Renew Wales Project Summary Introduction ‘ Renew Wales ‘ a practitioner led bid to the Sustainable Steps programme, delivered through the Big Fund, to help Welsh communities tackle the impact of climate change. The Development Trusts Association Wales (DTA Wales) in partnership with the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Arts Factory and a consortium of climate change practitioners across Wales have led the Renew Wales bid. Funding of ÂŁ620,000 has been awarded over 2 years through Sustainable Steps - a non-Lottery funding programme which is being delivered through the BIG Fund and is funded by money that has been dormant in bank and building society accounts across the UK for 15 years or more. Renew Wales will help 200 communities across Wales take action and respond to climate change through advice, training and mentoring support with particular focus on areas of fuel poverty, and people and communities of interest not previously involved in climate change activity . Activities will include developing community renewable energy resources, starting local food clubs, making land and buildings more sustainable and energy efficient, sustainable travel projects, establishing community owned enterprises and engaging schools and business in climate change action.
Renew Wales Aims To develop the capacity and capability of communities across Wales to take action on climate change by engaging communities that have taken little action to date in an innovative programme of advice, training and mentoring, led and delivered by a partnership of sustainable development, community energy and enterprise practitioners.
Our principles We aim to create a bid that holds true to the following principles: •
The mentoring and flexible support will be peer-to-peer – using the experience from community groups, practitioners and pioneers to support, inspire and engage a new wave of communities
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Support and train community leaders to make lasting change within their communities
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To build a network of support which can thrive after this initial two year funding
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To be open and inclusive – working with all groups, practitioners, agencies and professionals to transfer knowledge and build skills
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To support the development of a Vision and Action Plan for each community
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Facilitate the transfer of knowledge to as many communities as we can – providing training and the skills for the social and economic transition
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We will inspire, involve, listen, train, support, review, learn – building the programme on an action research model
Project overview The service will comprise the following parts: 1. 30 Local Co-ordinators will be recruited across Wales, from social enterprises, development trusts and not for profit organisations to engage and inspire communities to take part, coordinate resources and broker peer support. 2. Connection – through the co-ordinators the project will connect and open a dialogue with 200 community groups across Wales to motivate, inspire, and demonstrate what can be done (based on previous practical experience) and help communities make their own priorities for action through talks, workshops etc. 3. Action Plan - this will lead to the creation, by at least 150 communities , of an Action Plan which identifies the key priorities for community action on climate change and for building a more sustainable and resilient community.
4. Peer Practitioner led implementation – 50 Peer Practitioner Mentors will be signed up ,from the Project Partners and social enterprises across Wales ,to deliver the technical support to support 150 communities across Wales to deliver the top one or two priorities from their Action Plans. The technical support and the transfer of knowledge and skills coming from experienced community practitioners, Mentors and technical experts. 5. Training, knowledge and skills transfer will be facilitated, for Co-ordinators, Mentors and Community Leaders, by CAT. 6. Management, evaluation and feedback – assessing measurable outcomes and reviewing methodology and process, and informing government policy and other agencies with the learning and outcomes from the project. 7. Legacy – building a network that can continue and thrive after the end of the initial funding.
Contact Us For more information contact the Renew Wales team Robert Proctor Project Director 02920 190260 robertproctor@renewwales.org.uk or Carys Richards Project Administrator 02920 190260 carysrichards@renewwales.org.uk