Children England's green page

This webpage aims to inform readers about what Children England is doing as an organisation to reduce our carbon footprint. It also aims to signpost you to useful resources and other publications on this important issue.

In 2010, Children England signed up to the 10:10 campaign, pledging to cut our carbon emissions by 10% in a year. The 10:10 campaign continues this year, encouraging businesses, schools, local authorities and individuals to make the same pledge. Their website has lots of practical resources and useful tips on how we can all reduce our environmental impact. With over 100,000 people and 4,300 businesses already on board, why not join the 10:10 campaign today and save money at the same time?

Children England has also developed an environmental policy for staff and volunteers. It is designed to help create an office environment which is sustainable and eco-friendly. Click here to read it.

We are encouraging all our members to become more sustainable too - here's how:

Useful resources

BASSAC - resources to make organisations more sustainable.

Carbon Trust - how to monitor your energy use.

City Bridge Trust Grants - ‘London’s Environment' – this grant programme is available to organisations working to support the environmental education of Londoners and for those working to maintain and enhance London’s biodiversity.

City Bridge Trust are also offering a free eco-audit to London’s third sector organisations. The Trust will cover the costs of an eco-audit provided by an approved consultant, which will include:

• Visiting your office(s), and discussions with the management team, staff and trustees as appropriate.
• Review of your energy use, waste, travel patterns and purchasing practice.
• Review of policies and how decisions are made.
• A report and action plan.
• A follow-up visit after a year and a final report on the changes and savings achieved.

Some feedback from groups who have had eco-audits:
The report was extremely helpful. It was also realistic and made practical, feasible recommendations.
It gave me the push I needed to make changes
The majority of recommendations turned out not to cost anything – we have actually saved money!
We are excited that we have reduced electricity consumption by 35%!
Made me realise that if everyone did a little bit, together it amounts to a lot.
Whenever we bid for tender opportunities for services... (Commissioners) ask for environmental practices, so the fact that we’ve been audited and put in place an environmental system is good.

What we ask you to do
We ask you to participate fully in the process, and to involve your staff and board as appropriate.
We ask you to consider how environmental behaviours relate to your core objectives, and how you will embed these into policy and practice.
Lastly, we ask you how you will help to spread any useful messages or changes among your stakeholders.

How to apply
We simply ask you to write to us with a short proposal (less than two pages) explaining why you will benefit from taking part in the programme, and how you can help to spread good practice.

Please send this by e-mail to: ecoaudits@cityoflondon.gov.uk or by post addressed to Eco Audits, The City Bridge Trust, City of London, PO Box 270, Guildhall, London EC2P 2EJ. Further details are available on our website www.citybridgetrust.org.uk

Every Action Counts is an initiative supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is being delivered through a consortium of voluntary and community sector organisations. It provides advice and support to voluntary and community organisations which are looking to reduce their impact on the environment, tackle climate change and improve their local area.

Energy Saving Trust - details of lots of energy saving grants and discounts you can apply for.

Energise London - promotes energy efficiency across London boroughs.

Green Electricity Marketplace - green energy tariffs and price comparisons.

Green Office Week - Now in its third year, Green Office Week is an opportunity to make a positive difference to the environment in practical ways.

Just Act - website that supports third sector organisations in creating, implementing and reviewing the action plan on climate change.

London Sustainability Exchange, Ecovate Project - provides support to small and medium sized organisations to become greener by carrying out an environmental audit, help with writing environmental and procurement policies and action plans.

London Sustainability Exchange, Green Toolkit - contains policy templates, useful resources, case studies and action to promote green ideas.

Mayor of London's Green Procurement Code - helping business to buy greener.

NCB - the National Children's Bureau run a taskforce on climate change.

NCVO - the National Council for Voluntary Organisation's webpage on climate change.

Net Regs Waste Directory - easy way to find out where you can recycle business waste.

Warm Front Programme - grants of up to £3,500 for those in receipt of certain benefits for insulating and heating improvements.

Waste Watch - website with practical tips and case studies about how to reduce waste.

Publications

ACEVO - The Sustainability Challenge report (April 2009)

City Bridge Trust - Greening the Third Sector report (May 2007)

Charity Commission - Going Green: Charities and Environmental Responsibility (2008)

HM Government - Shaping Our Future - the joint ministerial and third sector Task Force on climate change, the environment and sustainable development (2010)

Involve - The use of public engagement in tackling climate change (2012)

NCVYS - Good to be Green - The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS), in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and members of the NCVYS Environment Community have produced the Environmental Charter to help voluntary and community organisations consider ways of working that will help young people make the most of the natural environment.

Sustainable Development Commission - Improving Young People's Lives - the role of the environment in building resilience, responsibility and employment chances (October 2010)

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, together with Green Alliance and Global Action Plan, has published guidance for voluntary and community groups into climate change. The guidance encourages organisations to think beyond reducing their own carbon footprint to consider how the people and communities they help may need extra support to deal with flooding, heat waves and rising costs brought on by climate change.

If you would like to suggest additional resources to be listed on this webpage, please contact Tony Hatwell on 0207 833 3319 or email: tony@childrenengland.org.uk