A centre for sustainability?
The Living Witness Project is a network of about 40 Quaker meetings around Britain engaged in learning and practical action for sustainable living. Since 2002 it has been supported by a co-ordinator working freelance to provide information, advice and resources, and running events for the network and the local meetings. The resources and experience from the project are increasingly in demand by other groups. We now plan to develop a centre to provide a similar service to other faith groups, young people, educational establishments and mainstream organisations, especially supporting their responses to climate change. The centre will have two co-ordinators and a rota of volunteers. It will be based in Oxford Friends Meeting House. We are seeking about £100,000 over three years to enable us to employ staff on three year contracts. So far we have secured two thirds of the funding required for the first year. Motivation and need: New evidence suggests that climate change is approaching a “tipping point”, where it will be accelerated by feedback mechanisms. The UK government target of a 60% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 cannot be achieved with current policy approaches, based on technology and market instruments. New strategies are urgently required to engage public hearts and minds and to encourage more sustainable lifestyles. The Government is beginning to recognise the importance of groups in shaping behaviour, and is supporting several community projects. However, much of the existing work is limited in the duration of group support, the range of sustainability issues addressed, and the willingness to tackle underlying values and worldviews. Aims: We are working for a shift in consciousness throughout society, engaging individuals, communities and organisations including government: - developing stronger spiritual foundations for a sustainable society - nurturing hope and enthusiasm for these changes and - deepening understanding of the social changes needed - empowering people to take action in their own lives, their communities and the wider world. Outcomes sought from our work include: - new community groups working for sustainability; increased participation in existing groups. - participants holding more positive attitudes to sustainable living and changes in their personal and household lifestyles, e.g. to reduce waste, energy use, car use, air travel and other sources of greenhouse gas emissions - a wide variety of group activities for sustainability, and a body of evidence showing what works - awareness of our approach and our findings in key organisations, including government and the media, which could encourage others to develop their own initiatives - government strategies to support wider application of successful approaches. What will the Centre do? 1. Develop and publish resources (in print and via a website). These might include accounts of individual and group experiences in working for sustainability – what works, what doesn’t work; ‘how to do it’ guides, e.g. for setting up and sustaining a community group; briefing papers on environmental and social issues, and on different ways of thinking about the problems; and a regular newsletter. 2. Run courses and events: e.g. evening sessions, day and weekend workshops, a summer school. 3. Develop and support networks of groups and individuals, including the Living Witness Project, and similar networks with other groups, both within Oxford and more widely in Britain. 4. Policy engagement, sharing what we have learned more widely, with organisations working for sustainability at the local, national and international level, including NGOs, research groups, and government bodies. Whom is the Centre intended to serve? Quakers and other faith groups; local groups and individuals in Oxford; schools and other educational establishments; and national organisations working for sustainability. Work Programme First year (2006-2007) The Centre will incorporate the work and existing products of the Living Witness Project and develop them for a wider audience. These include a variety of weekend and day courses and events on sustainable living; support for groups and organisations in developing understanding and action for sustainability; publication of printed resources; a website; and a quarterly newsletter. New activities will include developing briefings: e.g. on the science of climate change, sustainable living, and how change happens; developing new resources for individuals and groups, e.g. material for the Ecoteams Handbook of the national charity Global Action Plan; and running regular evening sessions and day events in partnership with other organisations (e.g. COIN; Operation Noah; faith groups in Oxford); Years two and three (2007-2009) Priorities for our work will depend on demand from user groups. We expect the strongest initial demand to come from faith groups nationally and from local organisations in Oxford. However we also expect to develop links rapidly with certain national organisations and research groups. From year four (2009 onward) Our goals include: a wide range of publications supporting our five main user groups, including via the Internet; a successful programme of short courses and summer schools; a respected voice on sustainability, with interviews and features in local and national media; 43 St Giles established as the centre for meetings on sustainability issues in Oxford. Evaluation. We are in discussion with several university research groups, and expect to establish a partnership in which one of them evaluates the outcomes of our work against our own objectives and in comparison with other approaches.	Home GOSLings

A centre for sustainability?

The Living Witness Project is a network of about 40 Quaker meetings around Britain engaged in learning and practical action for sustainable living. Since 2002 it has been supported by a co-ordinator working freelance to provide information, advice and resources, and running events for the network and the local meetings. The resources and experience from the project are increasingly in demand by other groups.

We now plan to develop a centre to provide a similar service to other faith groups, young people, educational establishments and mainstream organisations, especially supporting their responses to climate change. The centre will have two co-ordinators and a rota of volunteers. It will be based in Oxford Friends Meeting House.

We are seeking about £100,000 over three years to enable us to employ staff on three year contracts. So far we have secured two thirds of the funding required for the first year.

Motivation and need: New evidence suggests that climate change is approaching a “tipping point”, where it will be accelerated by feedback mechanisms. The UK government target of a 60% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 cannot be achieved with current policy approaches, based on technology and market instruments. New strategies are urgently required to engage public hearts and minds and to encourage more sustainable lifestyles.

The Government is beginning to recognise the importance of groups in shaping behaviour, and is supporting several community projects. However, much of the existing work is limited in the duration of group support, the range of sustainability issues addressed, and the willingness to tackle underlying values and worldviews.

Aims: We are working for a shift in consciousness throughout society, engaging individuals, communities and organisations including government:

- developing stronger spiritual foundations for a sustainable society

- nurturing hope and enthusiasm for these changes and

- deepening understanding of the social changes needed

- empowering people to take action in their own lives, their communities and the wider world.

Outcomes sought from our work include:

- new community groups working for sustainability; increased participation in existing groups.

- participants holding more positive attitudes to sustainable living and changes in their personal and household lifestyles, e.g. to reduce waste, energy use, car use, air travel and other sources of greenhouse gas emissions

- a wide variety of group activities for sustainability, and a body of evidence showing what works

- awareness of our approach and our findings in key organisations, including government and the media, which could encourage others to develop their own initiatives

- government strategies to support wider application of successful approaches.

What will the Centre do?

1. Develop and publish resources (in print and via a website). These might include accounts of individual and group experiences in working for sustainability – what works, what doesn’t work; ‘how to do it’ guides, e.g. for setting up and sustaining a community group; briefing papers on environmental and social issues, and on different ways of thinking about the problems; and a regular newsletter.

2. Run courses and events: e.g. evening sessions, day and weekend workshops, a summer school.

3. Develop and support networks of groups and individuals, including the Living Witness Project, and similar networks with other groups, both within Oxford and more widely in Britain.

4. Policy engagement, sharing what we have learned more widely, with organisations working for sustainability at the local, national and international level, including NGOs, research groups, and government bodies.

Whom is the Centre intended to serve?

Quakers and other faith groups; local groups and individuals in Oxford; schools and other educational establishments; and national organisations working for sustainability.

Work Programme

First year (2006-2007) The Centre will incorporate the work and existing products of the Living Witness Project and develop them for a wider audience. These include a variety of weekend and day courses and events on sustainable living; support for groups and organisations in developing understanding and action for sustainability; publication of printed resources; a website; and a quarterly newsletter.

New activities will include developing briefings: e.g. on the science of climate change, sustainable living, and how change happens; developing new resources for individuals and groups, e.g. material for the Ecoteams Handbook of the national charity Global Action Plan; and running regular evening sessions and day events in partnership with other organisations (e.g. COIN; Operation Noah; faith groups in Oxford);

Years two and three (2007-2009) Priorities for our work will depend on demand from user groups. We expect the strongest initial demand to come from faith groups nationally and from local organisations in Oxford. However we also expect to develop links rapidly with certain national organisations and research groups.

From year four (2009 onward) Our goals include: a wide range of publications supporting our five main user groups, including via the Internet; a successful programme of short courses and summer schools; a respected voice on sustainability, with interviews and features in local and national media; 43 St Giles established as the centre for meetings on sustainability issues in Oxford.

Evaluation. We are in discussion with several university research groups, and expect to establish a partnership in which one of them evaluates the outcomes of our work against our own objectives and in comparison with other approaches.

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