Volunteers Wanted – Help running Stall

 

We are attending the Colchester Town and Country Show in the Castle Park on Saturday 26th April and Sunday 27th April

Time 10 am till 5 pm

You will not have to attend the stall for the whole day and will have an opportunity to see the show.

Visitor numbers are expected to be 2500 to 3000.

As usual we will be taking the opportunity to promote a range of environmental projects and information from a number of local groups and Councils.

You do not need to know everything (we don't) but it may be an opportunity to update your local knowledge as well.

We will be providing information on all matters environmental and all local environmental groups. Some issues we tend to provide information on are:

1. Services provided by Councils particularly recycling, energy and green spaces.

2  Information on local groups such as Transition Town, reuse organisations.such as Shake, Emmaus, Re-Cycle, RePaint etc. all those on theReUseessex.org.uk website  together with freegle and giveortake.org, Cycling Groups, Green Drinks

3. We will also be providing information on Local Food including Farmers Markets and Community Agriculture, Water Use, Energy, Waste and Recycling, Transport, Wildlife and Biodiversity

4. We will be taking the opportunity to promote our (en-form's)  2 newest projects - Green Open Days (we will be giving out free Trail maps) and the energy switching service including the Councils big switch scheme.

Don't let this list frighten you, you know more than you think and we operate a call back system for questions you don't know the answer to .

If you are part of an environmental group and want to share our table let us know. The more the merrier. If you want us to give out information on your group let us know as soon as possible and we will see what we can do.

The event has a wide range of events from Ferret racing and dog displays to re enactments and Jive pony equestrian acrobatics whatever that is. Let us know if you want to race your ferret.

We hope it can be a fun day. If your want to volunteer or want your group to join us to share the load let us know.

Spring Cleaning – Don’t Forget

 

Now that Spring has finally arrived it may be time to think of a good old spring clean.

Don't forget if you are having a good sort out over the next few weeks to help reduce waste as much as possible by using the following free services::

Freegle Plenty of groups in the area, you can give away most things to someone who can make use of your unwanted items. e-mail based system need to become a member.

Giveortake.org Again you can give away almost anything. Essex section. Web based system. Anyone can post details of their unwanted items here. No need to be a member.

ReuseEssex Directory of Community Groups, Charity shops etc. that are looking for a wide range of unwanted items to give away to their clients or to sell to raise cash for charitable causes. A number of groups have found it difficult to get donations of unwanted goods in recent years.

Community Energy and Renewable Technologies

 

Essex County Council is planning to run a series of seminars on Community Energy and Renewable Technologies to local groups on the 25^th of March. The event will be targeted to all Parish Councils and Community groups in Essex, and hosted in the Essex Records Office, in Chelmsford. It is scheduled to run from 9 until about 2pm.

Our objectives for the workshop are:

· Help communities to identify energy generation opportunities that are most appropriate and cost efficient

· Provide expert advice to community groups so they can better understand low carbon technologies, funding opportunities and planning requirements.

· Raise awareness among Essex residents of opportunities to reduce energy use, save on energy bills and install renewable technologies, as well as their role in lowering carbon emissions in their community.

· Start an Essex network of community groups involved in energy projects and promote knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Speakers will be invited to talk for about 15 to 20 min to an audience of approximate 50 to 100 people. There will be a series of seminars during the morning followed by lunch.

Travel expenses will be provided.

New Service to Cut Energy Bills

 

29th January 2014

Local Charities en-form and Signpost are working with Colchester Borough Council to reduce energy bills for local residents.

They are currently running a Government funded project to review consumers energy bills and then to offer free, impartial and unbiased advice on alternative tariffs. If you decide to switch they will even arrange this for you.

Although the service is open to anyone it is aimed at those who have never switched energy providers and don’t feel confident enough to do so.

Andrew Wilkinson of en-form said ‘Savings of up to £200 are available, although the most we have saved a customer so far was £149. Apparently, almost 60% of consumers have never switched. ‘

There are many reasons why people do not switch including being unsure of the process, unable to receive impartial advice, no access to the internet or finding the process complicated. This service will arrange everything for you and then let you decide if you want to switch.

If you would like to benefit from this service or know someone who could, please telephone en-form on 01206 367776 or e-mail info@en-form.org.uk They will be visiting most local areas over the next few months.

Green Homes Wanted

 

29th January 2014

Have you had solar panels installed on your home, or perhaps a wood burning stove or a heat pump, in fact anything that makes your home energy bills cheaper, then environment group en-form wants to hear from you now.

Working with local Transition Town groups and Colchester Borough Council, en-form will be holding a Green Open Homes Weekend based in Colchester and a twenty mile radius in May.

Andrew Wilkinson of en-form said ‘Green Open Days are like the familiar Heritage and Garden Open Days. Householders who have implemented green measures and lifestyles to their homes and would like to spread the word are invited to open their doors to the public to share their experiences and explain the numerous benefits and implications.’

At the moment 12 homes have registered their interest in opening and en-form are looking for at least 20. If you are interested in participating or know someone who is and your home is within 20 miles of Colchester please contact en-form on 01206 367776,greenopendays@en-form.org.uk or website colchester.greenopenhomes.net

The project has been funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) through the Green Open Homes Fund run by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)

Grants available for Renewable Energy Systems

 

The deadline for Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) voucher scheme is approaching on March 31^st, 2014. The scheme aims to help households without access to Main Gas grid with the cost of renewable heating installations such as heat pumps, biomass boilers and solar thermal. This funding is a great opportunity to replace the old inefficient heating systems with renewable heating technologies, and cut the energy bills and carbon emissions.

RHPP, run by the UK government, offers vouchers to householders across England, Scotland and Wales. The amount received as a part of RHPP depends on the technology installed.

If you qualify, you will get:

• £1,300 off an air-to-water heat pump system,
• £2,000 off a biomass boiler system,
• £2,300 off a ground source or water source heat pump system.

Additionally, a grant of £600 is offered towards the cost of solar thermal systems for all households including on-grid properties. These vouchers must be redeemed in 3 months or by 31st of March, whichever is sooner.

Full eligibility criteria are as follows,

• You live in England, Scotland or Wales.
• For heat pump and biomass boiler grants, the new system must be the property’s main source of heating. This is not required for solar thermal grants.
• The property is owned by you or you have permission from the house owner to install the new system.
• The product and installer must be certified under Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or Solar Keymark.
• The property already has basic energy efficiency measures installed where possible – such as loft insulation up to 250 mm and cavity wall insulation
• You have all the necessary planning and environmental permissions as appropriate.
• You must have had a Green Deal assessment before submitting a claim for the payment of your voucher.

Please follow go to the link below to find out more about RHPP and apply for the funding.

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Getting-money-back/Renewable-Heat-Premium-Payment-Phase-2

Free Trees for Colchester Residents

 

The 8th Trees for Years Initiative sponsored by OfficeIS will be held at Rowan House Council Offices Car Park off Sheepen Road between 10am - 1pm on Saturday 1st February 2014.

Free trees will be given away to Borough Residents, Community Groups, Schools and Parish Council’s.  Residents can collect up to 3 plants per household and up to 15 per community group, School and Parish Council.
 
The following species will be available.
 
Raspberry canes
Blackcurrant canes
Gooseberry bush
Cotoneaster franchetii
Acer campestre – Field Maple
Prunus padus – Bird Cherry
Betula pendula – Silver Birch
Corylus avellana – Hazel cob nut
Cornus alba ‘Siberica’ – Red Stem dogwood
Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ – Yellow stem Dogwood
 
2014 bare root trees/fruit bushes will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Trees must be planted on private property and postcodes will be recorded to monitor the distribution.
Cultivation guidance will be available so that trees can be selected, taking into account the ultimate size and form of mature trees.
Remember to bring a bag to put your trees in.
 
Please visit  http://www.colchester.gov.uk/treesforyears2014 for more information and frequently asked questions on the Trees for Years Initiative.

Colchester Farmers’ Market 7th February 2014

 

Just a quick reminder to let you know that the next Colchester Farmers Market will be on Friday 7th February at Colchester Arts Centre, Church St, Colchester (CO1 1NF) from 9.30am to 12.30pm

Refreshments will be provided by Caroline Rhys-Lewis  

Stalls for this market will be:  

Caroline Rhys-Lewis -  Teas, Coffee, soft drinks & Cakes
Great Wigborough Traditional Meats - Beef, Pork, Lamb, mutton, chicken. bacon, gammon ham  & eggs
Daymans Hill Farm - Apples, Pears & Fruit Juices
Pears - Honey
Keepers Nursery - Seasonal Vegetables
The Gamekeeper's Daughter - Wild rabbit/game pies/pasties & pates
Tony's Fresh Fish - Fish (weather dependant catch)
Totham Bangers - Sausages and burgers
Wild Taste - Wild Food & Kitchenalia
Willies Chillies - Chilli based Products inc jams & sauces
Wonky Label Preserves - Jams, marmalades. marinades, goats cheese & olives

Guest Stalls (Craft)

Colne Valley Soap Makers - Soap (specialist handmade luxury soap for presents and every day use) 
NYR Organic -   Environmentally friendly Health and Beauty products
Loulous Handmade Craft
TESS - Tendring Enterprise Support School

We will also be collecting unwanted mobile phones and empty printer cartridges (not Epson or compatibles)  to raise funds for en-form

Unfortunately, we cannot avoid the fact that there are sometimes last minute, emergency cancellations.  

Find us also on our Colchester Farmers Market facebook page

Wivenhoe Farmers’ Market – 18th January 2014

 

The next Wivenhoe Farmers' Market is on Saturday 18th January

Please note the time has changed to 9.30am to 12.30pm. We also have a new cake stall in addition to a number of recently new stalls and the welcome return of Tony's Fresh Fish.

This months market will at the Congregational Hall in the High Street, CO7 9AB from 9.30am to 12.30pm. 

Refreshments will be available from the Transition Cafe and Barbeque run by Transition Town Wivenhoe with cakes and savoury items available from individual stallholders.

Our stallholders for this market will be:

Food Stalls -

Dayman's Hill Farm -  apples, pears, fruit juice (Recently New stall)
Joanna Neep - cakes (New stall)
Keepers Nursery - Fresh Vegetables and eggs
Primrose Pork - All meats frozen Pork, Beef, Lamb, Chickens - sausages, meat pies, pork pies, bacon, cheese, ham, eggs
The Shotgun Chef- tarts,quail eggs,game pies (Recently New stall)
Tony's Fresh Fish - Fish (weather dependent catch) (Returns this month)
Wild Taste - Wild Food & Kitchenalia (Recently New stall)
Willies Chillies - Chillies
Willow Farm - Biodynamic pork, beef & eggs and Organic chicken
Wonky Label Preserves - Jams, marmalade, marinades, goats cheese and olives

Craft & Local Trader Stalls

Christine Mckissop- hand made crafts
Colne Soap Makers - Soaps
Kippers Keys - key cutting, tool sharpening
Sylvia's Plants- garden plants
TESS - Tendring Enterprise Support School
Dr Bike will be available to check your bikes

As a customer service, we will be selling Local Honey from Knights Farm in Tendring.

Unfortunately, we cannot avoid the fact that there are sometimes last minute, emergency cancellations. 

We will also be collecting any unwanted printer cartridges (not Epson), mobile phones, CD's and DVD's to raise cash for en-form.

Green Christmas

 

Every year, Christmas places a heavy burden on the earths resources and our environment. However, it is the major festival in Britain, offering lots of fun to millions. We don’t want to be killjoys but we would like to reduce its environmental impact.

Luckily, with a little thought and a bit of information we can significantly reduce its impact, save money and actually have more fun.

On this page you can find out how to reduce the waste you produce over the festive season and recycle what you do produce, as well as how to save energy (from the increased use of all those new electrical appliances) and money and have a green Christmas!

Here's our top tips for a green Christmas in Colchester.

Christmas Cards

• Why not send an e-card instead of a paper card this year. This is becoming increasingly popular, with senders sometimes donating the money they have saved on cards and postage to a favourite charity. Send a free ecard now
• When Christmas is over don't just throw your old Christmas Cards away - recycle them. Why not help the Woodland Trust or Forest Stewardship Council by recycling all your old Christmas Cards through the recycling bins at branches of Marks and Spencer until 31st January 2014  and Sainsburys until 14th January 2014.
• If this is to much effort for you, just pop them in your kerbside paper collection.
• Don't forget to keep a handful to make your own gift tags for next year.

Christmas Tree

• If you buy a real Christmas Tree make sure you buy it from a sustainable source. For suppliers of UK-grown sustainable Christmas trees check out www.christmastree.org.uk. Try to buy it from a local producer.
• When Christmas is over recycle your real tree by cutting it up and putting it in with your green waste kerbside collection. Alternatively, if you are visiting the zoo see if they want it to use in the animal enclosures. Otherwise, you can recycle it at your local Household Recycling Centre.

Christmas Dinner and all that food and drink

• Buy local, seasonal, winter vegetables (these include sprouts, carrots, cabbage, leeks, onions, parsnips, swede, potatoes and nuts such as walnuts and chestnuts). Visit your local Farmers' Market or Farm shop and pick up some quality local produce to give yourself a treat at Christmas. Find your local market or producer at www.localfoodharvest.org
• For those foods where you can't buy local choose Fairtrade, organic fruit, nuts and chocolate (visit http//:www.fairtrade.org.uk for a list of Fairtrade product in your shops)
• Buy bottles of wine with real corks. Not a single tree is cut down in their production – just a small part of the bark is removed leaving the tree alive. In fact insisting on real cork helps maintain one of the most environmentally friendly industries possible. It provides essential employment for the people who work in the cork forests of the Mediterranean and helps to maintain vital habitats for the endangered wildlife of these forests such as the Iberian lynx, Spanish Imperial eagle and the Barbary deer

Buying Presents

• Don't buy useless presents that the recipients don't want. What about taking them out for a meal, the cinema or buying a season ticket for the local football team or local zoo for a present to remember. Better than another pair of socks.
• Try and buy environmentally friendly and useful gifts. What about a bike instead of some electronic game that is discarded on boxing day. Or something very useful but unusual for your elderly relatives like cavity wall insulation that makes a real difference to there quality of life.
• We are all a little time poor these days so why not give a little time instead of money. Use your imagination but what about offering a foot or head massage, makeovers, dinner or the washing up.

Unwanted Presents

• Give all your unwanted presents along with old clothes, toys etc that may have been replaced to local charity shops or Community Group or on giveortake, freegle or sell them on ebay.

Recycle all your Christmas waste

• At Christmas thousands of extra drink cans and bottles are produced. Don't just throw them away. Make sure you recycle all your glass bottles, cans, aluminium foil, paper and cardboard through your kerbside collection scheme or recycling banks. If you use the recycling banks please remember they are normally overflowing during the festive period so it would be helpful if you could spread your visit to the banks over a longer period.
• Recycle your corks and perforated bottle tops (the type used on beer bottles) at en-form.

Stamps

• Save your old Stamps - It won't be long before Christmas cards start arriving through the post. This year tear off the old stamp and give it to charity. Many charities, schools, churches and clubs save old stamps which they sell for money. You can hand them in at many of the towns charity shops.

Save Energy at Christmas

Christmas is a time of particularly high energy consumption. The whole house is heated as extra family members return for the holidays. Lights, televisions and stereos are left on and cooking appliances are used more heavily. Not to mention the energy needed to power all those electric gadgets bought as presents.

Being careful with your energy usage at this time of year can save your household considerable money.  Visit the Energy section to find out how to save energy at home.

• Many gadgets bought for Christmas require batteries, which cost money and need to be disposed of. Try to buy things that don't need batteries but can be run from the mains or are rechargeable. If you have to buy batteries make sure they are rechargeable ones, preferably Nimh – they last a lot longer and save you money into the bargain.
• You could also purchase gifts that use renewable energy, for example solar powered (or wind up) radio's and torches and mobile phone chargers.  

How to have a Green Christmas:

http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/Green_Christmas.html

http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/acatalog/green-christmas.html

http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-have-a-green-christmas/

http://eartheasy.com/give_sustainchristmas.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8426269.stm

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

Green Open Homes Day–Opportunities for Business

 

Our Green Open Homes project allows us to work with Businesses, particularly local businesses involved in installing or providing environmental services to local homes. We are inviting you to become involved in this project in the following ways:

1. Suggesting Suitable Properties 

Do you have clients in Essex who have carried out any environmental improvements to their property and may be prepared to show them to the public on Green Open Day. If you do, could you put them in touch with us. They will not be committed to anything at this stage. This may be an opportunity for you to promote your services if you have been responsible for the improvements. Obviously a referral from a satisfied client is the best form of advertising. You may be able to persuade your clients to take part by offering them an incentive if new clients are referred to you. Although a super fantastic environmental house would be nice we are also very interested in having ordinary houses with modest improvements as part of the scheme to inspire the general public.

2. Sponsorship and Advertising

We are hoping our funding bid is successful but even if it is we still need to raise some funds ourselves. This means that there may be both opportunities for Sponsorship and Advertising (for example the trail leaflet, website etc.).

3. Discount Vouchers

You may wish to promote your services by offering Discount vouchers to visitors following the Green Open Day Trail.

We would like to include local and particularly environmentally conscious Companies in this project and appreciate the need for you to get something back in return.

If any of the above ideas are of interest or you have other ideas or you would just like to be kept informed of how the project progresses please let us know.

More Information :

http://colchester.greenopenhomes.net/

http://www.superhomes.org.uk/

Project details

Frequently Asked Questions

Volunteer Opportunity

Opportunities for Business

Press Release

Colchester Farmers Market

 

We have been advised that Thumbs up productions will be filming at the Colchester Farmers Market this Friday 1st November 2013 for a new TV series on Channel 4. We have been asked to advise our customers of this fact and that they may be filmed. Please read the notice from Thumbs Up Productions.

Any customers that want to come to the market but do not wish to be filmed please let us know before entering and we will try and sneak you in with a blanket over your head or something.

We are sure they will be discreet when filming but we apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

-----------------------------------------

Thumbs Up Productions are currently filming in this area.

Please note there is a possibility you will be in the background of filming.

By entering this area you agree to your image to be used in all media, worldwide in perpetuity.

Thanks

Thumbs Up Productions

0207 902 9880

Colchester Green Homes Open Day (New Project for 2014)

We will be running a new project similar to the Open Gardens scheme or Heritage Open Days with other Community Groups in the area.

We are looking for Householders who have undertaken various environmental home improvements and are willing to show their homes to members of the public to encourage them to consider similar improvements to their own properties.

We are now actively looking for householders who have carried out some environmental improvements  to their property and would be willing to Open them up to the public and discuss what impact the improvements have had.

We are looking for all property types but particularly those that are ordinary properties with modest improvements. The main point of the project is to show ordinary members of the public what they can do to their own homes and what difference it will make to their lifestyle.

What we need at the moment are ideas for the event, volunteers and suitable properties. Please post your ideas to this blog and if you are interested in being a volunteer or have a suitable property you are willing to make available e-mail us at greenopendays@en-form.org.uk

Preliminary ideas:

Geographic area: Colchester and surrounding area (20 mile radius)  Hopefully a property from all Colchester zones and surrounding districts

When : Weekends throughout May 2014 from 3rd May to 26th  May 2014. 

Includes: Wide range of houses and also Community Buildings, Businesses, Schools (eco schools, 6th form college) if we can find some.

• some overview talks/workshops about possible planning issues and the technology itself, i.e. best technology, mixing technologies approximate paybacks etc. Happy to lead on that if appropriate. Lead John Buchanan
• Can we piggyback with other events (when is Colchester in bloom), Culver Centre Sustainability day (do allotments have open day)

Publicity:

Organising – Recruit homes, volunteers etc.  Press release, social media, direct contact, through companies e those that provide PV etc.

Event : Free Green homes Trail leaflet. Website, event website press release, social media , could we get County Standard to do a 4 page pullout and map

Sponsorship Opportunities PV Companies etc.

Partners: Transition Town Colchester, ECODIY. Colchester Borough Council

Partners Potential: Transition Town Wivenhoe,  Apricot Centre, Colchester Borough Homes

More Information :

http://colchester.greenopenhomes.net/

http://www.superhomes.org.uk/

Project details

Frequently Asked Questions

Volunteer Opportunity

Opportunities for Business

Press Release

Check your energy Deal Now

 

With the first of the Energy Companies to raise their prices by 8% today, now is a good time to review your energy needs for the next 12 months or even longer. (Long term fixed rates still available)

This coincides nicely with the Councils Big Community Switch (see below). Its worthwhile registering as you are not under any obligation to switch but will be advised of the terms they have negotiated.

You have until Tuesday. Do it this weekend.

Alternatively you may wish to check out the market for yourself using a comparison service. We like Eneryhelpline (not least because if you eventually take up an offer from this website, we receive a donation at no cost to yourself and we need the money). All the sites seem to offer the same deals.

Check it out at Energyhelpline

 

Join the Big Community Switch for possible fuel bill savings

With rising prices of food, travel and services, Colchester residents can now see if they can cut their home energy bills by switching provider in the Big Community Switch.

The Council is encouraging residents across the borough to register before 18 November to be in with a chance of being offered savings.

Signing-up must be done through the easy, no obligation online form at www.colchester.gov.uk/bigcommunityswitch

An email address, along with a recent bill, showing annual home energy usage and tariff, are needed by all residents to sign up.

Shortly after the national auction on November 19th 2013, all residents who have registered will be contacted by the organiser, iChoosr, with details of their household’s offer.  Savings are not guaranteed but for those offered a better deal who then decide to switch, all will be moved collectively to the winning energy company by early December.

Residents can help friends and family without internet access or an email account to save too.  Up to five households can be registered on one email address and the offer details then passed on following the auction.

Recognising not all residents have access to a computer or an email account, a range of support is now available both from the Council and local organisations so more residents can benefit.

From the Council’s dedicated 24 hour automated information line – 01206 507555, to a step-by-step email set-up fact sheet, and information on other ways to cut energy use.

Residents needing computer access or support with basic IT skills can make an appointment at the Signpost Resource Centre at Greenstead Library to help create an email or use their computers.  Alternatively why not sign up for a basic IT course at The Colchester Learning Shop in the town centre.  Learner sessions can be used to set up an email account and register interest in the Big Community Switch.

Self-serve computers are also available at the Council’s Customer Service Centre and the borough’s libraries, subject to availability, for residents to register themselves. 

Click here for information on what help is available and where.

Timetable

Register by: November 18th 2013
Auction will be held on: November 19th 2013
Offer Emails and Letters sent out to residents after: November 27th 2013
Deadline to send you confirmation that you would like to switch: January 13th 2014

New Food Recycling Service Launches in Colchester

 

For all residents of Colchester, the Councils new Food Recycling service is about to start.

Check when your Food waste Recycling Kit will arrive Click here to see when deliveries will take place

We would obviously encourage you to reduce your food waste in the first instance and then compost in your own garden, see www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

For anything left over please support this council scheme.

Details from the Council:

Thanks to the Council’s rollout of its weekly food waste collection service Colchester residents will soon be able to recycle all food waste. 

The borough’s more than 62,000 homes already receiving a kerbside recycling and rubbish collection will have a new food waste recycling kit delivered from 14 October.  Urban streets will have deliveries first, followed by rural areas up to 22 November. 

Click here to see when deliveries will take place in each area and for more information about the new collection. 

Residents are encouraged to look out for the kit, delivered to the doorstep, and start recycling straight away, ready for their first collection the following week.  By Friday 29 November, weekly collections from all these homes will have begun. 

Dairy products, meat, fish, bones, fruit and vegetables, eggs shells, bread, tea bags and coffee can all be placed in the lockable bins, helping residents reduce their black bag rubbish and associated smells.

The kit will make recycling all cooked and uncooked food quick and easy.  Each will contain a roll of approved compostable kitchen bin liners and recycling information.  All residents not already part of the successful food waste collection trial will also receive a small kitchen and larger external bin.

Collections will take place in Blue and Green recycling weeks on each resident’s existing recycling and rubbish day.  Adding food waste collections alongside paper, card, glass, cans, aerosols, foil, clothes and shoes, mixed plastics and garden waste, will make it easy for residents to recycle more.

Residents choosing to keep using liners to contain food waste in their kitchen caddy will be able to get affordable rolls of the approved, compostable liners from local stockists across the borough.  A network of retailers and other outlets has been set up in a partnership led by the Council to support both residents and local businesses. 

Everything collected will be turned into green energy for heat and electricity.  By recycling residents are making a valuable contribution to creating a greener borough. 

Residents in flats using communal bins will be able to start recycling both food waste and mixed plastics when these new collections are rolled out further in early 2014.

en-form's New Blog

We have been undergoing quite a few changes at en-form in recent months and reviewing the way we provide information. 

In addition to our 2 Yahoo Groups we have set up a range of Facebook accounts and a Twitter account. 

Unfortunately, our website is a bit old and broken at the moment and we are currently moving a lot of the information to our NEW BLOG. This offers us more flexibility in the short term whilst we review our website. 

The new Blog can be found at www.enformuk.blogspot.co.uk Please take a look at the new site. You can follow updates to the blog by e-mail and support us by being a follower (this helps with funding bids). 

We will continue to review our online services and will be sending all our followers/supporters a short online survey shortly so that you can tell us how you want these services to work.

You can find a full list of all our Social Media and online services on our Blog under Contact us. 

You may wish to subscribe to these by clicking the various links. 

Your support is greatly appreciated and as already stated the more people that subscribe to these services the better as it helps with our funding bids. Every Little Helps.

Save Money Save Energy Course £20

Please find below details of a course that may be of interest to some of you. Breifly

• course costs £20 but includes overnight accommodation and all meals and refreshments.
• Its in Chester
• Help with travel costs is available to individuals travelling long distances. (If you do go please let us know in case travel costs can be shared)

If you want to go on a course but are not a member of a group let us know and we may be able to help (info@en-form.org.uk)

**SPECIAL OFFER PRICE - JUST £20 PER PERSON**

Save Money, Save Energy
9-10 October 2013
Trainer - Brian Whitington

With winter starting to creep up on us, now is a good time to look at how best to improve the energy efficiency of your home or community building to help keep you warm as well as saving money on your energy bills.

This course will look at how to undertake an energy audit on your home or community building and identify ways in which you can improve efficiency .

You will also be encouraged to think about how you can promote the ideas to your local community.

Find out about what practical help is out there and what funding is available to help take your ideas forward and how to apply for grants - Including the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (Free money for energy efficiency!)

You will look at example devices such as smart meters which can be used to help monitor your energy usage and practical examples of insulation which can be replicated cheaply and easily back home.

As we at Trafford Hall, are striving to become carbon neutral, the building is used as a real life example of what can be achieved, you will be given a tour of the building and grounds to look at what practices have been put in place.

This course will be fun, practical, and effective in helping you keep those energy bills down.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE

"Great tutor, passionate on subject, very genuine enthusiasm, very knowledgeable"

"Very informative and easy to understand, encouraged to take part in the training"

The cost for this course for community volunteers is just £20.00. This price includes accommodation and all meals and refreshments for the duration of courses.
Help with travel costs is available to individuals travelling long distances.
On completion of the course, groups can apply for a grant of £500 to help with a community project.

If you would like to talk to a member of the training team then please email Gary Dutton(g.dutton@traffordhall.com) or call 01244 300 246.

COMMUNITY FREE-PAINT! Celebrate 20 Years of Paint Re-use with our Great Giveaway

A project that collects and re-distributes leftover and surplus paint to help brighten the lives of others is offering community groups the chance to win FREE paint as part of a competition entitled ‘Getting Colour from Every Drop’.

Community RePaint Colchester is calling on community groups from across the area to send in ideas for painting projects that will improve the wellbeing of local people or the appearance of local places. The scheme is also offering people who pop in for paint between 15 and 21 July 2013 the chance to pick up fantastic freebies in honour of Community RePaint’s 20th anniversary – with the first 10 walking away with a superb decorating kit.

To be in with a chance of winning at least 20 litres (that’s the equivalent of four BIG tins) of paint for your project, community groups should submit an idea, along with a photograph of the proposed site, and a few details about how the paint will help. Application forms and terms and conditions are available from Community RePaint Colchester. Proposals can be artistic or practical; of benefit to old or young; pretty as a picture or for simply perking up premises!

“The aim of this initiative is to demonstrate how Community RePaint can make a real difference to the lives of local people,” said Andrew Wilkinson, Manager of Community RePaint Colchester. “Community RePaint offers a simple, local solution to the problem of paint going to waste. By re-using it in our communities we can bring a splash of colour to the lives of those who need it most, and help to protect the planet by preventing perfectly good paint from ending up in landfill.”

If your community group needs paint, no matter how much or how little, get in touch with Colchester RePaint on 01206 367776 or www.repaintessex.org.uk.

‘Getting colour from every drop’

Dulux has supported Community RePaint for the last 20 years and is helping the Network to celebrate its 20^th Anniversary by making two short films about paint re-use to promote the work of Community RePaint schemes. The first of the films ‘A Tale of Two Cans’ is available to view here: http://www.communityrepaint.org.uk/

“Dulux is proud to sponsor this fantastic network and is grateful for all the work each scheme does to promote the potential of paint re-use,” said Paul Murgett, Environmental Projects Co-ordinator, Akzo Nobel.

In 2012, householders, traders and paint manufacturers donated 387,495 litres of paint to Community RePaint schemes, which then distributed 218,364 litres to some 2,214 community groups and 17,296 individuals, providing 190 jobs and 1,274 volunteer and training opportunities.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

RePaint Colchester

01206 367776

www.repaintessex.org.uk repaint@btinternet.com

Community RePaint Network

0845 180 0501

07725 760 082

repaint@resourcefutures.co.uk

www.communityrepaint.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. What is Community RePaint? Community RePaint schemes collect left over or surplus paint and re-distribute it to individuals, families and communities in need, improving the wellbeing of people and the appearance of places across the UK. In doing so Community RePaint provides social, environmental and economic benefits.

2. 20 years of paint re-use: Community RePaint will celebrate its 20^th anniversary during the week 15 – 21 July 2013. Activities to mark this milestone are planned for throughout the year and include competitions and giveaways at participating schemes.

3. Who runs Community RePaint? Community RePaint is managed by Resource Futures, an employee-owned, non-profit-distributing environmental consultancy based in Bristol. The Network has been sponsored by Dulux since its inception in 1993 and forms part of Akzo Nobel’s ongoing sustainability programme.

4. How to contact Community RePaint: www.communityrepaint.org.uk includes a postcode search, which can be used to locate the nearest point for finding or donating paint. Alternatively, phone: 0845 180 0501 or email: repaint@resourcefutures.co.uk

Farmers Market Celebrates 10 years

 

The Colchester Farmers Market celebrates its 10th Birthday on Friday the 5th July.

Andrew Wilkinson of en-form who runs the Farmers Market said ‘At its peak we had 28 stalls and over 900 customers which coincided with the great interest in local food issues a few years ago. In common with the rest of the economy and other local companies the Farmers Market has not done quite so well in recent years as customers have had to tighten their belts. However there is still a wide range of locally produced food available, not only your basic fruit, veg, meat and fish but specialist and more unusual treats to try’.

There is still a lot of interest in buying quality locally produced food particularly in the wake of the Horsemeat scandal.  Although  our local Farmers have had a tough time recently with challenging weather conditions and many well loved local traders have had to give up recently the Farmers Market has every intention of being here for another 10 years.

The Farmers Market will be held on Friday the 5th July at the Colchester Arts Centre from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.