Local Sustainability & Participation Initiatives

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 Page Aim

This will present a roundup of council and other organisation's S&P initiatives across the subregion.

Page Contents

S&P Details by Area

Council Initiatives

Voluntary and Community Sector Initiatives

Local Websites

Page Updates

The page is in an early stage of development.  Please input further information for inclusion.

Council input urged

It’s good to learn about some of the commendable initiatives councils are working on and worthwhile closely monitoring council progress in those areas where they’ve made promises.  Are they delivering?  Or are their promises proving to be little more than rhetoric?

It’s also useful to know where councils stand on different issues, as this will always give a starting point for any S&P lobbying you think is necessary.

Useful source materials, apart from Sustainable Community Strategies include Councils’ corporate plans, committee agendas and minutes.

The compilation of accurate and comprehensive information on this page is dependent upon the kind assistance of the sub-region’s local authorities.

If any council members or officers would like to update or otherwise amend any of the information given here,  or suggest where site visitors could access further local S&P related data (eg through these websites or local council offices and / or libraries) please send LINKS details.

SustainabilityLINKS, 3 Park Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire CV12 8LH, info@sustainabilitylinks.org.uk

 

Coventry

What’s the council doing about our unsustainable life style?

Coventry Air Quality Action Plan

Details to follow.

Coventry Climate Change Strategy

Published in March 2008, details of the Strategy will follow.

Coventry Green Space Strategy

Details to follow.

Coventry Sustainable Community Strategy

See Model Strategy Audit page.

Coventry Waste Strategy

Details to follow.

Cycling

Coventry Cycle Map and Guide.  The map shows city routes, lanes and bridleways and includes details of local cycling groups and useful contacts.

Cycle training.  Courses are offered to the National Standard.  For details contact the City Council's cycling coordinator; 024 7683 2032.

Problems with the city's roads or cycle paths; freephone 0500 834333

Policy and Sustainable Transport Team, Coventry City Council, Civic Centre, Much Park Street, Coventry CV1 2PY.  024 7683 2169. www.coventry.gov.uk/sustainabletransport  sustainabletransport@coventry.gov.uk

Nottingham Declaration

The City Council has signed.

More information about Coventry initiatives please.

Sustainable City Team

Details to follow.- 024 7683 2330.

West Midlands Local Travel Plan

Details to follow.

Input please

                                       Please send LINKS more information about the City Council's S&P related initiatives for inclusion on the site.

What’s anybody else around Coventry doing?

Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies (national organisation)

Coventry University is home to CPRS, which is a centre for teaching, research and related activities that promote peace through peaceful means.  "Our aim is to teach how to transform conflicts through nonviolent means and build peace at all levels..."

- CPRS, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB.

Charity Shops

All charity shops recycle.  Those in Coventry that use their procedes to aid S&P related causes include:

- Global Care, 132 Quinton Park, Coventry.  024 7650 4781.

- Help the Aged, 5 - 7 Earlsdon Street, Coventry.  024 7671 4817.

- Help the Aged, 62 - 64 Jubilee Crescent, Radford, Coventry.  024 7660 1038.

- Oxfam, 74 Hertford Steet, Coventry.  024 7622 9684.

- Oxfam, 300 Walsgrave Road, Coventry.  024 7644 8909.  

Climate Change Solutions

Established in 2003 to promote and support cross sector involvement in addressing climate change, Climate Change Solutions organises conferences, seminars, exhibitions and workshops to help participating organisations address climate change.

"The urgency and scale of the challenge necessitates a radical transformation."

Tony McNally, Managing Director of Climate Change Solutions Ltd.

 Climate Change Solutions, Garden Organic, Ryton Gardens, Ryton, Coventry CV8 3LG.  024 7622 1746 / 49.  www.climate-change-solutions.co.uk  tony@climate-change-solutions.co.uk

Corporate Citizenship Unit (national organisation)

This national educational facility offers research, seminars and executive training courses on corporate citizenship, social performance management and biodiversity.  

- Corporate Citizenship Unit, Warwick Business School, Warwick University, Coventry CV4 7AL.  024 7657 3131.  http://users.wbs.ac.uk/group/ccu  a.warhurst@wbs.ac.uk

Coventry – City of Peace and Reconciliation

The City’s destruction during the Second World War led to its status as an international city of peace and reconciliation.

CRACIN

Coalition for Recycling and Against Incineration.  www.cracin.co.uk

Cycling

Coventry Road Club promotes general cycling interests and holds regular Sunday rides.  http://uk.geocities.com/coventryroadclub

CTC Coventry organises regular Sunday and Tuesday rides, socials, camping and hostelling holidays.  www.coventryctc.org.uk

Cyclic - Coventry Cycling Club - promotes cycling and cyclists' interests across the city.  The group meets monthly at the Coventry City Council offices.  - 024 7645 2437 / 024 7644 3398.  www.coventrycyclist.org.uk  covcyclic@yahoo.co.uk

Polluting vehicles.  Motor vehicles are a major source of nitrogen and carbon oxides, smoke, hydrocarbons, benzene and lead.  Offending lorries, coaches and buses can be reported to the Inspectorate of the Department of Transport - give the registration number and any other identification details.  0121 608 1034.

Earth Spirit

Spitituality and the environment.  Meetings, social outings, workshops, celebrations, camps.  Moots on third Wednesday of every month.

- 024 7650 4115 / 07795 066454.   www.redsandstonehill.net/espirit.  

Fairtrade

Coventry has had Fairtrade City status since 1 March 2005.  It was the first area in the subregion to gain this.

Coventry has a Fairtrade pamphlet listing those shops, churches, cafes and restaurants supporting fairtrade in the town.

- Coventry Fairtrade Steering Group, c/o Coventry's Sustainable City Team: 024 7683 2330.

Friends of the Earth

Monthly meetings at Coventry City Council offices.  See Local What's On for meetings and group contact details.

Garden Organic (national organisation)

Ryton Gardens is the home of Garden Organic, or as it is more formally  known, the Henry Doubleday Research Association.  It is the UK’s leading organic charity, managing a national Heritage Seed Library.  

Education is at the heart of Garden Organic’s Work.  The Coventry based team work closely with teachers nationwide by supplying practical curriculum based advice and ideas, educational materials and activities to stimulate children about gardening organically. Their Organic Gardens for Schools programme began in 1999.  Currently over 1,000 schools are involved.  

Founded in 1958, the Henry Doubleday Research Association also works to help alleviate poverty abroad through its international Overseas Organic Support programme; this focuses on improving farm systems and productivity, food security and environmental protection.  As well as the Warwickshire site the organisation also has gardens in Kent and Essex.   

- Garden Organic, Ryton Organic Gardens, Ryton, Coventry CV8 3LG.  024 7630 8210.  www.gardenorganic.org.uk enquiry@gardenorganic.org.uk

Global Care (national organisation)

Global Care enables people to sponsor children in Africa.

- Global Care House, 2 Dugdale Street, Coventry.  024 7660 1800.  www.globalcare.org  globalcare@globalcare.org

Green Party (national organisation)

The Green Party began life in Coventry during 1972.  

Originally known as PEOPLE, its first manifesto declared the need for a lifestyle; “where people and places matter, which recognises the Earth’s resources are limited and that we must learn to live as part of nature, not its master”.  By 1974 the party was able to contest seats in the year’s two general elections.

Like many people at this time the founding members had growing worries about the environment.  Coventry solicitor, Tony Whittaker decided he had to do something after reading an article on world population growth.  First he helped coordinate a discussion group then – with Michael Benfield, Freda Saunders and wife-to-be Lesley – he set up the world’s second national green party (New Zealand’s had been launched a year before).  The decision to do so was taken by the group on 13 December 1972, and a month later the Coventry Evening Telegraph announced a meeting in Michael Benfield’s office, which was attended by 53 people.

The first national party conference was held in Coventry in June 1974, after fielding five candidates in the February election.  Interestingly Lesley achieved a better result in Coventry than Edward Goldsmith (then Ecologist editor and Blueprint for Survival author) did in his father’s former East Anglian constituency.  Having initially agreed to commit two years to the establishment of PEOPLE, in 1975 the Whittakers moved to Devon to adopt a self-sufficient life style.

At the second national party conference, again held in Coventry, members agreed a name change and as the Ecology Party published its Manifesto for a Sustainable Society, which still serves to incorporate all new policy decisions.  

At the same time it was beginning to attract new members, such as Jonathon Porritt, Paul Ekins, David Fleming and Jonathan Tyler, who helped consolidate party philosophy and structure while raising its public profile.  During 1976 the party gained its first two council seats.   In 1985 conference agreed another name change, this time to the Green Party.

A high profile national party link with the sub-region was again made in 1995 when Nuneaton’s John Morrissey became chair of  the Party executive gaining some media attention when he denounced the goat-keeping, face-painting image of the Party.  He left to found The Way Ahead  (see below).

At the time of writing, the Green Party has two MEPs and elected representatives in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and London assemblies, as well as on councils across Britain.

- Green Party, 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ.  020 7272 4474.  

Local party politics  

In theory representative democracy enables us to elect to power those people who agree to represent our views and interests.  But how many of us have a clue what concerns the members of our various local political parties?  Why is there such a paradoxical, democratically untenable breach between how the system is supposed to operate and how it really does work?

This Local What's On page is aiming to report on the topics being discussed by the local branches of the political parties and local members are being invited to send LINKS relevant details of their meetings.

Coventry Peace House

Coventry Peace House Housing Co-operative Ltd was set up in January 1999, after the purchase of a row of empty terraced houses.  It’s not connected to the City Council, part of a religious movement or any national organisation.  

Members of the Co-operative live as a community, practicing a simple green lifestyle.  They eat together, shop ethically, use green transport, recycle, share decision making and do not have a television.  With all members working part time, they have enough money to pay rent, which pays off the mortgage the Co-operative has with the Tridos bank.  

Peace House residents and supporters run practical peace and environmental issues as well as campaigning.   

Through the Coventry Peace House Education Trust charity residents run WorldWise projects, to reduce the barriers separating people, running workshops and making films.  The Cycling Centre repairs and recycles unwanted bikes.  Delicious and Nutritious is a social enterprise which provides vegetarian catering, contributing profits to help needy communities.  As well as lobbying the Government on say, ending the Iraq war, the Peace House works to support Iraqi refugees, particularly those who have been refused permission to stay in the UK, but are unable to return.

Every month the Peace House has activity weekends, when a number of  volunteers from outside help with building, maintenance and gardening tasks.  

o Coventry Peace House, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV6 5DS.  024 7666 4616.  info@covpeacehouse.org.uk

Peace Month

Annual festival held during autumn.  

People and Planet

Warwick University based student group working on international poverty and environment issues.  More details to  follow.  

- www.sunion-warwick.ac/peopleandplanet

Prosperity

Prosperity is a national VCO campaigning on the inequitous basis of money supply - most money in use thesedays is not cash, but credit that the banks can magic into circulation using smoke and mirrors, but which we all have to then pay to use.  For more information about this - and how the monetary system is an overlooked cause of climate change - contact local Prosperity member Clive Rosher on 024 7661 4111.

Sent to Coventry

A group of crafts people working mainly with recycled materials.  

- www.sent-2-coventry.com

Third Sector Guidelines

Details of the Voluntary Action Coventry Sustainable Development Statement are included on the Model Resolutions page.

Input please

These are only an indication of the sort of activities that people living or working in Coventry are involved in. Please send SustainabilityLINKS more information about what you're doing to help us live less unsustainably.  Details of other local initiatives would also be useful.

 

North Warwickshire

What are North Warwickshire's Borough Council and LSP doing about our unsustainable life style?

Nottingham Declaration

North Warwickshire Borough Council is a Nottingham Declaration signatory.

More information please.

  

What’s anybody else doing?

More information about S&P related activities in North Warwickshire please.

 

 

Nuneaton and Bedworth

What are Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and LSP doing about our unsustainable life style?

Nottingham Declaration

NBBC has signed.

Nuneaton and Bedworth LSP Statement of Principles

Membership

 Leaders of organisations, community groups and community advocates who will work together as a group for the benefit of the community as a whole to work together in partnership to promote community well-being in all partnership activities.

 The LSP organisation representatives should have the authority to change or re-shape service delivery and manage or influence the control of budgets.

Frequency of Meetings

 The Partnership will meet four times a year to discuss and agree actions to be taken.  The partners will then need to see appropriate approval for those actions.

 To meet at any other appropriate time as required.

Ambition

 Our ambition is to continually improve the level of the social, economic and environmental well-being of the community of Nuneaton and Bedworth.

 We will do this through a partnership involving local people, businesses, public and voluntary sector agencies and the two Councils.

Role and Responsibilities

 Provide a framework, which promotes and enables the people who live, work and visit the Borough to be involved as appropriate in decisions concerning the provision of services and facilities in the Borough.

 Establish a clear understanding of the needs of the Borough.  Identify actions and deliverable targets to make improvements.  Agree indicators to measure progress and effectiveness of actions.

 Explore through partnership working a more effective use of resources in service delivery, particularly where resources can be diverted to deal with areas of need.  Also making opportunities for new resources.

 Agree and prioritise a detailed programme of actions, which fit in with the objectives and programmes of other strategies and plans, such as the Warwickshire Strategic Plan and Borough Local Plan.

 Co-ordinate the review of the Community Plan (“Shaping Our Future”) for the Borough.  Provide a framework to implement the actions contained within the Community Plan and a monitoring system to overview progress.

 Co-ordinate and reduce the number of strategies and implementation structures where there is an overlap of activities and in line with Government requirements on strategies.

 Encourage service providers to develop action plans, which deliver their services in accordance with the objectives of the Community Plan.

 Encourage service provision, which achieves equality of opportunity for all residents, workers and visitors to the Borough.

 Provide a forum for the exchange and sharing of ideas and information which improves delivery of services and develops partnership.

 Act as champions within the communities of the Borough.

Reporting, Monitoring and Review of the LSP and its Initiatives

 To evaluate, monitor and review the well-being of the Borough on an ongoing basis.

 To receive reports on a quarterly basis from the Community Plan Partnership Team on the plan’s progress.

 To review the terms of reference of the LSP on an annual basis.

 The LSP will report its activities and achievements to the public via the local press, in house magazines and websites, etc.

Nuneaton and Bedworth LSP Sustainability Policy

The Partnership Team recognises its responsibility to the sustainable future of Nuneaton and Bedworth and its inhabitants.  Member organisations of the Partnership will ensure that al joint activities and partnership working will endeavour to ensure a good quality of life for all.  They will protect the environment and environmental resources; key considerations will be the need to:

 Use energy, water and other natural resources efficiently and with care, and strive to achieve an equitable distribution of these resources.

 Minimise waste, then re-use or recover it through recycling, composting or energy recovery, and finally dispose of what is left.

 Promote and sustain a vibrant local economy that gives access to satisfying and rewarding work without damaging the local, national or global environment.

The Partnership team is committed to actions being undertaken within the group to address the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change.

Under the Community Plan the eight theme groups will formally adopt the above policy, monitor and review the progress of the theme groups in relation to the policy on a quarterly basis and report back to the Partnership team and the Community Forum.

Parks and Countryside Team

The team publish a seasonal events guide containing sections on their Thursday conservation volunteer arrangements, special weekend walks, skill sharing sessions, growing competitions and weekly health walks.  There are six leaflets available on the borough's green tracks at Caldecote, Chilvers Coton, Keresley, Marston, Weston and Weddington.  

- 024 7637 6042.

Website Based Information

Most recent assessment visit November 2008

Relevant contents include:

 Nuneaton and Bedworth’s previous SCS (2004 to 2007) and the current one for 2007 to 2021.

 Minutes of 2008 meetings of the LSP, LSP advisory group, transport / accessibility and Fairtrade theme groups.  There are no contact details given for individual process participants – organisations working with the LSP are represented by different individuals on different occasions.

 A page on Fairtrade.

 Sections on transport concerns and proposals.

 Details about what steps individuals can take to live less unsustainably.

 Links to Warwickshire County Council’s LAA pages.

 A page briefly summarising what LA21 is.

 More information about this will be included here in due course.

  More information please. 

 

What’s anybody else around Nuneaton & Bedworth doing?

Building Sustainable Neighbourhoods

BSN helps bring third sector projects – many with an environmental slant – to Nuneaton and Bedworth’s more deprived areas.  Examples of the work it has supported since its 2003 launch can be seen across the borough.  Two specifically environmental projects have been the establishment of Second Chance Furniture Re-Use with the Christian Alliance Housing Association, and the Washed and Delivered real nappy service.  

Other schemes include the improvement of open space at Bedworth Heath and Keresley and local businesses have received help through the enhancement of their locations; the Newdigate Road Allotment Association has received funding to undertake toilet facility improvements which have led to the development of a school growing club.  BSN has also run projects on carbon footprint reduction, green space improvement and environmental action.  Originally conceived as a four year scheme BSN is still thriving in 2009.  

- BSN, Regeneration Zone Opportunities Centre, Camp Hill Industrial Estate, Pool Road, Nuneaton CV10 9AE.  024 7638 7279.  www.warwickshire.gov.uk  bsn@warwickshire.gov.uk

Cycling

Nuneaton Cycle Club

NCC organises weekly rides on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, tours and hostel weekends.  The local club is a member of CTC.

- 024 7674 1276.  www.nuneaton-cycle-club.co.uk

Cycle Guide and Map

A partnership of cycle users including members of Nuneaton CTC, Sustrans and the local Cycle Forum, together with the Borough and County Councils, have published a cycle network guide.  It includes a map and information about recent and planned improvements including the cycle routes linking Weddington and Nuneaton town centre, and Attleborough and Bermuda Park / George Eliot Hospital.  - 024 7637 6490.

Friends of the Earth

See Local What's On  for meetings and group contact details.

Holland and Barrett (national organisation)

A growing number of people are understanding the links between our global unsustainability, the livestock industry and diet.  The head office of Britain’s largest vegetarian chain stores is in Nuneaton.  

o Holland and Barrett, Samuel Ryder House, Townsend Drive, Attleborough Fields, Nuneaton CV11 6XW.  024 7624 4400.

http://greennuneaton.org.uk

Sustainability concerns being raised by people in Nuneaton.

Nuneaton, Bedworth and Hinckley Rail Users Group

More information to follow.  

- www.nbrug.org.uk  nuneatonrug@btconnect.com

2nd Chance

Based in Nuneaton, 2nd Chance Furniture Re-Use Project was launched in November 2006 and opened for business the following March.  Since then it’s seen a monthly increase in sales – and corresponding amount of good quality items rescued from landfill.  The Project also takes furniture to Bedworth to sell to people there.  Resources to establish and run 2nd Chance have come from the Big Lottery Fund and the Community Recycling and Development Programme.

- 2nd Chance, 1a Weddington Terrace, Nuneaton CV10 0AG.  024 7632 6189.

 Please send your information about sustainability related initiatives to SustainabilityLINKS.

  

Rugby

What are Rugby's Borough Council and LSP doing about our unsustainable life style?

Nottingham Declaration

Signed by Rugby Borough Council.

Rugby Forward Constitution

The original Rugby LSP Constitution “commits the Partnership to setting up a community of interest network around sustainable development.  This network is open to any interested people and exists to act as a resource for the theme groups to draw on and ensure that they take into account the views of network members.”  

The Constitution also contained these sustainability-related statements:

The LSP’s purpose is “to identify well-being needs and address them with projects and initiatives to promote and improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of Rugby.”

The aims of the LSP were “to improve the social, economic and environmental sustainability, health and well-being of the Borough and its inhabitants” and “contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK.”

Sustainable Rugby

See Local What's On for details of Sustainable Rugby meeting dates.

- 01788 533827.  www.warwickshire.gov.uk

Website Based Information

Most recent assessment December 2008

Information about Rugby Sustainable Community Strategy can be found on the Council website; www.rugby.gov.uk  

Rugby’s approach to LSP / SCS work demonstrates the scope for local councils’ interpretation of requirements.  On the website the two terms are regarded as being synonymous, with wider community involvement in processes coming through consultation.

Relevant contents include:

  A page about the Sustainable Community Strategy.

 A downloadable pdf of the autumn 2008 SCS consultation.

 Links to Warwickshire County Council’s LAA pages.

Up until its disbandment, the LSP was called Rugby Forward, but this name is now being used to describe the Council’s forward planning processes.

  More information please. Please send LINKS more information about Rugby Council's S&P related initiatives for inclusion on the site.

 

What’s anybody else around Rugby doing?

Practical Action  (national organisation)

The Intermediate Technology Development Group was established to help developing countries use simple technologies to change lives.  Practical Action is the organisation’s working name, adopted in 2006.  Sister organisations include Green Books, the Schumacher Society and Resurgence magazine.  

o Practical Action, Schumacher Centre for Technology and Development, Bourton on Dunsmore, Rugby, Warwickshire CV23 9QZ.  01926 634400.  www.practicalaction.org practicalaction@practicalaction.org.uk

Credit Union

A financial cooperative owned and controlled by members and offering a local ethical range of products - savings accounts, low cost loans, green loans, young savers, Christmas saving club.

- Rugby Credit Union, 19 - 20 North Street, Rugby CV21 2AG.  01788 577900.  www.rugbycreditunion.co.uk  rugbycreditunion@btconnect.com

Friends of the Earth

See Local What's On for meetings and group contact details

  Input please  - The entries on this page are only an indication of the sort of activities people here are involved in.  Please send SustainabilityLINKS more information about what you and other Rugby people are doing to help us live less unsustainably.  

 

Stratford-upon-Avon

What are Stratford's District Council and LSP doing about our unsustainable life style?

Nottingham Declaration

The climate change declaration has been signed by Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

Stratford District Partnership Terms of Reference

The area’s LSP guidelines included a commitment:  “To maintain and enhance the heritage and green environment while building healthy, safe, informed and active communities enjoying local services and employment opportunities.”

  Input please - Please send LINKS more information about Straford's S&P related initiatives for inclusion on the site.

What’s anybody else around Stratford doing?

Fairtrade Town Trail

This was launched in 2008.

Stratford Community Radio

Launched in January 2009, this online station broadcasts from Friday to Sunday between 10.00 and 18.00.  A not-for-profit venture it's aimed at the area's residents and businesses.  Its 'Alternatives' programme is on between 14.00 and 15.00 every Friday and covers green topics such as ethical issues and alternative lifestyles. (Spring 2009)

- SCR, 50 Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 6QW.  www.myscr.co.uk  info@myscr.co.uk

  More information please. These are only an indication of the activities that people in Stratford are involved in.  Please send SustainabilityLINKS more information about what you're doing to help us live less unsustainably.  Details of any other Stratford initiatives you know about would also be useful.

  

Warwick

What are Warwick's District Council and LSP doing about our unsustainable life style?

Nottingham Declaration

Warwick District Council has signed the climate change declaration.

  Input please - Please send LINKS more information about WDC's S&P related initiatives for inclusion on the site.

What’s anybody else around Warwick & Leamington Spa doing?

Action 21

Action 21 grew out of WDC's Local Agenda 21 and with the name change came a shift in focus from agenda setting to practical action, such as work towards reducing local plastic carrier bag usage.  The social enterprise runs several successful projects - a recycling warehouse, allotments, solar challenge, renewable energy club, cycle workshop, eco days, food co-ops, insulation, forest garden, green champions.  Its educational projects include giving presentations and running school workshops on everyday sustainability themes and green living.  

- Action 21, Recycling Centre, Princes Drive, Leamington Spa CV31 3PH, also PO Box 1720, Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Leamington Spa CV32 5RL.  01926 456076.  www.action21.co.uk

"We seek to make greener living easier to do in ways which create a better quality of life for people at local level, working in constructive partnerships with other organisations.  With activities based on food, transport, energy, education and recycling, supported by a thriving volunteer programme, there's always something happening."

Action 21

Bath Place Community Venture

Exhibition space.  Food co-op every Wednesday and Thursday, from 10.00.  Home of Warwickshire’s British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and the Veggie Table café.  The main hall has a stage and is available for socials, meetings and conferences; there is also a community room which accommodates up to 30 people, an IT suite, a workshop for hands-on sessions in, say, cookery and art.  Bath Place is a popular venue for S&P related activities.  

- Arch 5, Bath Place, Leamington Spa CV31 3AQ.  01926 338421.  www.bathplace.org  info@bathplace.org

Cafe Scientifique

A monthly forum for debating scince issues outside of conventional academic environments.  Meets on the third Monday of every month at St Patrick's Irish Club, Riverside Walk (off Adelaide Road) in Leamington Spa.

- www.cafescientifique.org/leamington_spa

Canalside Community Food

The Canalside project enables 'workshares' to volunteer four hours a week in return for fresh produce grown on site; or 'vegshares' to do three shifts of three hours per year.  Any member can work on a Wednesday or Saturday morning; food can be collected from Bath Place on Wednesday mornings.  Recent developments include installation of a wind turbine to provide light on dark evenings and plans for an ecobuilding.  

 eat homegrown organic food

 connect with the land and seasons

 meet others with the same ideals

 engage with the transition movement

- Canalside Community Food, Leasowe Farm, Southam Road, Radford Semele, Leamington Spa CV31 1TY.  01926 423939.  www.canalsidecommunityfood.org.uk  mail@.canalsidecommunityfood.org.uk

Dr Bike

Free cycle MOTs.  Leamington Spa group offering reasonably priced bicycle repairs done by volunteer workers.

- 01926 456067.  www.action21.co.uk  info@action21.co.uk

Friends of the Earth

Meeting dates and contact details are included on the Local What's On page.

Gaia

The Leamington workers’ cooperative run wholefood and information shop is a resource centre for sustainable living.  

o  The Leamington workers’ cooperative run wholefood and information shop is a resource centre for sustainable living.  The shop also runs an organic vegetable bags home delivery service.

- Gaia is based in south town at 7 Regent Place, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 1EH. 01926 338805.  www.gaia.coop

 shop@gaia.coop

Green Garden Cafe

Catering service using ethically sourced, organic, local ingredients.  Buffets, office deliveries, meetings, functions, celebrations.

- 024 76715040, 07504 505994.  www.greengardencafe.co.uk  cathy@greengardencafe.co.uk

Hayley's Green

Shop selling stylish recycled items.

- Hayley's Green, 20 Smith Street, Warwick CV34 4HS.  07828 443 798.  www.hayleysgreen.co.uk  hayley.morrison256@hotmail.co.uk

Leamington Community Library

Formerly the Green Living Library, this facility is open 09.30 – 17.00 Monday – Friday.  Many S&P relevant titles; also on site coffee shop, local information service, health and community centre.   

- Brunswick Healthy Living Centre, 98-106 Shrubland Street, Old Town, Leamington Spa CV31 3BZ.  01926 422123.  www.thehealthyliving.net

Leamington Peace Festival

Since 1978 Leamington's Peace Festival's been an annual June event bringing together peace, sustainable, community, music and entertainment.  Although the Festival has changed in some respects over the years its original aims are perhaps more relevant now than they've everbeen - ie to bring together people, to:

Raise awareness of world and local issues.

Encourage international / local organisations and individuals to participate during the Festival weekend.

Give individuals and communities a chance to become involved in the world around them.

Provide an oportunity for local crafts people to demonstrate their skills and display their crafts.

Promote fair / ethical trade practises.

Encourage local entertainers.

- www.peacefestival.org.uk  info@peacefestival.org.uk

LETS

Skills offered in Warwickshire's Oaks area include gardening, music tuition, dance classes, DIY and electrical work, complementary health treatments, secretarial and administration, car maintenance, transport, cooking, computing.

- More information from LETS, 39 Rosefield Street, Leamington Spa CV32 4HE, phone 01926 421467 or see www.leamlets.org.ok   Gaia is the contact point for trading.

  Input please

These are only an indication of the activities that people living and working in and around Warwick, Leamington Spa and Kenilworth are involved in.  Please send SustainabilityLINKS more information about what you're doing to help us live less unsustainably.  Details of any other other local community or workplace initiatives you know about would also be useful.

One World Link

Established in 1982 this initiative twins Warwick with Bo, in Sierra Leone.

- 01926 332828.  www.oneworldlink.org.uk

Recycle Warehouse

Leamington's Recycle Warehouse donates any profits into activities helping the environment or alleviating poverty.  Items it recycle include furniture, glassware, china, kitchen utensils, musical instruments, pictures, books, electrical goods and household appliances.  It also reconditions fridges, washers and cookers for resale and these come complete with a three month warranty (as yet the Warehouse is unable to recycle computers, stereos or tvs). Open 10.00 to 16.00 every day except Tuesday the facility was established by Action 21, Bath Place Community Venture and Warwickshire County Council.  

- The Recycle Warehouse, Recycling Centre, Princes Drive, Leamington Spa CV31 3PH.  01926 426369.  07903 048199. www.communityfreebay.co.uk

SPAN

The Sustainable Action Partnership is a group of six south Warwickshire based community projects – Action 21, Bath Place Community Venture, Brunswick Healthy Living Centre, The Gap, Mid-Warwickshire Mind and Sydni Centre.  SPAN’s aim is to secure members’ funding and promote partnership working.

Transition Town Leamington

A grassroots initiative to develop local green energy, food production and other positive community solutions to climate change and peak oil.  Transition towns' communities strive to survive the oil dependency that will no longer support big out-of-town retail parks, high food / product miles, planned obsolescence, unnecessary consumption, etc.

- www.transitionleamington.org.uk  ttleamington@yahoogroups.com  groups@yahoo.com/group/ttleamington

“The POWER Enquiry found that millions of people take part in charity or community work, but political parties and elections have been a growing turn-off for years.  The cause is not apathy.  The problem is that not enough people feel that they have any real influence over the decisions made by elected bodies.  Whilst involving voluntary and community organisations is not a proxy for engaging local communities and service users themselves, the sector can promote public engagement and democratic participation in a number of ways.”

Dhara Vyas, Policy Officer, Regional Action West Midlands, Autumn 2006

 

Warwickshire

What are Warwickshire's County Council and SCS processes doing about our unsustainable life style?

Countryside Access Team

The team can give details of Warwickshire's public rights of way, although complaints about these being obstructed or ploughed should be made to the area's district council.  

- 01926 413427.  www.warwickshire.gov.uk/countryside

Cycling

Start cycling website.  Information about local bike shops, maintenance and repairs, cycle routes and where to buy second hand. www.warwickshire.gov.uk/startcycling

Warwickshire Cycle Map.  01926 412105.  sustainabletrave@warwickshire.gov.uk

Eco Schools Programme

Eco Schools aim to reduce their environmental impact while improving the school environment.  The County Council is registered with the UK programme, which encourages involvement with such activities as increased walking, cycling and recycling, reduced electricity and water usage and improved diet, school grounds through litter collection, wildlife and growing areas.  Eco Eco Schools initiatives integrate with other school activities and link to most areas of the curriculum.  They also promote awareness of other cultures and facilitate links to schools in other countries.

- Eco Schools Officer, Warwickshire County Council, PTES, PO Box 43, Warwick CV34 4SX.  01926 418065.  See www.eco-schools.org.uk and www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ecoschools for further information, including a full list of Eco-Schools

Environmental Procurement Policy

Since 2005 the County Council has had an Environmental Procurement Policy and a Five Year Strategy which sets out short, medium and long term objectives: both documents can be viewed under Sustainable Procurement in the Supplier Guidance Section at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/procurement  Requests for specific information should be sent to the Council’s County Procurement Unit.

LAA Outcome Indicators

These have been agreed for the five districts at county level.

Local Authorities, together with an area LSP, where this exists, have had to decide on up to 35 outcome indicators from the Government’s list of 198, designed to form the LGPF (local government performance framework) up to 2011.  Each area’s outcome indicators should have been agreed with the appropriate regional Government Office in January 2008.  In addition to these indicators, which allow areas to identify their own priorities, there are 16 mandatory education indicators.  

In areas of two tier local government it is the County Council’s responsibility to agree the 35 outcome indicators with its district LAs / LSPs.

 

Below is a list of S&P related targets agreed for Warwickshire; the complete list of outcome indicators can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nationalindicato   

 

              

Warwickshire Targets to 2011

Target  4 – percentage of people who feel they can influence decisions in their locality.

Lead agency     Stratford on Avon District Council

 

Target  175 – access to services and facilities by public transport, walking and cycling.

            

               

Target  186 – per capita reduction of CO2 emissions in the LA area.       

 

Target 188 – adapting to climate change.

                                          

 

Target  191 – per capita residual household waste.

           

Target  197 – per capita residual household waste.

            

Participation opportunity

It’s too late this time to lobby our local authorities about the need to prioritise sustainability and participation concerns when considering the county’s outcome indicators.  However, we can monitor their performance to ensuring that they reach or even exceed their targets.  See www.warwickshire.gov.uk/laa  

The point of contact at WCC is Mr Bill Basra, LAA Manager, Partnerships and Communities, Performance and Development Directorate, WCC, Shire Hall, Warwick CV34 4RR.  01926 412904.  07867 970015. billbasra@warwickshire.gov.uk

Nottingham Declaration

The County Council has signed.

Public Transport

Bus Passes

Free bus passes are available for those of 60 and over.  These are issued by residents' district councils but enable holders to travel free on local bus services anywhere in the country.

Map

The main part of this free fold-out is the route map showing bus services and railway stations.  There are smaller maps highlighting the subregion's railway lines and stops and bus routes across the county's seven larger towns.  A Warwickshire public transport table indexes places served with service route numbers, providers and the days / frequency of operation.  Copies of the map are made available through libraries, council offices, TICs and travel shops.

- 01926 412987.  www.warwickshire.gov.uk/publictransport

Warwickshire Climate Change Strategy/ Warwickshire Climate Change Partnership

WCCP was established in 2005 and officially launched a year later, with the publication of the Warwickshire Climate Change Strategy. The Partnership includes organisations from across the three sectors, and in January 2009 had 340 members committed to reducing their CO2 emissions in five key areas  - energy, resource efficiency, adaptation and communications & education.

One Partnership project has been to seek Warwickshire residents and employees' aid for Practical Action climate change work in Bangladesh and Nepal.  The Partnership has asked people to calculate their carbon footprints (see Helpful Websites for online carbon calculators) and donate the cost - a tonne of CO2 is equivalent to about £7.50.  Also see Practical Action information on the Helpful Addresses page.

- 0800 3891624

appeal line.   

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/climatechangepartnership

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/892C551ACE9ADCC38025719C00332D09

Warwickshire Sustainability Commission

Details to follow.

Warwickshire Waste Partnership

Warwickshire supports the Waste and Resources Action Programme.  As it has bulk purchased compost bins through the Recycle Now Home Composting Campaign, up until March 2009 savings have been passed on to county residents.  The retail price of composters on offer were £40, £50 and £66 - but in Warwickshire they were being offered with free delivery for £17, £20 and £40.  Leaflets about composting are available from County Council offices and libraries.  Further details to follow.

Website

The County Council website won a prestigious green award from WWF – the World Wide Fund for Nature.

  

What’s anybody else doing countrywide?

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

Voluntary work with the subregion’s group can help those thinking about taking up a career in the environment; for more information about this contact BTCV.  Of course BTCV also have plenty of different opportunities for those who just want to help maintain the quality of our local environment.  Activities are usually organised every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.   

- BTCV, Arch 5, Bath Place, Leamington Spa CV32 3AQ.  01926 430574 and 07740 899584.  www.btcv.org.uk

 Charity Shops

 All charity shops recycle.  Those in Warwickshire that use their procedes to aid S&P related causes include:

 - Global Care, 60 Leicester Street, Bulkington, Bedworth.  024 7649 0799.

- Help the Aged, 31 - 33 Queens Road, Nuneaton.  024 7635 6130.

- Help the Aged, 27 Church Street, Rugby.  01788 579963.

- Help the Aged, 4 Warwick Road, Kenilworth.

- Oxfam, 3 Harefield Road, Nuneaton.  024 7638 5538.

- Oxfam, 19 Regent Street, Rugby.  01788 578016.

- Oxfam, 28 Wood Street, Stratford-upon-Avon.  01789 295943.

- Oxfam, 51 Regent Street, Leamington Spa.  01926 889215.

- Oxfam, 57 Warwick Street, Leamington Spa.  01926 316646.

- Oxfam, 41 Abbey End, Kenilworth.  01926 856135.

- Oxfam, 18 Market Place, Warwick.  01926 497770.

 Council for the Protection of Rural England

- Branch Development Manager, CPRE, 41a Smith Street, Warwick CV34 4JA.  01926 494597.  office@cprewarwickshire.org.uk

 CRACIN

Coalition for Recycling and Against Incineration.  www.cracin.co.uk

Fairtrade

These Warwickshire towns are included in those listed on the Fairtrade Foundation website (17 August 2009):

Kenilworth (since 25 March 2008)

Leamington Spa (since 11 March 2006)

Stratford-upon-Avon (since 22 September 2007)

 

These towns are not listed as having Fairtrade Status:

 

Atherstone

Bedworth

Nuneaton

Rugby

Warwick

 

Leamington Spa has a Fairtrade directory giving details of those businesses, churches, hotels and guest houses and schools supporting fairtrade in the town.  

- www.leamingtonspatowncouncil.gov.uk

 Information please

Does Warwickshire really have only 3 Fairtrade Towns?  If you're promoting fair trade where you live or work please let LINKS have details of what you're doing: info@sustainabilitylinks.org.uk

 farmers markets  

Coleshill : fourth Friday of the month in Market Hall between 10.00 and 14.00.

Coventry : second Thursday of the month in Spon Street between 09.00 and 16.30.

Kenilworth : second Saturday of the month in Abbey End between 09.00 and 14.00.

Leamington Spa : fourth Saturday of the month in the Pump Room Gardens between 09.00 and 14.00.

Rugby : last Thursday of the month by the Clock Tower between 09.00 and 14.00.

Stratford-upon-Avon : first and third Saturday of the month between 09.00 and 14.00.  The town’s Friday market dates back 800 years.  

Warwick : third Friday of the month in Market Square between 09.00 and 14.00.

 - 01608 664659.  www.warwickshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk

 Globe UK (national organisation)

 Warwickshire Wildlife Trust manages GLOBE-UK, part of an international environment programme for schools. GLOBE’S objective is to increase environmental awareness.  The programme covers sustainable development, climate change, and other topics, while taking a cross-curricular approach embracing literacy, numeracy and other skills.  Work to collect local environmental data has now extended to the measurement of human activity on the environment.  Classes are also looking at the lifestyle changes necessary for people to again live less unsustainably.  

 - Globe UK, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry CV3 3GW.  024 7630 2912.  www.wildlifetust.org.uk  admin@warkswt.cix.co.uk

Greenbean

A mobile solar and wind powered coffee company serving 100% organic and Fairtrade tea, hot chocolate and connoisseur coffees at events.  

- 01789 295958.  www.greenbeancoffee.co.uk  info@greenbeancoffee.co.uk

Greenpeace

More information to come.

- 01926 771775 (at September 2008).

Mosaic

A free quarterly magazine for Warwickshire and Coventry focusing on the green, ethical, holistic, complementary, creative and spititual.  Volunteer distributors wanted.

- Mosaic c/o Gaia, 7 Regent Place, Leamington Spa CV31 1EH.  The editor can be contacted on 01926 744962.  www.mosaic-lifestyle.com  beth@mosaic-lifestyle.com

 United Nations Association

More information to come.

- 01926 338430 (at September 2008).

Warwickshire Federation of WIs

- Warwickshire Federation of WIs, Federation House, 1 Corunna Court, Corunna Road, Budbrook, Warwick CV34 5QH.  01926 419998.  www.womensinstitute.org.uk/warwickshire    admin@wfwi.co.uk

Warwickshire Rural Community Council

- WRCC, Building 25, Abbey Park, Kenilworth CV8 2LY.  024 76 303232.  www.ruralwarwickshire.org/uk

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust   

The Trust cares for over 55 nature reserves covering 2,000 acres.  It works for wildlife, habitat and the environment by encouraging people to enjoy nature.  Volunteers meet on Wednesdays, Thursdays and weekends throughout the year.  Education programme includes wildlife workshops, talks, family events, outdoor learning  and schemes towards the Childrens University Awards.

 The Trust's Brandon Marsh offices are located in a 228 acre nature reserve with ten pools and six bird hides.  There are woodland trails and an indoor area accommodating a display area, tea room and gift shop.

 - Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry CV3 3GW.  024 7630 2912.  www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk   admin@warkswt.cix.co.uk 

WaterAid Coventry and Warwickshire

WaterAid works towards a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation.

- 01926 316429.

 "Every few years in western history there occurs a sharp transformation...  Within a few short decades society rearranges itself - its world view; its basic values; its social and political structure; its arts; its key institutions.  Fifty years later there is a new world.  And the people born then cannot even imagine the world in which their grandparents lived and into which their own parents were born.  We are currently living in such a transformation."

 Post Capitalist Society, Peter F Drucker. 1993.

 Input please

Please send LINKS more information about any countywide initiatives you either know of, or are involved with. The website needs as much input as possible - details submitted will be included in future updates of this page and in the topical Local S&P Report.

 Local Websites

http://coventrygreenparty.blogspot.com  Online community

http://greennuneaton.org.uk  Sustainability issues and events in the town

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/recycle-warehouse  Action 21 online recycling

http://westmidlands.greenparty.org.uk  Sustainability focused political party

 

www.action21.co.uk  Taking practical action against global unsustainability in the Warwick area.

www.bathplace.org  Leamington Spa based community venture.

www2.btcv.org.uk/display/warwick  Subregional branch of British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

www.buildingarts.co.uk  Community Interest Company.

www.canalsidecommunityfood.org.uk  Leamington people growing and sharing organic  produce

www.communityfreebay.co.uk  Free local recycling

www.coventryfoe.org.uk  Free local recycling

www.coventry.gov.uk  Coventry City Council

www.coventrypartnership.com Coventry LSP

www.covinvolve.org.uk  Coventry volunteering for young people

www.coventry-vsc.org.uk  Coventry VSC is now Voluntary Action Coventry.  See www.vacoventry.org.uk  

www.cracin.co.uk  Coalition for Recycling and Against Incineration

www.cusu.org/minisites/index  Coventry University Students Union groups

www.foe.org.uk/groups/coventry  Coventry Friends of the Earth

www.gaia.coop  Gaia wholefood and information shop

www.greenfinder.co.uk  Warwickshire based green pages

www.greengardencafe.co.uk ethical catering service.

www.greennuneaton.org.uk  Sustainability issues concerning Nuneaton people.

www.thehealthyliving.net  Leamington Spa's Healthy Living Centre

www.jubileedebt.pwp.blueyomder.co.uk  JDC in Birmingham also see blog http://jdcbirmingham.wordpress.com/

www.leamlets.org.uk  Warwick and Leamington LETS

www.mosaic-lifestyle.com Free alternative monthly magazine for the subregion

www.myscr.co.uk  Stratford Community Radio  

www.networkwestmidlands.com/parkandride  Park and Ride across Coventry and the West Midlands

·www.northwarks.gov.uk  North Warwickshire Borough Council

www.nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk  Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

www.nbrug.org  Nuneaton, Bedworth and Hinckley Rail Users Group

www.nwvolunteers.co.uk Volunteering in north Warwickshire

www.redsandstonehill.net/espirit  Coventry Earth Spirit

www.riverford.co.uk  Soil Association certified local organic box scheme

www.rugbycreditunion.co.uk  Rugby's financial cooperative

www.rugby.gov  Rugby District Council

www.ruralwarwickshire.org.uk  Warwickshire Rural Community Council

www.stratforddistrictpartnership.org.uk  Stratford-upon-Avon LSP

www.stratford.gov.uk  Stratford District Council

www.sunion-warwick.ac/peopleandplanet  People and Planet is the national organisation with a network of local student groups working on third world poverty and environmental concerns.

www.vacoventry.org.uk  Voluntary Action Coventry, formerly known as Coventry Voluntary Service Council

www.travelwestmidlands.co.uk Bus and train information for Coventry and Warwickshire passengers.

www.vinspired.com  volunteering for young people

www.volunteering-cov.org.uk  Volunteer Centre Coventry

www.wcava.org.uk/funding  Funding4Community - help finding funds from Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Association

www.warwick.ac.uk  Warwick University

www.warwickdc.gov.uk  Warwick District Council

www.warwickshire.gov.uk  Warwickshire County Council

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/climatechangepartnership  Warwickshire County Council initiative.

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ecoschools  Includes list of the county's participating schools.

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/grants  Grants and funding advice for VCOs from Warwickshire County Council

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/grantnet  Local funding search pages maintained by Warwickshire County Council

www.warwickshire.gov.uk/startcycling  Includes information about local bike shops, maintenance and repairs, cycle routes and where to buy second hand.

www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk  Nature conservation and the reinstatement of biodiversity across the county and Coventry.

www.warwicksu.com/societies/campaigning  Warwick University Students Union has a number of campaign groups.  In December 2009 these included /internationaldev,  /unicefoncampus, /unyouth, /animalrights, /greenparty, /oxfamoutreach, /peopleplanet

www.wcava.org.uk  Warwickshire Community and Voluntary Action

www.wcava.org.uk/quarterly-newsletter  Warwickshire VCS information

    

    Please contact us with any information or feed back:

E-mail - info@sustainabilitylinks.org.uk

Post - Sustainability LINKS, 3 Park Road, Bedworth CV12 8LH