What is the Dorset Communities Living Sustainably programme?
Dorset Communities Living Sustainably, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, aims to help people in West Dorset to tackle climate change and live more sustainably. The project aims to act as a catalyst for action, building on the great work already taking place in the local area and exploring some innovative approaches.
Dorset is one of 12 Communities Living Sustainably (CLS) programmes supported by the Big Lottery Fund across England, and is the only such programme in the Southwest.
The CLS is what the Lottery describe as a ‘test and learn’ initiative in that they want to test a variety of innovative and integrated approaches to tackling climate change based on different communities and locations – rural, coastal and urban. Overall the Lottery wish to use the learning gained from this project to inform future community climate change action in England including influencing policy and practice in Government, communities and businesses.
Where will the programme take place?
The programme will be delivered in Bridport, Dorchester and their surrounding areas. Here, there are a mix of rural communities, including high levels of farmland, coastal fisheries, solid walled homes not connected to mainline gas supplies, and a high level of isolated communities. As well as engaging with geographical communities, we will be working particularly with farming and fishing sectors likely to be profoundly affected by climate change, with isolated older people at risk of increasing fuel poverty and deprivation, and with schools.
Within the programme area there are already a large number of existing, dynamic but often unconnected climate change initiatives. We hope that, wherever possible, the learning from the project will be shared across all of Dorset’s local communities, beyond the CLS areas.
What does the programme consist of?
We have received generous support from the Big Lottery Fund which will be used to facilitate and support a programme of community initiatives that were defined during a six month consultation and development process. The programme has several inter-related strands:
Greener Choices and Energy Efficiency
We will establish a Greener Choices Network of key local organisations, so that householders have easy access to more co-ordinated information about what they can do to reduce their environmental impact at home. We will explore what helps behaviour change among people who are not already involved.
We will also assist communities and businesses to save energy through a range of exciting initiatives including for example; a ‘Draught Busters’ programme engaging residents to deliver support and advice on draft proofing within their community; an Open Eco-Homes programme to celebrate and share experience where householders are pioneering in their use of energy saving; a ‘Green Doctor’ who can provide independent energy advice to residents and businesses.
Renewable Energy
Working with local people we will set up ‘Dorset Community Energy’, a new community energy co-operative, to help develop community renewable energy projects such as solar installations on schools and community buildings. We will also help local organisations in Bridport set up a community wood fuel enterprise using local woodland resources. We will help raise awareness of renewable energy opportunities with local householders and support local renewable energy businesses.
Local Food
We will establish a local food partnership, including health, environment and business sectors, in order to .develop and deliver an action plan to help create a sustainable local food economy. This will build on the many excellent, although disparate, local food initiatives in the area as well as work with local farmers and fishermen. We will develop skills, improve access to growing resources, and demonstrate solar power on a community farm run by Transition Town Dorchester.
Eco-Schools
We will support schools to take part in the internationally recognised Eco-School programme with the aim of all participating schools achieving ‘green flag’ status. This will involve pupils, teachers and volunteers running green initiatives within their schools as well as inspiring sustainable living in the wider community.
Climate Change Adaptation
We will work with four communities to address climate change in their local area. This will include raising awareness of the impact of climate change, mapping current vulnerabilities, developing future climate change scenarios and developing action plans to address them. In addition to this we will also explore and develop ways in which farmers, fishermen and elderly people can better understand climate change risks and how best to adapt to them.
Which organisations are delivering the Dorset CLS programme?
There are many climate change and sustainability initiatives in West Dorset. This CLS programme will build upon these, and bring together various community groups, local authorities and small businesses.
The core delivery partners are Bridport Energy Service Company, Dorset Community Action, Dorset County Council, Dorset Agenda 21, Dorset Coast Forum, Dorset NHS, Transition Town Dorchester, Transition Town Bridport, Wessex Community Assets, West Dorset Partnership, WSX Enterprise Ltd. A wider network of partners supports aspects of the Dorset CLS programme.
What is happening now?
The CLS team will be in place in May 2013. We will then contact people and organisations which were involved in the programme consultation; and will ‘launch’ the Dorset CLS programme and website in the summer 2013
How can you get involved?
If you are part of a community organisation in Bridport or Dorchester and their surrounding villages (e.g. one of the CLS partners or a member of the Local Area Partnership) you may be directly or indirectly part of the programme, and will be kept informed though the usual processes. Other groups and individuals can get involved by contacting FredWild@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk to join a mailing list to receive occasional updates.
For general enquiries, please contact the Programme Co-ordinator: Candida Blaker candida.blaker@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk T: 01305 216414
If you are interested in a particular programme strand, do contact the relevant person below:
Eco Schools Co-ordinator: Steph Abrahams S.M.Abrahams@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Renewable Energy: Pete West P.West@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Climate Change Adaptation (fishing & farming): Rupert Lloyd R.T.Lloyd@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Local Food Co-ordinator: Linda Hull linda@da21.org.uk
Greener Choices & Energy Efficiency Co-ordinator: Emily Bullock emily@da21.org.uk
Website
http://www.clsdorset.org.uk/
Related Links
Section on DCA website
Related Photos
Related Organisations
Dorset Agenda 21 (da21)
Dorset County Council – Sustainability Team
Related Areas
West Dorset
Transition in Dorset Project
Also related in:
Dorset Community Energy Network
Marine & Coastal Issues
Biodiversity & Wildlife
Education and Skills
Waste
Climate Change
Education, Economics and Skills
Sustainable Transport
Water
Food
Related Activities
Advice
Project development
Awareness Raising
Educational Meetings
Training
Field Work
Research & Development
Visits
Location & Contact
Contact: Candida Blaker – Project Manager
candida.blaker@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk
01305-216412
Dorset Community Action
The Coach House
Acland Road
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1EF