We are very excited to announce that we have secured funding from the National Lottery to employ a coordinator for our Low Carbon Living Project. After a formal interview process Tim Nicholson has been appointed.  This means the programme can get underway in the very near future.  The Low Carbon Living Programme has been really successful in West Oxford and we are very pleased to be able to provide it in Oxford North.

There are two main opportunities to get involved.

• Firstly we are looking for 30 households to join the programme.  If you are worried about energy security, want to save money or simply want to cut your carbon emissions but need some practical help, this could be the perfect programme for you.  You get a detailed carbon footprint at the beginning so that you can understand where you can make emissions reductions; you set yourself goals by choosing those carbon cutting activities that suit you and your household best; you can get help and advice via workshops full of practical ideas and information about what steps you can take; and finally you get another carbon footprint at the end of the year to see what progress you have made.  As a committed participant in the programme you will reduce your exposure to rising energy costs, save money, cut your emissions, get more informed and get a real sense of empowerment by taking positive action on climate change together with other local residents.

• Secondly we are looking for volunteers to help with the carbon footprinting of the first 30 households.  Some experience of spreadsheets would be useful and we will train you on the spreadsheet-based footprinting programme.  Tim will be running the footprinting sessions for participants in the programme: as volunteers you would provide additional support during the sessions to help the participants work through the spreadsheet.  As a volunteer you would be very welcome also to be a participant within the programme.

We are currently working on the timetable but expect to be recruiting in May, footprinting in June and running workshops during the autumn term.

A little over 100 people have already registered their interest in the Low Carbon Living Programme. If you want to join them, find out more information or offer to be a footprinting volunteer please contact Tim Nicholson.