People supporting people to take enterprising action against

‘People supporting people to take enterprising action against climate change’ 1

What we set out to achieve? Support community groups across Wales by developing the capacity and capability of these groups to take action on climate change. We want to accelerate change in Wales through Peer Mentors and a network of like minded groups and organisations. Renew Wales is supported through the Sustainable Steps programme delivered through the Big Fund and funded by money from dormant bank accounts. 2

A bottom up approach developed by community based practioners? 3

Renew Wales can support any type of climate change project? 4

25 Local Co-ordinators hosted by local community based organisations They register groups, support them to complete an action plan and identify appropriate support. http: //www. renewwales. org. uk/about-us/coordinator-profilesregions. asp 5

A diverse pool of over 50 Peer Mentors from existing Community Organisations and Social Enterprises They provide mentoring, training and technical support to community groups from people with first hand experience of delivering community projects. 7

A growing network through Social Media, local connections and events 8

What has Renew Wales achieved so far? • 25 co-ordinators recruited from a diverse range of organisations throughout Wales • A pool of 60+ Peer Mentors with a wide range of knowledge, skills and experience • Over 400 community groups signed up to receive support from Renew Wales • Over 250 of these have developed an action plan detailing what they want to achieve. • Over 200 of these have received or have identified support via peer mentors and other support organisations to take their projects forward. • Over 50% of Renew Wales funding goes directly to support the work of grass roots community based organisations and social enterprises through our co-ordinator and Peer Mentor network. 9

Key Findings? • Over 50% of the groups signed up to Renew Wales have not been involved in an environmental project before. • 80% of groups felt Renew Wales had helped stimulate ideas • 85% felt the support was good or very good. • 75% of groups felt their organisation was supported to develop and Renew helped their project to develop. • The amount of resource provided by Renew Co-ordinators is the equivalent to 3 or 4 Development Officers. Would it have been possible to reach such a diverse audience using a Development Officer model. • In 3 and a half years we have demonstrated that Renew Wales is effective at engaging groups and supporting an interesting range of community led projects. 10

What are the types of Groups Renew Wales has Supported? • A diverse range of groups receiving support from Renew Wales including: Sports Clubs Youth Groups Community Councils Faith Groups Community Transport Associations Schools Co-operatives Development Trusts Community Centres St John’s Ambulance Social Enterprises Scout Groups Local Action Groups BME groups 11

Renew Wales Model • Community groups will engage and learn more from their peer group – people from other communities who have travelled the same road – than they will from local government or full-time development officers. • Peer mentors should be rewarded (paid) for their commitment and support through their host social enterprises. • The programme is distributed – with the key Coordinator role fulfilled by experienced practitioners deeply connected within their locality. • Community activists are an underused and untapped resource for community empowerment and can reach beyond the “usual suspects” • It is community led - supporting the needs and aspirations of communities to make lasting change through their own efforts. • Sustainable Development is at the heart of everything we do and underpins all our activities. We support the Future Generations Act and will aim to support all groups to consider their role in achieving the seven (7) wellbeing goals. 12

Types of Projects • Community energy – A large variety of these projects are receiving valuable support to take these rewarding projects forward • Corwen Community Hydro Power is in the early stages of development has recently launched a pioneer Community Share Offer to take this project forward. • Renew Wales is also providing a piece of technical support to Canton Community Gardens. They have received funding to install PV’s but need to resolve a legal issue around the lease of the roof. Renew Wales is supporting them to resolve this. • Renew Wales has provided support to a number of community share offers collectively raising £ 1. 75 million. 13

Types of Projects • Community Building Improvements • The largest groups of projects are those seeking to make improvements to existing community buildings. As well as structural improvements many of these audits include a recommendation to increase use of the building, the more it is used the more efficient it becomes. • We have also supported a number of groups that are taking on the management of new assetts. For examples Swimming Pools in Narbeth and Harlech have received a wide range of mentor support from looking at renewable heating, energy efficiency, raising finance through community share offers to support on increasing use of the facilities. 14

Types of Projects • Awareness Raising • These are projects that were seeking to bring awareness of climate change and environmental projects to a new audience. • The O-Sum and Sprout project worked with a small group of young people to develop an animation and articles on climate change. They had mentor support for the film making and understanding some of the key issues and opportunities https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=1 vpbi. UFYDHw &list=UUP 5 C 3 NWhx. JC_8 u. XCgy. Mhiog • Renew also supported Pontyberem community council to develop an Energy Policy. 15

Types of Projects • Community Action • These tend to be ambitious projects with several different elements to them. It can include an energy generation aspect, community enterprise and direct action to prevent loss of habitat. • Examples include Maindee Action Group who are tackling food poverty and fuel poverty and have set up a food re-distribution project through Fareshare Cymru. • Friends of Castle Meadows are looking at making this area of land more resilient to climate change through, improving biodiversity, better access through the site and options for using the land for coppicing, food growing etc. 16

Types of Projects • Food Projects • These include community, school and enterprise projects to provide access to local food. One of the interesting projects in the early stages of development is Merthyr Real Food, who wish to establish a community shop. Renew Wales is providing advice and support around management structures and supporting the groups development. • Edible Ely is a project that is working with local people to help create a new edible garden. Through the Renew Wales mentor they have made links with other local organisations such as Cardiff Transition to support this project. 17

Types of Projects • Transport Projects • A group from the Knighton and Presteigne area have enquired about setting up a car sharing club accessing expertise from Mentors who run and set up existing schemes. • Waste Projects • The Green Glyncoch Community kerbside recycling project will receive valuable mentor support from Newport Wastesavers a social enterprise who deliver Newports Kerbside recycling service along with a number of other projects 18

Types of Projects • Marketing and Publicity • Renew Wales is able to support existing initiatives and help re-invigorate them. • In the case of South Powys LETS, a Renew Wales Mentor produced a report highlighting the features of successful local currency schemes. This led to the group looking at a more local model of delivery. • For Bikeability, Renew Wales is supporting the group with their business planning and marketing. . 19

Types of Projects • Adaptation • Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association want to be a trained and equipped volunteer force to be able to respond quickly and effectively to the effects of climate change on communities e. g. flooding. 20

Types of Projects • Collaborating • Egni Wales first PV Co-operative. • 11 of the projects involved in Renew Wales have worked together to develop a PV cooperative in South Wales raising £ 155, 000 through a community share offer. Seven community buildings are part of a Share Offer to install PV panels, providing free electricity to the groups involved and providing an income for the cooperative. Renew Wales has provided a key part of the support. This has involved completing Energy Performance Certificates for each of the buildings involved, supporting the development of the website and the share offer itself. . 21

What next? • Renew Wales has been awarded a further 2 years of funding to continue to deliver support to community groups and organisations until the end of March 2018 • During this time Renew Wales is aiming to engage a further 180 groups and support a number of existing groups with more mentor support. • Build on the success of Renew Wales and share learning to ensure the long term support of community led support for local action on climate change. • Join our online network and help share the good work you are doing with other organisations in the Network. 22

Robert Proctor Programme Director/Cyfarwyddwr Rhaglen 02920 190260 07805 924558 robertproctor@renewwales. org. uk www. renewwales. org. uk 2 3