SuScit Mailing July/August 2008

SuScit Mailing September 2008

CONTENTS:

1-SuScit Project update:

a- Dr. Karen Lucas leaves the SuScit Project Team.

2-Research:

a- EPSRC: Small Changes to Transport Could Bring Benefits for Ageing Population.

3-Publication:

a- Green Alliance Report: Cutting Our Carbon- Food and the Environment.

b- Involve Report: Download - Everybody Needs Good Neighbours? A Study of the Link Between Participation and Cohesion.

c- The Green Standard 2007-08 Review of the Parties: Fit For the Future?

4-Events:

a- National Council for Voluntary Youth Services: Green Means Go Conference and AGM 2008.

b- Community Development Foundation Conference-Empowerment: Sharing Policy and Practice.

c- University College of London Conference: Urban Buzz - The Reality of Creating Sustainable Communities.

d- Capacity Global Seminar: Environmental Justice Code.

5-Policy:

a- London’s Mayor launches London Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

b- Communities and Local government: Facing the Housing Challenge.

6-News:

a- The Guardian launches Environmental Campaign to ‘Save the Planet’.

b- DEFRA: Anaerobic Digestion Plant as an Alternative to the Landfill.

c- Communities Secretary Announces Housing Package.

7-Funding:

a- Community Development Foundation: Grassroots Grants.

b- Big Lottery: Young People’s Fund.

8-Training and Jobs:

a-Friends of the Earth-Senior Campaigner Job Vacancy.

c-Capacity Global Workshop - Fundraising for Community Groups.

1-SuScit Project Update:

a- Dr Karen Lucas Leaves the SuScit Project Team:

This month we are saying goodbye to Dr Karen Lucas, who is leaving the SuScit project to take up a new position with the Transport Studies Unit at the University of Oxford. She has been part of the SuScit team from its first beginnings back in 2003 and has made a great contribution to our work with local communities during the recent fieldwork stages of the research. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Anyone wishing to contact Karen in the future should email her directly at karen.lucas@ouce.ax.ac.uk.

2-Research:

a- EPSRC: Small Changes to Transport Could Bring Benefits for Ageing Population:

Research led by University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University show that some simple measures could improve older people’s ability to use transport systems by eliminating many of the daily difficulties that they face.

The measures could enhance the independence and boost the confidence of the ageing UK population, playing a major role in improving the quality of lives of many.

Find out more:

http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PressReleases/TransportSystems.htm

3-Publication:

a- Green Alliance Report: Cutting Our Carbs- Food and the Environment.

This Green Alliance report explores how the environmental impacts of animal protein consumption are being addressed, through a series of interviews conducted with stakeholders in the meat and dairy industries, the wider farming sector, government and agencies, NGOs, retailers and academics. It also looks at the opportunities offered by current food policy and responds to many positive developments set out in the recently published Cabinet Office Strategy Unit's report on food, Food Matters, towards a strategy for the 21st century.

To download the report, click here: http://www.greenalliance.org.uk/grea_p.aspx?id=3100

b- Involve Report: Everybody Needs Good Neighbours? A study of the link between participation and cohesion:

This report analyses the growing public debate about the changing nature of Britain’s social fabric.

The media, academic researchers and government reports portray a society that is struggling to deal with demographic change and a changing economic climate. The effects of the tension and strains between different generations, faith groups and immigrants and settled residents appear to be linked to a number of problems.

To download the report: http://www.involve.org.uk/cohesion_report

c- The Green Standard 2007-08 Review of the Parties: Fit For the Future?

Nine leading environment groups collectively examine the highs and lows for the three main political parties on the environment. The report shows that, under scrutiny between September 2007 and August 2008, none of the three main political parties are showing the vision needed to prepare the country for the challenges ahead. The analysis draws on the six tests for environmental leadership launched in 2007 but also takes into account the changing external context, with rising oil prices and cost of living.

http://www.greenstandard.org.uk/gstdDefault.aspx?id=3198

4-Events:

a- National Council for Voluntary Youth Services: Green Means Go Conference and AGM 2008:

Capacity Global and Just Cities Youth Group will be delivering a workshop on Young People and the environment in this event.

Date: 05/11/2008

Location: 35- 47 Rich Mix Bethnal Green, London.

Find out more: http://www.ncvys.org.uk/index.php?alias=Green%20Means%20Go

b- Community Development Foundation Conference-Empowerment: Sharing Policy and Practice.

A dynamic and interactive day demonstrating community development contributions to empowerment practice.

Date: 21/10/2008

Location: International convention Centre, Birmingham.

To book a place: http://www.cdf.org.uk/SITE/UPLOAD/DOCUMENT/empowerment.pdf

c- University College of London Conference: Urban Buzz - The Reality of Creating Sustainable Communities.

University College London is running a one-day conference and exhibition on the reality of creating sustainable communities.

Date: 02/12/2008.

Location: One Great George Street London. Tuesday 2 December.

http://www.urbanbuzz.org/scommunities/UBEvents.do?id=79

d- Capacity Global Seminar: Environmental Justice Code:

The Environmental Justice Code Seminar will be the first of a series of three seminars aiming to discuss and create the UK’s first Environmental Justice Code as recommended in the Report: Environmental Justice in London - Linking the Equalities and Environment Policy Agenda by Capacity Global, London 21, and London Sustainability Exchange.

Date: 02/10/2008

Location: Novas Urban Contemporary Centre, London Bridge.

This is an invite only event.

Find out more on: http://www.capacity.org.uk/events/index.html

5-Policy:

a- London’s Mayor launches London Climate Change Adaptation Strategy:

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London launched London’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy at a visit to the Thames Barrier, hosted by the Environment Agency.

The London Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, open now for consultation, outlines the impact that carbon emissions will have on London’s climate and brings attention to the fact that the city is not prepared to cope with the forecasted changes.

Find out more:

http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=18576

b- Communities and Local government: Facing the Housing Challenge:

The Government sets out to face the immediate challenges brought about into the housing market by the credit crunch.

Aiming to respond to long term housing needs and current housing issues, the Government pledges to show’ greater flexibility’ and ‘imagination’ when delivering its priorities.

This document describes how the Government will achieve that over the coming months.

To order the publication, click: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/facinghousingchallenge

6-News:

a- The Guardian Launches Environmental Campaign to ‘Save the Planet’:

‘Time is fast running out to stop irreversible climate change, a group of global warming experts warns today. We have only 98 months to avoid disaster.’ Based on a range of climate models put together by Dr Victoria Johnson, a researcher at the New Economic Foundation, Andrew Simms explains why individuals and government must take immediate action and how and where to begin.

Find out more: http://www.onehundredmonths.org/

b- DEFRA: Anaerobic Digestion Plant as an Alternative to the Landfill:

Defra’s £30 million New Technologies Demonstrator Programme, which tests innovative technology that could offer alternatives to landfill, created an anaerobic digestion plant in Ludlow that takes food waste from the town and turns it into electricity and compost.

The Ludlow partnership credits some of its triumph to good communication with the local community, which has led to 70 percent of residents taking part in the voluntary food waste collection plan which supplies the plant.

Find out more: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2008/waste-0821.htm

c- Communities Secretary Announces Housing Package:

The Government announces a major package of new measures to meet current challenges in the housing market.

The cross-government £1 billion package will help first time buyers, support vulnerable homeowners at risk of repossession and support the house construction industry.

Find out more: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/950558

6-Funding:

a-Community Development Foundation: Grassroots Grants:

Grassroots Grants is a £130 million programme funded by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and delivered by the Community Development Foundation. The programme will run from 2008 to 2011, aiming to invest in community projects.