Access and Sustainability Advisory Service
Sustainability resources
This section offers direct links to information and resources targeted at voluntary and community groups, which can help make your organisation more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Some sites will require (free)registration before guides can be downloaded.
General information and tools
The Green Office Action Plan and Online Audit
The online audit is 16 questions only, multiple choice, with factsheets available on each issue. http://www.green-office.org.uk/
Environmental audits
If a professional audit is required the following organisations can be contacted for more information:
The Building Research Establishment – Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment – The Environmental Auditors Register IEMA
Sustainable Energy Action/Renewable Energy in the Urban Environment (SEA/RENUE)
Free downloadable guides for VCS groups
The City Bridge Trust has a new publication The Knowledge for VCS groups
Issue 1, Greening the Third Sector, looks at the interim findings of a pilot study into the environmental performance of the Third Sector and reports on the Trust's programme of eco-audits of a cross-section of charities across the capital.
Download Issue 1 by clicking on the following link: The Knowledge - Learning from London
Every Action Counts
Free registration with this VCS group targeted information resource is highly recommended, their free publications for download include:
- What happens when every action counts - case studies
- Your Community Building Counts- looking at places of work
- Changing the Way We Work- a guide aimed at VCS groups
- Community Champions Handbook- a guide for champions
Free guide for small retailers
Envirowise have a published a guide for small retailers and how sustainable practices can help save them money. Click here for the publication webpage
Legislative overview
The best tools for keeping up-to-date with current legislation, both offer regular ebulletins
Netregs http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/
Netregs guidance for offices
Envirowise http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/legislation
Practical advice on energy efficiency
Green energy helpline
http://green.energyhelpline.com/
Netregs
http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/sectors/1744700/1744709/1745117
Friends of the Earth
http://www.green-office.org.uk/audit.php?goingto=factsheet3
Every Action Counts
http://www.everyactioncounts.org.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=230&n2=2&n3=18
Purchasing
Before you choose a supplier it is worth checking
their website for their environmental policies and see if there are any eco-friendly labels applied to their products. Defra's guide to green labels:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consumerprod/shopguide/index.htm
Green Procurement Code directory
http://www.greenprocurementcodedirectory.co.uk/product/product_directory.asp
Waste reduction
Free efficiency toolkit to assess ways to reduce waste production
http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/EN548
A general recommendation is to map out all the main processes of your organisation simply in a cycle and check for waste reduction opportunties at each stage.
Recycling directories
Local authorities can sometimes offer free services to local charities for example, Lambeth Council
Offering items for sale/free: Organisations in alphabetical order
| Constructive Workplace | Offer items for sale/free: office furniture |
Offer items for sale: Listings have a fee |
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Offer items for sale/free: Free listings |
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Offer items for free: |
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Offer items for free: |
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Offer items for free: |
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Offer items for free: |
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Information on what and where to recycle |
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Offer items for sale: Inquiry required |
*Checking with your community/ group networks is also a valuable option.
Organic Waste
Information on composting and wormeries with useful links is available from Waste Online
Attitudes of the staff and public relations
- Create and review the environmental policy and action plan
- Make a Champion, creating responsible individuals and enthusiastic team
- Encourage staff awareness with attendance at sustainability events
- Become a collection point for the local community and encourage wider recycling
- Create and successfully obtain funding for environmental projects
An excellent starting point is the Every Action Counts website with free guidance for champions, case studies of projects and team games for awareness.
The Ethical Property Foundation offers free advice and training to charities, click here for more information on their training 'Greening your workplace'.
Funding information for environmental projects:
The Community Sustainable Energy Programme
The Programme will provide £8 million to community-based organisations for the installation of microgeneration technologies, such as solar panels or wind turbines and energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation. It will also provide £1 million for project development grants that will help community organisations establish if a microgeneration and energy efficiency installation will work for them. Click here for more information.
Other sources of funding are listed on Community Webnet:
http://www.communitywebnet.org.uk/funding/index.cfm?intCategoryID=29