Welcome to our October newsletter! This month we have

1. Events coming up:
2. Ro’s Reflections: love, struggle and choice
3. Politics & Campaigning by Tom Bragg
4. October Gardening: Keep Planning Ahead by Keith Jordan
5. “Must Try Harder” by Martin Roach (House DIY)
6. Ask Andy: mini heaters and glazing film
7. Opportunities

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Carbon Conversations

Carbon Conversations is an inspiring, practical 6-session course on low-carbon living. It was recently featured in the Guardian as one of the 20 best climate change solutions.

• based on the psychology of change
• emotionally engaging
• technically rigorous
• up to date, attractive handbook, games and materials

Led by trained volunteer facilitators, groups of 6-8 members meet in homes, community centres, workplaces or other venues. The six 2-hour meetings engage people both emotionally and practically, helping them overcome the barriers often associated with making large carbon reductions. Members explore the basic climate change problem, their responses to it, their ideas for a low-carbon future and the four key areas of the footprint – home energy, travel, food and other consumption. Most members make reductions of 1 tonne CO2 during the course and develop plans to halve their footprints over a longer period.
“This course is brilliant – it doesn’t preach, it doesn’t tell you what to do and it doesn’t make you feel guilty. It asks stimulating questions, provides clear information and fun exercises and then helps you make your own decisions about what you can do.”

Carbon Conversations – Cambridge and South Cambs

Enrol now for our January groups – only £15 including:

• 128-page course handbook;
• opportunity to borrow books and equipment;
• membership of our ongoing Low-Carbon Network.

To enrol, please email or phone the office to check availability in the group you want, then send your cheque for £15.00, made payable to Cambridge Carbon Footprint, to Cambridge Carbon Footprint, CityLife Social Enterprise Centre, 182-190 Newmarket Rd, Cambridge, CB5 8HE. 01223 971353. info@cambridgecarbonfootprint.org
All groups run for 5 fortnightly sessions, with a 6th follow-up session 4-6 weeks later.
In Cambridge:
Group A: Tues fortnightly, 7:30-9:30pm beg. 12th Jan, Newnham area
Group B: Wed fortnightly, 7:30-9:30pm beg. 27th Jan, off Mill Rd
Group C: Thurs fortnightly, 7:30-9:30pm beg. 21st Jan, near Grafton Centre
Group D: Sat daytime, fortnightly, Barnwell Area. A group for parents. Babies and toddlers under 2 yrs old are welcome to join us. Contact the office for start date and details.
Within a faith perspective:
Christian: Thurs fortnightly, 7:00-9:00pm beg. 21st Jan, Castle Street Methodist Church.
Other areas:
Gamlingay: beginning January. Contact on ccgamlingay@hotmail.co.uk for more details or to register.
Histon: Wed fortnightly, 7:30-9:30pm beginning January 13th.

No group that suits you? Want a group in your workplace or organisation? Let us know and we’ll see what we can arrange.

Carbon Conversations – National

Carbon Conversations is now available to organisations outside Cambridge. In order to use the model and the materials you need to complete a 2-day facilitator training and sign a letter of agreement with us. The next training takes place on February 6th-7th in Cambridge. You can download the application form with full details here.

If you would like us to bring training to you, please contact us to discuss possibilities.
Over the coming year we hope to establish local hubs of people using the materials, local training and an online learning environment to support facilitators and participants. Watch this space for details.
Single copies of the Carbon Conversations handbook are available to people who would like to get a flavour of the materials and approach, price £15, including p&p. Multiple copies of the handbook, the games and other materials are available as a package once you have completed the training. You can view the games here.

The materials

• Carbon Conversations: 128 page course member’s handbook with detailed back-up information, ‘at-home’ activities’, resource lists and FAQs, illustrated throughout with stories taken from our story-collecting and Akashi projects.
• 3 interactive games for group discussion: Low-carbon house, Travel dilemmas and Food footprints, each on a brightly coloured, cloth board with laminated playing cards, instructions and players notes.
• The facilitators’ guide: 40 page booklet providing guidance on the emotional dynamics of a group, on the psychology of climate change and on the course content, including outline programmes for each meeting.
• Guide to Setting up a Scheme: 12 page practical guide to using setting up a cascade of groups.
• Carbon calculator from the Centre for Alternative Technology, on CD, provides a base-line footprint for each participant.

Featured in the Manchester Report:

“…one of the most quietly inspiring presentations…” Ian Katz, the Guardian