Page Aim
At present the address book feature focuses on national VCOs working on sustainability, participation and community concerns.
In time it will also include more contact details of other public bodies and international organisations.
Outline Contents
Contents are listed alphabetically.
Document Store
Address Book: VCOs
Sustainability Links focuses on sustainability and the participation of VCOs in local decision making. However there are a growing number of bodies working on sustainability and its links with other aspects of our lives.
It is encouraging that as the environmental, economic and social unsustainability of our way of life increasingly impacts upon us all, there is a growing network of organisations striving to establish alternatives; hopefully these will help to ensure that eventual systemic collapse is less traumatic for us and, more importantly, for those to whom we are bequeathing a seriously damaged earth.
The pdf file gives some indication of the areas of human activity where action is now being taken, and the changed perspectives and practices being urged in activities ranging from finance, production and consumption to science, agriculture and education, to transport diet, health and spirituality.
The listing is primarily of third sector organisations, though it does also include some government funded and business based initiatives.
Address Book: Governmental Organisations
The information provided on this embryonic pdf indicates the scope of the feature.
Please send Links details of any governmental organisations focusing on sustainability or participation work: info@sustainabilitylinks.org.uk
Topic Updates
October 2010
The latest Address Book update includes details of several additional organisations working on sustainability, including:
·1 Cool Earth
·2 Farm Africa
·3 Earth First!
·4 Green Seniors
·5 Labour Behind the Label
·6 Money Reform Party
·7 Operation Noah
·8 People and Planet
·9 Schumacher Circle
·10 Stop Climate Chaos
·11 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Next Update
The next document update will incorporate the following information:
Biodynamic Agricultural Association
Biodynamic is a sustainable organic approach to farming and gardening inspired by Rudolf Steiner. It is increasingly valued for its positive effect on soil vitality and food quality. The VCO offers membership, workshops, events, training, books and DVDs, ready-made biodynamic preparations, advice, support and regional groups.
01453 759501. www.biodynamic.org.uk/
office@biodynamic.org.uk
Bus Users UK
Formerly called National Federation of Bus Users, the organisation continues to campaign for improved bus services as part of a properly integrated public transport network. The main aims of Bus Users UK are to inform bus users in the discussion of public transport issues and increase their influence on local and national decisions affecting bus services.
Bus Users UK, PO Box 2950, Stoke on Trent ST4
9EW. 01782 442855. www.bususers.org/ enquiries@bususers.org
CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora was set up in 1973. There are now 73 member countries.
CSV Media
CSV Media, 237 Pentonville Road, London N1
9NJ. www.csv.org.uk
Diggers and Dreamers
Diggers and Dreamers is a network of groups who live communally. Their Guide To Communal Living 2008 – 2009 brings together information about the various communities across the UK.
Diggers and Dreamers, c/o Edge of Time Ltd,
BCM Edge, London WC1N 3XX. www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk info@diggersanddreamers.org.uk
European Social Forum
Another Europe is possible!
The last ESF was in Istanbul during June 2010. The ESF creates campaigning and networking initiatives, on issues ranging from climate change and labour rights, to common welfare and the movement for a real social Europe. ESF work is steered by the Nordic Organising Committee, which has more than a hundred member organisations from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. NOC was formed in October 2007. Its work is managed by a coordination group and carried out by eleven working groups, assisted by the Committee’s office in Malmö.
www.fse-esf.org
Footprint Workers Co-op
The Co-op is affiliated to the Radical Routes network of co-operatives working for social change.
Footprint, 40 Sholebroke Avenue, Leeds LS7
3HB. 0113 262 4408. www.cornerstone.ukf/crc/footprint
footprinters@bigfoot.com
Green Communities
Green Communities is a programme from the Energy Saving Trust that aims to support, facilitate and promote community based energy projects. From free training and advice focused on project planning and funding, to technical support and website resources, Green Communities exists to support ideas and projects.
www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/community
Landfill Communities Fund
LCF Head Office, 60 Holly Walk, Leamington
Spa CV32 4JE. 01926 488 300. www.entrust.org.uk/home/lcf
Living Streets
Living Streets is a charity that campaigns to create better streets and public spaces for people on foot. It was formed in 1929 as the Pedestrians association...
Their work spans policy, research, lobbying and advice, and delivers practical, positive solutions to pedestrian issues. The VCO encourages more people to walk – and campaigns to ensure streets and towns are designed to allow people to do that. The consultancy services support professionals in raising the profile of pedestrian concerns. Living Streets is a membership organisation, with local branches around the country. The organisation relies on its campaigners and volunteers to campaign for changes where they live and work.
Living Streets, 31-33 Bondway, London, SW8
1SJ. www.livingstreets.org.uk info@livingstreets.org.uk
Oxjam
Oxjam is Oxfam’s month-long music festival. It runs all through October with hundreds of events around the UK, all organised by people who know and love their local music scene. There are events to cover all musical tastes – the idea is that everyone can get involve, have a good time and raise funds for Oxfam’s vital work.
The first Oxjam festival took place in October 2006. Since then more than 36,000 musicians have played to over 750,000 people at around 3,000 events nationwide. The diverse music events have ranged from the amazing multi-venue one-wristband-gives-access-to-all Oxjam Takeovers, to a sponsored busk on top of Ben Nevis. Oxjam is a grassroots festival, created by a network of music lovers stretching across the UK and involving thousands of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of fans, making music and fighting poverty in local communities.
Celebrity supporters include Jarvis Cocker, Kaiser Chiefs, Hot Chip, and Kasabian. Last October Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx, Editors, Roots Manuva and others performed intimate gigs in an Oxfam shop to launch the festival. Media and industry partners have included MTV, Xfm, O2 Academies, Live Nation and Festival Republic.
After four successful years, Oxjam is now the UK’s biggest festival line-up and 2010 is set to be bigger and better than ever! Oxjam has raised more than £1.2 million in total for Oxfam: enough to buy 10,619 emergency shelters or 705 classrooms.
Oxfam International, Oxfam House, John Smith
Drive, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2JY. www.oxfam.org.uk
Radical Routes
Radical Routes was set up in 1982 as a secondary co-op – its objective being to support existing housing, worker and social centre co-operatives across the UK. It promotes collective ownership ideals and initiatives, providing a legal structure to enable co-ops to pursue their individual aims. There are 35 co-ops in the network (summer 2010).
In 1998 Radical Roots established Rootstock to enable investors to buy shares in support of its grassroots member co-ops. Both ventures have come to play a key role in the establishment and long term stability of active communities’ mainstream social engagement.
BM Rootstock, London WC1N 3XX. www.radicalroutes.org.uk
www.rootstock.org.uk
Decommissioned Organisations
A leaked letter from a Cabinet Office Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister has suggested that around 180 public bodies will be abolished in the Public Bodies Bill.
These include;
·12 CapacityBuilders,
·13 Audit Commission
·14 Regional Development Agencies – Local Enterprise Partnerships led by groups of councils and involving businesses, and sometimes VCOs, will now promote strategies for economic growth
At the time of writing decisions are yet to be taken on:
·15 Community Development Foundation
·16 Equalities and Human Rights Commission
Speakers List
Information wanted
Page 07’s Helpful Addresses is compiling a speakers file that will gather information about S&P VCOs whose supporters can visit other groups to give presentations on their work. Please can you let Links have details.
Friends of the Earth
FOE advises that adult organisations should contact their local Friends of the Earth, while schools and other youth groups should contact FOE’s head office to see if there's a registered member of the Youth and Education network in your area. The Learning pages of their website have lots of useful information.
Colour coding
Any Address Book information shown in grey will be supplemented and / or updated in due course.
Your input please
Please send Links details of any changes.
Please
contact us with any information or feed back:
E-mail - info@sustainabilitylinks.org.uk
Post - Sustainability LINKS, 3 Park Road, Bedworth CV12 8LH