Newsletter January 2014

 

Happy New Year to all our supporters. So much is going on this month that we have produced a newsletter for you with the following topics:

News
Projects
Events
Volunteers

News

Create your own job – Over the past few months a number of our supporters have asked us if we have any jobs available. We don’t have any permanent jobs but we sometimes have casual work available. However we can help you to create your own job. We are a registered Charity and Not for Profit Company which means we can apply for funding. If you have an idea for a Community Project which has an impact on the Environment you may be able to apply for funding with our help and support and raise your own cash to employ yourself to deliver that project. Of course we would have to agree that your project meets a local need and can be delivered with the funding available. We would also have to ensure it complies with Charity law and our policies, particularly as they relate to Employment but none of these are too onerous. If you have a good idea for a Project and want to employ yourself to deliver it let us know and we will arrange a meeting to discuss it.

Projects

We are pleased to confirm we are now involved in 2 new projects:

Green Open Days – This project is now definitely going ahead and more details will follow. Basically it will operate in a similar way to Heritage Open Days or the Open Garden Scheme except it will consist of homes that have undertaken environmental improvements, particularly those that are energy related. We are currently trying to recruit hosts willing to open their homes for visitors to view their environmental improvements within a 20 mile radius of Colchester. If you would like to become a host or know someone who might be interested please let us know. We currently have 12 interested hosts but we need 20. The event will take place in May and we will be confirming the date shortly. www.greenhomes.net

The Big Switch – We will be operating this Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) project until the 10th March. DECC have identified that a number of myths are preventing the public (particularly vulnerable people) from switching to cheaper energy tariffs. We will be running 10 seminars, lasting around 30 minutes, to answer questions regarding switching your energy provider and then we will help you through the process of switching your tariff to a cheaper one. All the advice will be impartial and you will not be under any obligation to switch. We will also be running 2 seminars for Frontline Workers (housing officers, advice services, Welfare officers etc.) lasting around 15 minutes showing them how this service can benefit their clients without any further work for them (basically how to identify and refer clients that would benefit from the service).

If you would like to take advantage of this free service or know someone who may benefit, particularly those without access to the internet, the elderly etc please contact us and we will arrange a mutually convenient appointment.

If you are a Frontline Worker or know someone who is and you would like to attend a seminar or refer clients again just contact us.

If you want to change your energy tariff to a cheaper one and feel able to do so yourself you can do so through a comparison site such as Energyhelpline

Events – All events are listed on the Green Calendar and have further details

Monday 13th January – Lecture at the University of Essex - Nature in War: Towards more Comprehensive Protection of the Environment in Armed Conflict’ a lecture by Professor Karen Hulme from the School of Law.

The environment is the inevitable battlespace for war, thus nature the inevitable victim. But it is a victim like no other. Nature is our living space; it sustains us and ensures to us a healthy life. But it is also a victim that can regenerate and adapt. Why do we protect the environment in such times and what more can be achieved?

For more information on the lecture and for a list of further lectures in the series please visit  www.essex.ac.uk/events/pil

Lakeside Theatre, Colchester Campus, University of Essex. 6pm followed by a Drinks Reception from 7.15pm. Admission is free but booking advised. Please e-mail events@essex.ac.uk or telephone 01206 873270 for further information or to book a place.

Saturday 18th January - Wivenhoe Farmers’ Market please note change of time 9.30am to 12.30pm. Dr Bike will be offering a Free Bike Check.

Saturday 18th January – Talk at Firsite ‘East Anglia on the Edge’ by Asher Minns, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia.

For this talk, Asher Minns will take Denes' interest in environmental issues as a starting point for a discussion about the pressing issues of climate change and coastal erosion in East Anglia.

£5, £3 concession; free to members, booking essential. Full details and booking http://www.firstsite.uk.net/page/east-anglia-on-the-edge-talk

Monday 20th January Bike Drinks for anyone interested in Cycling issues. 8pm to 9.30pm details

Tuesday 21st January Transition Town Colchester Meeting

Volunteers

Does your Community Organisation or Community Project need any free help?.

Essex University Students Union VTeam are looking for volunteer opportunities for their Students. vTeam is a student volunteer group that wants to build long term relationships with local organisations and benefit the local community.

If you have any projects in mind where you might need extra help, we are here to help. We can’t fund any materials, but we will happily provide man power. We have done variety of tasks in the past, such as painting, digging, surveying, fundraising and helped moving offices.

Student volunteers are available during term time, can you think of anything you Community Group or Project may need help with between 13th January and 21st March, particularly in Student Volunteering Week at the end of February?

If you have any projects in mind let us know info@en-form.org.uk and we will forward your requests.

From the en-form Team