SuScit mailing - April 2008.

 

 

CONTENTS:

 

1-SuScit Project update:

a- First Shared Workshop: Sharing Local Knowledge and Experience.

2-Research:

a- DEFRA: ‘Understanding and Influencing Pro-environmental Behaviour’.

 

3-Publication:

a- DEMOS: Seen and Heard: Reclaiming the Public Realm with Children and Young People.

b-DCLG: Crime Reduction and Community Safety: The Crucial Role of the New Local Performance Framework.

 

4-Events:

a- EPRSC and Royal Institute of British Architects-Future Fair 2008-The Local and the Global.

b- Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)-People and Planning Seminar.

c- DTA National Symposium 2008-Community Empowerment: Unlocking Talent through Community Anchors and Enterprise.

d- Sustainability Live 2008-Birmingham.

 

5-Policy:

a-GLA Policy area :Supplementary Planning Guidance: Providing for Children and Young People’s Play and Informal Recreation.

 

6-News:

a- Environment Secretary and Energy Saving Trust launch Act on CO2 package: Fighting Climate Change in Homes and Communities.

b- Minister confirms funding for New Deal for Communities in 2008-09.

c- London Sustainability Exchange: New Money to Energise London

 

7-Funding:

a-ISSUES project offers PhD studentship.

 

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-Women’s Environmental Network: Volunteering Vacancies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1-SuScit Project update:

a- First Shared Workshop: Sharing Local Knowledge and Experience:

 

This week nearly 50 researchers, sustainability practitioners and residents from Mildmay, North London, met to share local knowledge and experience and discuss issues related to urban sustainability. During the last two months the residents had been working on reflecting their local area in a number of participative filming projects which were presented to articulate a community perspective on the sustainability debate. The participants will be meeting again 13th May to work further on exploring future visions on urban sustainability.

 

2-Research:

Defra research programme - ‘Understanding and Influencing Pro-environmental Behaviour’:

Defra’s ‘Understanding and Influencing Pro-environmental Behaviour’ research programme includes six research projects: research into per capita carbon footprints, the micro- and macro-economic effects of the adoption of pro-environmental behaviours, motivations for pro-environmental behaviours, the notion of ‘green mavens,’ and public understanding of the concepts of sustainable clothing and of the links between climate change, energy and food consumption in the home.

For more details, click: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/scp/research/themes/theme3/sustain-consump0708.htm

 

 

3-Publication:

a- Seen and Heard: Reclaiming the Public Realm With Children and Young People:

 

Authors: Joost Beunderman, Peter Bradwell, Celia Hannon, Publication Type: Pamphlet

 

Seen and Heard: Reclaiming the public realm with children and young people is a pamphlet that uses six case studies to explore the everyday experiences of children in public. It argues that we need a paradigm shift in the way we think about the built environment- one which addresses the deepening segregation between generations. The needs of the young are not opposed to those of other users of public spaces, but closely aligned. With a range of recommendations designed to empower frontline professionals and young people, this pamphlet offers practical steps to create communities that are welcoming for all.

 

To download, visit: http://www.demos.co.uk/files/070928_DEMOS_S&H_Pamphlet.pdf

 

 

b- DCLG: Crime Reduction and Community Safety: The Crucial Role of the New Local Performance Framework:

The new local performance framework for local authorities and their partners is now available. The Assessments of Policing and Community Safety (APACS) is the new assessment framework for the police working alone and in partnership and this is also live from April 2008.

This publication describes how the two new performance frameworks for the police and local government will work together and draws attention to some of the implications for those working at a local level.

To download this publication, visit:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/crimereduction

 

 

 

4-Events:

a-EPRSC and Royal Institute of British Architects: Future Fair 2008:

 

The Futures Fair aims to bring together architects, design and construction professionals and researchers for lively seminars and debates on the future of our towns and cities.

Discussion topics include population, planning, energy, materials, transport, leisure and retail.

Date:  15/05/08

Location: Royal Institute of British Architects, London

 

For more information:

 http://www.buildingfutures.org.uk/projects/building-futures/futures-fair-08

 

b-Royal Institute of British architects-People and Planning seminar:

 

There is a lot of talk of ‘environmental sustainability’ when it comes to city planning. But what of ‘people sustainability’? As patterns of global migration become ever more complex and fluid, who will actually be living in these cities of the future, and what services, habitations, and demands will they all variously have? Who are we planning for?

Speakers:

Dr Ayona Datta – Cities Programme, London School of Economics

Reinier de Graaf – Partner & Director, OMA & AMO

Chair:

Andrew Curry – Director, Henley Centre Headlight Vision

 

Click here to download the programme and the booking form:

http://www.buildingfutures.org.uk/assets/downloads/RIB04_FFRIBA_Flyer_v7.pdf

 

 

c- Community Empowerment: Unlocking Talent through Community Anchors and Enterprise:

 

The forthcoming Community Empowerment White Paper seeks to increase the ability of the individual citizen to influence local decisions, improve local services, take on civic roles, and hold officials and councillors to account.

But, as many in Government recognise, community empowerment is not achieved simply by people acting as individuals alone. It is also about people who are excluded from power organising themselves, and building alliances with others, to bring about positive change

 

Date: 5 June

Location: DTA national symposium 2008.Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, London SE1 9NH

 

For further information: http://www.dta.org.uk/whatsnew/symposium08.htm

 

d- Sustainability Live! the UK’s largest event for excellence and innovation in environment, water, energy and land:

 

In 2007 Sustainability live! brought together 450 exhibitors and around 7,000 visitors, making it a very successful platform to do business.

Apart from a line up of top brand suppliers, Sustainabilitylive! 2008 will see awards, networking and an extensive features programme including high level keynotes, master classes, and seminars over 3 days. For more information on each individual show please visit the environment, land, energy and water sections.

Date: 20-22 May

Location: NEC Birmingham, UK.      

To register, visit: http://www.sustainabilitylive.com/slive08/common/

 

 

 

 

5-Policy:

Providing for Children and Young People’s Play and Informal Recreation

Supplementary Planning Guidance:

 

This SPG aims to help those involved in planning local neighbourhoods to engage with young Londoners to deliver real improvements in the quality of play spaces. The SPG offers guidance to London Boroughs on providing for the play and recreation needs of children and young people under the age of 18 and the use of targets in the preparation of Play Strategies and in the implementation of Policy 3D.13 as set out in the London Plan (consolidated with Alterations since 2004).

 

To download the paper: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/spg-children-recreation.jsp

 

 

 

 

 

6-News:

a-Environment Secretary and Energy Saving Trust: Fighting Climate Change in homes and communities:

A range of initiatives to make homes greener were set out in April by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, who urged the need to take the fight against climate change into our homes and living rooms.

 

Part of the package includes the ACT ON CO2 Advice Line – a one stop shop for free, tailored, impartial advice from the Energy Saving Trust on how to reduce your carbon footprint.

 

To demonstrate how communities can live a low carbon lifestyle the Green Neighbourhoods initiative will give a green makeover to up to 100 neighbourhoods in England with an aim to reduce their carbon footprints by more than 60 per cent.

For more, visit: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2008/climate-0402.htm

 

 

b- Minister Confirms Funding for New Deal for Communities in 2008-09:

 

 

Communities Minister Baroness Andrews announced that deprived communities across the country will benefit from over two hundred million pounds in 2008-09. This money will be paid through established neighbourhood partnerships to help boost job opportunities, raise educational achievements and reduce levels of crime.

 

 

More: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/743404

 

c- London Sustainability Exchange: New Money to Energise London

 

London Sustainability Exchange new plans to make London more energy efficient received funding from London Councils, which will enable the work to get started.

Energise London will promote and embed resource efficient lifestyles across all 33 London Boroughs over 4 years.

The project aims to help communities, reduce their energy and water use as well as to encourage more take up of renewable energy. The programme will also be helping to tackle fuel poverty - helping those who are unable to afford to heat their homes adequately, often society’s most vulnerable groups like the elderly, the sick or those on a low income.

 

Find out more:

http://www.lsx.org.uk/news/articles.aspx?id=3131

 

 

 

7-Funding:

a- ISSUES project offers PHD studentship:

 

The ISSUES project is offering a PhD studentship for research projects covering a range of issues about improving knowledge transfer and exchange from research conducted into urban sustainability.

 

For further information:

http://www.urbansustainabilityexchange.org.uk/ISSUESAboutUs.htm

 

 

 

8-Training and Jobs:

a-Capacity Global, The Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development and Ruskin College-Oxford: Exploring Environmental Justice Residential Course:

Run in partnership by Capacity Global, FIELD and Ruskin College in Oxford; Exploring Environmental Justice is a 2-day residential course that offers participants an innovative and exciting opportunity to explore and understand environmental justice issues.  The course is aimed at activists, members of community groups and individuals interested in the link between environmentalism, human rights and social justice.

Location: Ruskin College-Oxford

Date: 28-30 /05/2008.

To book a place, please e-mail: iara@capacity.org.uk

 

b-Women’s Environmental Network: Volunteering positions:

The Women’s Environmental Network is currently seeking experienced volunteers, able to offer a regular commitment of at least one day a week for a period of three months or more, to take on a range of positions. Volunteers’ travel within London and reasonable lunch expenses can be reimbursed.

As WEN is a women-focused organisation and all staff and volunteers are expected to deal with enquiries from women which may be of a personal or health nature, these volunteer vacancies are open to women only, in accordance with Section 7 (2)(e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.

 

For further information on how to apply, visit:

http://www.wen.org.uk/general_pages/jobs.htm