Updates from Going Green Together - Issue #17
Environmental news, events and opportunities for February
Welcome to this month’s Going Green Together newsletter. Our campaign supports VCSE organisations in the North East and Cumbria on their journey towards Net Zero.
Latest from Going Green Together
Our new series of open webinars starts this month with Communicating the Climate Crisis — a session on how to use marketing techniques to promote environmental news to audiences, get them involved in your green projects, and tackle misinformation. This will be held at 2pm on Wednesday 8th February. Sign up now. You can also fill out a pre-event survey to let us know your questions ahead of time.
The next Climate and Carbon Literacy course will start on the 28th February. This short course is a great way to improve your organisation’s knowledge on carbon emissions. Reserve your place at 50% discount.
If you have any events coming up and you'd like us to come along to give a presentation about the Going Green Together campaign, drop us an email at hello@goinggreentogether.org.
Take part in biodiversity surveys
Surveying plants and animals is a good way to keep track of the health of ecosystems, to see where nature needs help. Many surveys are open to help from the public, such as the Natural History Society of Northumberland’s Citizen Science programme.
Read more on the Going Green Together website.
Community grants: Spring 2023 - Tees Valley Nature Partnership
The Spring 2023 Community Grant Scheme is a program which aims to see a minimum of 5 grants be given with funds of up to £2000 to community organisations across the Tees Valley region that actively promote outdoor engagement and enrichment. Applications close 4th March. Find out how to apply on their website.
UK government allows ‘emergency’ use of banned bee-harming pesticide just days after EU tightens protections - Durham Wildlife Trust
The government has announced that for the third year in a row, it will permit the use of a banned pesticide on sugar beet in England in 2023. A single teaspoon of neonicotinoid is enough to deliver a lethal dose to 1.25 billion bees. Read Durham Wildlife Trust’s response.
Exciting environmental work placements open for young people across the UK - Groundwork
New to Nature is enabling young people aged 18-25 from under-represented backgrounds to undertake paid work placements across the natural environment and landscape sector. Those who are from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled or from low-income homes are encouraged to apply. Find out more on Groundwork’s website.
Wild 2023 on the cards for Walker eco warriors - Northumberland Wildlife Trust
A group of 26 youth club members from St Anthony’s Youth Education and Support service in Newcastle has received a £4,570 grant from leading educational charity The Ernest Cook Trust as part of its Green Influencers Scheme. Find out more on Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s website.
Farming announcement a welcome step in the right direction - Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
Defra has published more details on the Environmental Land Management schemes (ELM) that farmers have been asking for. Whilst many questions remain, The Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, and The National Trust welcome a significant step in the right direction. Read Tees Valley Wildlife Trust’s analysis.
Ninety-five organisations call for the introduction of a social tariff - NEA
In an open letter sent to the Chancellor, 95 Charities and non-profit organisations across the UK have joined together to call for more targeted support in the form of a social tariff for the energy market to help older and disabled households heat their homes. Read more on NEA’s website.
Community growing and food network meeting - Durham Community Action
Tuesday 7th February, 2.00pm, online
This network is for community organisations in County Durham that run, or are interested in running, community food and growing projects. This session will showcase local projects. Find out more and register through Durham Community Action’s website.
Communicating the climate crisis with ACT Climate Labs - Going Green Together
Wednesday 8th February, 2.00pm, online
Learn about how to communicate effectively about the climate crisis and tackle misinformation with ACT Climate Labs, in partnership with Going Green Together and Catalysing Innovation. Register through the VONNE website.
Understanding carbon offsetting - CAfS
Thursday 9th February, 2.00pm, online
With the global focus on rapidly cutting emissions to net zero, offsetting has an important role to play in achieving that challenging ambition. But how effective is offsetting? Does it run the risk of green-washing? Reserve your space to learn all this and more through the CAfS website.
How to set up a local sustainability group - CAfS
Tuesday 14th February, 10.00am, online
This workshop is for community groups seeking to become a formal group, with information and advice from Cumbria CVS and Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership. Register through the CAfS website.
Climate and Carbon Literacy training
Tuesday 28th February and 7th March, 1.15pm, online
Following the selling-out of our January course in Carbon Literacy, in partnership with Cumbria Action for Sustainability, our next course commencing at the end of February is now available for booking. This short course is the perfect opportunity to get to grips with carbon footprints and reducing your emissions, and is 50% off. Book your place through the CAfS website.
Dates for the diary
Upcoming climate campaigns:
World Wetlands Day, Thursday 2nd February
Fairtrade Fortnight, Monday 27th February to Sunday 12th March
World Wildlife Day, Friday 3rd March
Food Waste Action Week, Monday 6th to Sunday 12th March
Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date and see what actions your organisation can take to get involved.
Applications close Friday 17th February for the Green Match Fund - Big Give
The Green Match Fund is designed for charities working on environmental issues. This is an opportunity to make an extraordinary difference to some of the biggest challenges facing our planet today. Find out more and apply through Big Give’s website.
Capital community grant for County Durham - Believe Housing
Grants of £10,000 to £30,000 are available to support community investment programmes and to deliver innovative projects, including projects involving a greener, fairer future. Applications close on Friday the 24th February. Read more and find out how to apply on Believe Housing’s website.
Connecting nature in a fragmented world - UN Environment Programme
Ecological connectivity is a conservation practice which allows wild species to move freely between ecosystems, improving their resilience to threats and protecting biodiversity. Read about the impacts of ecological connectivity and how it can be achieved on the UN Environment Programme’s website.
North East active travel strategy: public consultation - Transport North East
The North East Active Travel Strategy aims to ensure that over half of all short journeys in the region will be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2035 – good news for the environment, public health and the local economy. Transport North East are inviting members of the public to have a say in the proposals by completing a survey. Read more and complete the survey on their website.
And finally... join us
Join the Going Green Together movement today – to learn, take your first steps in climate action, and share your successes with the community to help inspire others. Connect with us and others by joining our network.
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Going Green Together is a VONNE Climate Action Alliance initiative hosted by VONNE. Registered Company in England Number: 4061592. Registered Charity Number: 1084083