SuScit Mailing - 2008.
CONTENTS:
1-SuScit Project Update:
a-Suscit Project Participants Visit to Kew Gardens.
2-Research:
a-EPRSC- New Research to Fight Virtual Crime and Treat our Ageing Population.
b-Charity Commission - Going Green: Charities and Environmental Responsibility.
3-Publication:
a-Institute for Public Policy Research- Greener Britain Future.
b-Women's Environment Network:The Three Tone Club Handbook.
4-Events:
a-Involve and Lambeth Council – Say and Play Best Practice Seminar.
b-National Council of Voluntary Organisations - Annual Conference 2009 - Civil Society: Building Trust in Uncertain Times
c-Institute for Public Policy and Research Seminar – Green New Deal.
d-University of Surrey – Resolve Seminar:Sustainable Living – Working Towards Attractive Alternatives?
e-Neil Stuart Associates Conference - Housing, Regeneration and the Credit Crunch.
5-Policy:
a-Department for Work and Pension Consultation. -Independent Review of Older People’s Engagement with Government.
B-Department for Communities and Local Government - Well Being and Communities.
6-News:
a-Capacity Global-Third Sector Declaration Review.
b-The Guardian – 10 Big Energy Myths.
c-Policy Studies Institute- How to Improve Engagement With Local Services.
d-New Economic Foundation - Local Works – Campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill.
e-Environment Agency Proposal to Generate its Own Energy.
f-DEFRA- Increase in the Use of British Produce.
g-Transport for London – Legible London Project.
7-Funding:
a-Government Funding -Third Sector Support Action Plan.
b-Big Lottery Fund- Changing Spaces: Community Sustainable Energy Programme
8-Training and Jobs:
a-Capacity Global, The Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development and Ruskin College-Oxford: Exploring Environmental Justice Residential Course.
b-Participation Works – Youth Act! Active Citizenship Training.
c-Environmental Trainers Network- Setting Up a Community Group.
1-SuScit Project update:
a-SuScit participants trip to the Kew Gardens:
The SuScit project team will be accompanying the residents who participated in the SuScit Action Research on a trip to the Kew Gardens in January 2009.
As a way of celebrating the successful partnership and to encourage access to nature amongst the groups of residents, the group will be enjoying a day full of activities and fun.
The mothers are invited to take their children and the SuScit team will coordinate activities that will cater for everyone's needs and interests.
2-Research:
a-EPRSC- New Research to Fight Virtual Crime and Treat our Ageing Population:
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC),announced investment in research focusing on fighting virtual crime, treating an ageing population, and turning research into commercial enterprises.
The new investment will create two world-class 'Innovation and Knowledge Centres' that will put the UK at the forefront of a cutting-edge research that combines business knowledge with up to date research to
This new investment will create two new centres in areas where world-class scientific breakthroughs have already been achieved. These ‘Innovation and Knowledge Centres’ (IKCs) will mix business knowledge with the most up-to-date research to make the most of the full potential of emerging technologies
Find out more:
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PressReleases/£20Million.htm
b-Charity Commission:Going Green: Charities and Environmental Responsibility:
The Charity Commission, an independent regulator for charitable activity, has commissioned research into the ways in which charities are taking environmental responsibility. The results of the research can be found on a report that contains information on legal requirements, drivers and barriers to environmental responsibilities and ideas that organisations may wish to consider adopting, taking into account their own situation.
For further information, visit:
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/rs17.asp
3-Publication:
a- Institute for Public Policy Research- Greener Britain Future:
While public interest in climate change issues has soared in recent years, people’s behaviour has not become substantially greener. Lewis Dean has proposed a new Greener British Future competition along the lines of “Britain in Bloom” in which communities would compete on their ‘greenness’.
http://www.ippr.org.uk/publicationsandreports/publication.asp?id=630
b-Women's Environment Network:The Three Tone Club Handbook:
The Three Tonne Club Handbook is designed as a tool to help everyone to measure their carbon footprint and find the most effective ways to reduce it. The publication states that the average UK carbon footprint is 13.4 tonnes, but expects that by using the handbook and by joining with others, people, over the course will find carbon-light solutions and be work towards reducing their carbon footprint to three tonnes.
To order the publication, click:
http://www.wen.org.uk/climatechange/resources/3TCorderform.pdf
4-Events:
a- Involve and Lambeth Council – Say and Play Best Practice Seminar:
The event will profile the pioneering engagement work of Involve and the London Borough of Lambeth providing insight into how other local authorities might reach further into their communities. A series of round table discussions will allow participants to share and discuss their experiences of public engagement in local government.
Inclusive Decision Making:New Approaches for Local Government
Date: 08 December 2008
Time: 9.30 - 11.30am
Location:Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, 108 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH
To reserve your place, e-mail: events@involve.org.uk
b- National Council of Voluntary Organisations - Annual Conference 2009 - Civil Society - Building trust in Uncertain Times:
The Annual Conference will examine how uncertain economic times and a potential change in government presents the UK with many challenges, but also with opportunities.
Date:18/02/2009
Time:10am to 4:45pm
Venue: The Brewery, Chiswell Street, London EC1Y 4SD
For more information,visit:
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/events/latest?id=9922
c-Institute for Public Policy Research Seminar – Green New Deal:
In the summer of 2008 a group of a group of economists, activists, policy analysts and politicians put forward the proposal for a ‘Green New Deal’ designed to power a renewables revolution, create thousands of green-collar jobs and rein in the power of the finance sector while making more low-cost capital available for pressing priorities.
Caroline Lucas, MEP and Ann Pettifor – two members of the Green New Deal group – will be joining IPPR to present and discuss the proposal.
Date:11/12/2008 -
Time:1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location:30-32 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7RA
To book a place,visit:
http://www.ippr.org.uk/events/?id=3287
d- University of Surrey – Resolve Seminar:Sustainable Living – Working Towards Attractive Alternatives?
“Contemporary affluent cultures are, climate scientists tell us, unsustainable. Because ‘unsustainable’ confirms potentially catastrophic outcomes and there is near consensus around human causation, we feel it imperative to act.”
Date:10/12/2008
Time:13:00-14:00pm
Location:Oak Suite, Rooms 1 and 2 University of Surrey
To find out more:
http://www.surrey.ac.uk/resolve/seminars/Terry%20Newholm.pdf
e-Neil Stuart Associates Conference - Housing, Regeneration and the Credit Crunch:
This conference will look at the impact of a slowing housing market on local government.
Date:11/12/2008
Location:Barbican Conference Centre, London EC2
To book a place, visit:
http://www.neilstewartassociates.com/sa252/
5-Policy:
a-Department for Work and Pension -Independent Review of Older People’s Engagement with Government: Consultation
Independent Review of Older People’s Engagement with Government
The Minister for Pensions Reform, Mike O’Brien announced that the Department for Work and Pension have commissioned research in order to “Examine the current arrangements for the engagement of older people and the ability of those arrangements to inform policy and actions of Government at all levels".
To ensure that everyone with an interest in this important area has an opportunity to provide views on the research findings and recommendations, Rosie Winterton, Minister of State for Pensions and the Ageing Society is inviting comments to be sent by 9 January 2009 to:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/resourcecentre/ind_review_older_peoples_eng_with_govt.asp
b-Department for Communities and Local Government -Well Being and Communities:
The concept of Well-Being Power was introduced in 2000 to enable local authorities’ to act on behalf of their areas. Between 2003 and 2007, INLOGOV, the University of Birmingham and the Cities Research Centre, the University of the West of England carried out a formative evaluation to examine local authorities’ take-up and use of the Power and the factors which had affected it. The Department for Communities and Local Authorities commissioned the research in response to concerns that the Well Being Power had not made sufficient impact on local government.
The findings and recommendations of the research can be found in the Research Summary Report:
Find out more:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1061446.pdf
6-News:
a- Capacity Global-Third Sector Declaration Review:
Capacity is currently gathering evidence on the Declaration's impact so far including any opportunities and barriers to developing it further. The Declaration, which was sponsored by Every Action Counts (EAC) with Capacity as its lead author, essentially aims to facilitate proactive action on environmental protection and climate change through commitments by Third Sector organisations. As part of this research, Capacity Global welcomes feedback from those organisations who have signed the Declaration to find out about their experiences with signing it, and with implementing the Declaration's suggestions. Equally,the organisation is seeking the opinion from those who have not signed the Declaration.
For more, visit:
http://www.capacity.org.uk/communityprojects/eacdeclaration.html
b- The Guardian – 10 Big Energy Myths:
With the threat of Climate Change there has never been a more important time to invest in green technologies. Chris Goodall lists and clarifies the 10 most common misconceptions that people have in regards to green technologies.
To read the full article,click:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/27/renewableenergy-energy
c- Policy Studies Institute and Joseph Rowntree foundation- How to Improve Engagement With Local Services:
Public officials play a very important role in affecting the extent to which community views can have an influence in public service.
A new PSI report, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, analyses Haringey Borough in London public engagement strategy. Officials in five different service areas within the local authority, plus police and health services, were interviewed on a range of areas related to engaging with the public. This was followed by a workshop for public managers to validate and discuss the research findings with the aim of generating policy and practice implications.
To download the report,visit:
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/2319.asp
d-New Economic Foundation- Local Works – Campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill:
Britain's local amenities,corner shops,banks , post offices and pubs are fast disappearing. Between 1995 and 2000 cumulative 30,000 local economic outlets was lost - and this trend looks set to continue.
Working against the potential emergence of ghost town Britain, New Economics Foundation catalysed the creation of Local Works - the campaign for the Sustainable Communities Bill. The Bill aims to give the power to local communities to determine their own agenda for environmental, political, social and economic sustainability. It will give local authorities the freedom to put in place radical sustainability strategies that central government will have a duty to provide for, if that is what local communities want:
For more:
http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/local_works_top.aspx
e-Environment Agency Proposal to Generate its Own Energy:
The Environment Agency recently announced proposals to generate its own renewable energy , building up to 80 wind turbines on the Agency owned land across England and Wales.
The power generated would be sufficient to power a city the size of York, claims the Environment Agency.
Find out more on:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/2162618
f-DEFRA- Increase in the Use of British Produce:
Farming and Environment Minister, Jane Kennedy announces that Britain’s hospital patients, civil servants, armed forces personnel and others eating in government establishments are being treated to menus that increasingly feature seasonal, home-grown food.
According with the Minister, latest numbers on the amount of British food used by the public sector showed that the Government was taking the necessary action to create a level playing field for local food producers and suppliers.
To find out more, click:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2008/081126a.htm
g-Transport for London – Legible London Project:
To tackle signs confusion and misconceptions over the distances between places in the city, the Transport for London is carrying out the Legible London Project.
The Legible London project aims to tackle these issues by providing better information across the Capital for pedestrians, encouraging walking amongst the population in general.
For more, visit:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/communityandeducation/6544.aspx
7-Funding:
a-Office for the Third Sector -Third Sector Support Action Plan:
The Government is inviting charities to share their views to help to develop an Action Plan in the New Year, to address current and future challenges in the voluntary and community sector.
Building on discussions about the impact of the economic downturn on the sector and the ways the Government and the third Sector can work together, the Minister Kevin Brennan announced plans to publish an Action Plan in the New Year.
Find out more:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_stories/081128_action_plan.aspx
b- Big Lottery Fund- Changing Spaces: Community Sustainable Energy Programme:
Aiming to help community-based organisations in England reduce their environmental impact through the installation of energy saving measures and microgeneration technologies (producing heat or electricity on a small-scale from a low carbon source), Big Lottery fund – Changing Spaces will be open until 2010 for not for profit organisations, community groups, and others based in England interested in applying.
For further information on the eligibility criteria, please visit:
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_cs_comm_sus_energy?regioncode=-uk
8-Training and Jobs:
a-Capacity Global, The Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development and Ruskin College-Oxford: Exploring Environmental Justice Residential Course.
The residential course will provide an opportunity for participants to better understand the environmental issues we are faced with today and the complex relationships surrounding them. It offers a unique forum to better explore the different issues, engaging in group discussions and drawing out their interests regarding them
To find out more and enrol for the course, visit:
http://www.capacity.org.uk/events/index.html#blaurb
b-Participation Works – Youth Act! Active Citizenship Training:
An one-day training course for adults who have the remit to engage and involve young people in active citizenship projects in their local settings.
Date: 08 December 2008
Time:09:30 - 16:30
Location:Central London, EC1V 3RS
c-Environmental Trainers Network- Setting Up a Community Group:
This training session identifies all the elements needed to set up an environmental or community group, including planning and involvement techniques, legal, finance requirements and communicating with the public. It is aimed at anyone involved in setting up a group, development workers who support groups, and those in similar roles whether paid or voluntary.
For further information and to book a place, visit: