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News from members June

Churches Together in South Tyneside

CAfE recently supported the Care for Creation Event on May 11, run by Churches Together in South Tyneside, through the community chest fund (up to £200). The event, organised to help raise awareness of climate change amongst church members and the wider community, saw representatives from over 70 local churches and faith based organisations attend. Feedback found a large proportion of attendees felt that climate change issues matter and that they had identified ways in which they could take action, and organizers felt the event was a great success. The Community Chest supported the event by covering venue hire costs and publicity of the event. If youre interested in accessing the Community Chest fund, call our advisors on: 0844 848 0077.

Leicestershire leading the way for energy monitoring

Environmental Action for a Better Leicestershire (ENABLE), a county-wide environmental partnership, has introduced the Energy Monitor Loan Scheme. This is in partnership with Leicestershire County Council's Library Services. Since January 2009, more than 425 people have borrowed energy monitors which have come via a network of 54 libraries, climate-friendly communities and staff loans. Energy Monitors enable users to get to grips with where their pennies are being spent and help to emphasise the importance of energy efficiency. Other councils such as Bristol City and Guildford have set up similar schemes through their library networks. So why not get in touch with your local council and see if you can start monitoring your usage?

A climate fund for the Northwest

Foundation, a new not-for-profit fund for the Northwest has now been announced. The fund, which gathers up donations from individuals, organisations and businesses, invests them into local (Northwest), community energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects. Foundation is seeking to generate CO2 savings within the region, and will support projects that are reducing carbon through a wide range of means including through energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies and projects which have the potential to acquire greenhouse gases through biological `sinks e.g. peat bogs, tree planting or biomass.

Organisations can apply for up to 100% of the costs of the project, up to a maximum of £50,000. Foundation aims to fill the gaps in other support mechanisms, so in the first instance applicants should apply to national low-carbon funding streams prior to approaching the Foundation. Full details and information on how to apply, please visit: www.climatefund.org.uk or call the Foundation project manager on: 0161 237 3200.

Celebrating 30 years of shaping a local sustainable energy future

This year sees the 30th anniversary of the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and they will be marking the occasion with a one day conference later this month. The event, on June 30, will explore local sustainable energy initiatives and how they can be expanded to meet the challenges of slashing carbon emissions and ending fuel poverty. The conference is aimed at those involved in sustainable energy and related initiatives at a local level, as well as people at national or regional levels developing policies, programmes and funding schemes to stimulate local activity on sustainable energy. A few places are still available for the event, which takes place at the Watershed in Bristol. If youre interested and would like to find out more, visit: www.cse.org.uk/pages/30th-anniversary/