Directory Continued
General information
Greenfinder
Use their listings to find information on recycling, energy saving, green events, environmentally friendly products, local green groups and organic food to name but a few.
Kate Haines, 01926 832939, kate@greenfinder.co.uk, www.greenfinder.co.uk
Eco schools
The Eco-Schools programme provides a simple framework to enable your school to analyse its operations and become more sustainable.
www.eco-schools.org.uk
Warwickshire Eco Schools team:
Eco Schools, Sustainability Group, Warwickshire County Council, PO Box 43, Warwick, CV34 4SX
ecoschools@warwickshire.gov.uk
Eco Schools Officer 01926 418065
LETS
A Local Exchange and Trading System is a non-profit making, mutual trading system. It allows us to exchange our time and our skills to benefit each other and the community. Absolutely everyone can join: businesses, voluntary groups and individuals, young and old. The LETSystem values the many skills and goods each of us has to offer and helps the local community help itself.
LETS Membership co-ordinator
01926 421467, membership@leamlets.org.uk, www.leamlets.org.uk
Warwickshire Climate Change Partnership
We can involve people in our ‘ Switch it Off’ (SIO) campaign which aims to raise awareness of just how much energy is wasted when appliances are left on when not needed. We are after people who can run a ‘SIO’ campaign where they work.
People can also put their name down on the waiting list for living with an Electrisave meter for a couple of weeks.
We have an events database and lots more on the Partnership web site. http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/climatechangepartnership
Climate Change Adaptation Projects
People can compensate for their carbon emissions from flights or energy in their home by supporting climate change adaptation projects in Bangladesh and Nepal – see web site: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/climatechangecompensation
The Government Direct website now has a comprehensive section covering the environment. Much of it links to other websites so it’s another good starting point when looking for ideas and information: www.direct.gov.uk/EnvironmentAndGreenerLiving
Local organisations
Greenpeace
An international environmental pressure group campaigning against environmental degradation.
www.greenpeace.org.uk
020 7865 8100
Friends of the Earth
An international network of environmental pressure groups with a strong network of local groups in the UK. There is a local Leamington and Warwick group.
www.foe.co.uk
info@foe.co.uk
020 7490 1555
Waste Watch
National voluntary organisation promoting awareness on waste reduction, re-use, recycling and buying recycled.
www.wastewatch.org.uk
020 7089 2100
K2L – Kenilworth to Leamington Cycle Route
Senior People’s Forum.
Designed for the over 50s, this group works towards creating a society that values older people and enables them to remain active.
Action 21
Action 21 is a not-for-profit organisation committed to taking practical steps towards a greener future in Warwickshire. Their work builds on the links between improving the environment and making life better for local people and communities. working on local practical sustainability projects. They have a variety of volunteering opportunities. Contact info@action21.co.uk. , 01926 456067, www.action21.co.uk
Warwick and Leamington Green Party
ian.davison@which.net
www.leamington.greenparty.org.uk
People and Planet
Network of student groups working on environmental and social justice issues. More information www.peopleandplanet.org Warwick University has a local group: www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk/peopleandplanet
Volunteering opportunities
CVS
Contact the Volunteer Centre for information about local volunteering.
www.cvswd.org.uk
information@cvswd.org.uk
Nationwide Volunteering Opportunities
do-it.org.uk was launched in 2001 with the first, and still the only, national database of volunteering opportunities in the UK.
www.do-it.org.uk
Action 21
Action 21 is a not-for-profit organisation committed to taking practical steps towards a greener future in Warwickshire. Their work builds on the links between improving the environment and making life better for local people and communities. working on local practical sustainability projects. They have a variety of volunteering opportunities. Contact Michelle, michelle@action21.co.uk , 01926 456076, www.action21.co.uk
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is the leading local environmental charity, protecting wildlife and natural places throughout Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.
Reserves Volunteering Officer, 024 7630 8998, ian.jelley@wkwt.org.uk
Volunteer Development Officer, 0121 704 0768, amanda.henshaw@wkwt.org.uk
Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry CV3 3GW
www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk
BTCV
The charity was set up in 1959, and has a successful history of environmental conservation volunteering throughout the UK and around the world. Volunteering opportunities available.
Lucy Hawker, 01926 430574, l.hawker@btcv.org.uk , www.btcv.org
Bath Place Community Venture
Bath Place, Leamington Spa
01926 338421, info@bathplace.org, www.bathplace.org
Care for where you live
BTCV
is the UK’s leading environmental volunteering charity and is responsible for co-ordinating the Community Champions programme for EAC. Through its Community Network, BTCV supports several thousand local groups, providing access to discounts, insurance, funding information, training opportunities and advice. BTCV also runs many local volunteering events and activities open to the public, including Conservation Holidays and the BTCV Green Gym“, which uses
environmental volunteering as a way of helping people feel better and fitter. www.btcv.org Tel: 01302 388883 E-mail: information@btcv.org.uk
Community Planning.Net
Co-ordinated by the Royal Town Planning Institute, is an essential starting point for members of the public wanting to get involved in shaping their local environment. It explains the principles of community planning (how the system works), details good practice (how to participate) and provides case studies and links. communityplanning.net
ENCAMS Guide to Improving Your Local Environment
explains local environmental quality of life issues including litter, dog-fouling, gaffiti and neighbourhood noise, and details who is responsible for what. It contains information about new powers available under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. www.encams.org/uploads/publications/mp_pack_2006.pdf.
Tel: 01942 612621
Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG)
supports, advises and represents community-managed farm and garden projects in urban areas. It is a membership organisation. Most material is available in hard copy format only. Its Community Garden Starter Pack
covers the complex issues that can arise when setting up or developing a community garden. www.farmgarden.org.uk
GreenSpace
promotes the regeneration of parks and public spaces. Their Community Network is the first free support network for community groups and friends of groups who work within parks and green spaces across the whole of the UK. There are over 1900 members. Resources available include publications, downloadable ‘how to’ fact sheets, national register of groups and a Community Network newsletter. Note that funding is not available.
E-mail: community@green-space.org.uk or info@green-space.org.uk
Tel: 0118 946 9060 www.green-space.org.uk
Groundwork
is a national network of locally-based trusts that run programmes in their area. Check www.groundwork.org.uk to see if there is one in your area. The Groundwork Arts Toolkit is an Arts Council sponsored resource designed to provide inspiration, ideas and practical assistance to
Groundwork staff (but applicable to others) seeking to use the arts within regeneration projects, and to artists who want to learn more about how Groundwork engages with the arts.
www.artandregeneration.com
Shopping ethically
Ethical Consumer
publishes a subscription magazine (available hard opy and on-line) and resources to champion fair trade and ethical living. www.ethicalconsumer.org and ethicscore.org
Fairtrade
Fairtrade is often defined as providing a better deal for producers from third world countries; buying Fairtrade means that the farmers and producers in poor countries can get a better return for their hard work This in turn has benefits in terms of improving incomes, preserving the environment, securing clean drinking water and educating children in those countries which are reliant on trade with the developed world.
Fairtrade Foundation: www.fairtrade.org.uk
Royal Leamington Spa has been awarded the coveted title of a Fairtrade Town. The Town Council has signed up to the principles of "Fairtrade". Together with a Voluntary Group it has worked to achieve the various objectives set out by the Fairtrade Foundation and is now able to use the Fairtrade logo to further promote awareness of this important initaitive. The Town Council has produced a Fairtrade Directory indicating the various locations where Fairtrade products can be obtained. www.leamingtonspatowncouncil.gov.uk
Fairtrade Foundation is responsible for awarding the Fairtrade mark to products in the UK, produces promotional materials for local groups, and co-ordinates the annual Fairtrade Fortnight. www.fairtrade.org.uk
GreenChoices
is about the choices we make in our everyday lives to protect the environment. The website is an example of a resource that aims to empower individuals and groups with simple, direct information on green alternatives that make a difference. www.greenchoices.org
Local Food Works
This website is an informative electronic resource containing a comprehensive compendium of resources (crossreferenced), local schemes, case studies, ideas and signposting to other information sources. This is a partnership between the Soil Association
and the Countryside Agency. www.localfoodworks.org
Keeping in touch
There’s a lot of work being done on these issues and it’s worth keeping in touch with new developments. There are plenty of electronic newsletters and information lists, and there are many local or regional lists. One useful national one is the UK Local Sustainability List, which links around 750 people working locally: to join this, send a blank e-mail to localsustuk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
National news websites such as the BBC and the Guardian have rapid news and information systems. In many cases you can sign up to get updates on your selected issues.