empowered to make low carbon choices and adopt low carbon behaviour.
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London's VCS infrastructure organisations become skilled leaders that fully support mainstream organisations on climate change issues and ultimately support London's transition to a low carbon city.
The project has led to an informal network off approx 300 organisations. Members received monthly e bulletins which serves as a source of news and resources as well as providing members with an opportunity to exchange and share information and resources. LVSC will continue to provide periodic e bulletins (see above).
The project was supported by a steering group that met quarterly. The section below contains information about each member, including some of the support and resources they provide.
LSx aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable London by connecting and motivating people. They work in partnership with business, government and the voluntary and community sector to: reduce London's environmental footprint; improve the lives of London's disadvantaged communities; improve the health of Londoners; and improve the knowledge and skills of communities to achieve these goals.
LSx provides a range of toolkits including those for voluntary and community sector (VCS) groups. They include LSx's 'who is who' in London by category, detailing those involved in sustainability work in the capital.
In 2006, LSx produced a Green Guide in partnership with LVSC. This comprises information on recycling in the office, energy savings and sample environmental policies for the sector.
LSx also runs a Fit & Fun to drink campaign
Fit and Fun to Drink is a pilot campaign aimed at promoting tap instead of bottled water to East London's Muslim community. Delivered by LSx in partnership with Thames Water, the project works with the Muslim Women's Collective, MADE in Europe and the East London Mosque to encourage behaviour change through a peer-to-peer social marketing campaign.
Resource: Charity Green Challenge resource
LSx has produced a resource designed to help organisations go green and inspire the people and communities they work with to do the same. It aims to be useful to both to those just starting out on the sustainability path as well to organisations that have already made great progress. The guide comprises sections on:
- Why should we do it?
- How have others done it? (case study videos from organisations including Merton Council for Voluntary Service)
- How can I do it
- Is there any help?
LCRN works to solve London's resource challenges sustainably, through community-based waste prevention, reuse and recycling. LCRN enables and capacity builds organisations through infrastructure development. It also conducts environmental audits.
To see the latest on LCRN, please read their e- news page.
Global Action Plan is a national environmental behaviour change organisation. They offer a blend of creative and environmental expertise to help people actively cut carbon emissions.
Global Action plan has up-to-date news including games to tackle and conserve water consumption.
Global Action Plan run events. Their Climate for Change workshops are designed specifically to help small and medium sized businesses improve their environmental performance.
EPF offers independent, ethical advice and training to help charities and voluntary and community sector groups rent, buy, let or manage their property.
EPF also work with landlords and developers to help reduce the social and environmental impact of commercial property.
EPF have a number of case studies, e.g. on poor practice challenged and changing council policy.
Living Space Project (formerly Capacity Global) provides a unique link between community action and policy development that supports individual, community and neighbourhood rights to a clean and healthy environment locally.
Look at the Living Space Project for their range of projects.
BEN promotes equality of opportunity with respect to ethnic communities in the preservation, protection and development of the environment. It works to integrate social, cultural and environmental concerns in the context of sustainable development. BEN's current work in England is predominantly through the BEN Rainbow Project.
BEN provides a range of resources. These include the new Green Guide directory.
Merton CVS works to support and inspire the voluntary and community sector in Merton.
Merton CVS took part in the City Bridge Trust project: Greening the Sector
and they went though the Eco Audit process. The CVS is encouraging other organisations and councils for voluntary services (CVSs) to mainstream climate change in their organisations.
Merton CVS have the Carbon Smart Award and have done work with the Chamber of Commerce Greening Business Initiative (focusing on VCS buildings).
The Selby Trust was set up by local people who recognised the need for a multi-purpose centre led by the community and third sector organisations. Selby Centre, brings together a rich mix of individuals and organisations, primarily from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME), refugee and other historically excluded communities in Tottenham, Haringey, North London and beyond.
The Centre's very high energy bills made it focus more on climate change and they now have green hub officers on site to create cultural change. The Centre has a Community Environmental Development department raising awareness and involvement on energy efficiency campaigns. It includes Wood Works, a social enterprise based at the Selby Centre that recycles wood for social good.
The Centre also has a green commitment, which includes several steps to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Community Energy Lab is an innovative pilot project based at the Selby Centre in North London. Its aim is to use waste materials from the centre and turn them into viable insulating materials, which will then be used to retrofit the centre.
Chris chairs the UK Low Carbon Communities Network. His current work is focused on building engagement on climate change both within and between sectors. Chris is co-Director of Community Environment Associates and provides a lot of training in this field, notably with the social enterprise Talk Action.
GLE Consulting is a leading provider of services, products and investment in business accommodation, finance for business, enterprise development and consultancy services.
It has been awarded the management and delivery of the recognised environmental certification, Green Mark. They also offer free support to European Social Fund - financed organisations, to undertake a Green Mark Certification as part of a new Technical Assistance project, commissioned by the Greater London Authority.
Energise Barnet CIC is a social enterprise engaging community organisations in order to deliver demand for energy saving measures / renewables and reducing fuel poverty. It works in partnership with the Council and the NHS and is developing a referral network of schools, faith groups, resident associations, sport clubs, health professionals, businesses and tradespeople. Nationally, supporters of it's aims include Business in the Community, Diocese of London, Federation of Master Builders, the Greater London Authority, National Insulation Association, Micropower Council and the Prince's Mayday Network. The Founder is a member of the Community Energy Contact Group, established by the Energy Minister.
CBT is the grant-making arm of Bridge House Estates. It was established to make use of funds surplus to Bridge requirements and provides grants totalling around £15m per year towards charitable activity benefitting Greater London.
Through their programme, Greening the Third Sector, CBT helps to bring the current global environmental crisis to the forefront of the charitable sector's agenda by helping its grantees become more sustainable. Their free eco-audits (see also LVSC page in the left column) offer a review of organisations' current position on waste, energy use, water, transport, raw materials and carbon emissions. The audits complement the Third Sector Declaration on Climate Change.
For more information about this project contact Sandra van der Feen: Tel: 020 7832 5812 (Mon-Thu) or email: sandra@lvsc.org.uk (Mon - Fri)
Page modified September 2014
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