Community owned enterprises across the country were asked to take part in an exciting intitiative that aimed to help people to live in a more sustainable way by focusing on the small actions we can each take in our daily lives towards achieving bigger changes in the wider world.
Galleries Shop & Café took part – the programme has now finished. You can still see much interesting information about it at the Greener Together website.
What remains for us in Freshford and Limpley Stoke is a group of interested individuals locally who organised some recent green community events – first the popular Apple Day in October, then the Going Solar info evening in January (see news item). This group still exists – email us if you are interested in its activities, or in joining in! Contact Loulou Brouard on 07702057314, or email her on loubrouard@hotmail.com.
Aims of the Greener Together initiative
It was a study of how people can reduce their carbon footprint, both as individual households and as a community, focusing on three main areas – waste, energy and transport. Volunteers, otherwise known as “Pioneers”, were asked to fill in an online questionnaire and then choose from a selection of practical ideas that they then pledge to undertake over the next six months in order to reduce their household carbon emissions.
Most of the ideas were simple and can actually save you money too. And it was an opportunity for us to come together as a group so that we can share ideas and resources and help each other. As an added bonus, when you signed up as a volunteer, the community received funding for local environmental projects and events. We were awarded £500 through this which helped us mount our Apple Day and Going Solar. We still have some money in the kitty for more events.
If you would like to find out more contact Loulou Brouard 07702057314, or email her on loubrouard@hotmail.com.
