Past Events
Repair Cafe
10am-3pm
Lifehouse Church (near West Bars), Chesterfield
Organised by Transition Chesterfield
Members of Transition Chesterfield will be on hand to fix things such as sewing machines, small electrical appliances, or anything portable that might be mendable. Bring along your broken items. If you have skills in repairing things and would like to help on the day please get in touch: hello@transitionchesterfield.org.uk
Green Buildings Open Up Weekend
Peak District, Various Locations
Going green in a national park may seem like a daunting task, but it needn’t be! If you ever thought about making your home or business more green but weren’t sure how to get started or even whether you’d be allowed, this event is for you. Buildings with green technology installed will be open and you can have a look around and talk to the owner about their experience of going green.
EcoHome Open Event
Tina will open up her own house to visitors. This is a typical 1950’s solid wall house in West Bridgford which has undergone a whole house low energy refurbishment. How did the newly insulated house stand up to its first year, including a cold winter and the hot weather in July? What was the energy use before and after? Come along and find out.
Please note that it is essential to pre-book by contacting on wbecohouses@gmail.com.
This event is part of a series of Open Days in September 2013.
EcoHome Open Event
Roger Bell will open up his home near Southwell. This is a new build which was designed to follow Passive House principles while at the same time using many elements of standard UK construction (e.g. cavity walls). The home owners moved in at the start of winter 2012-13 so are able to share their first impressions on how the house is performing thermally – and the build itself is of course still fresh in their minds!
Please note that it is essential to pre-book by contacting on wbecohouses@gmail.com.
This event is part of a series of Open Days in September 2013.
How to write a good funding application
10am-12pm
Newark and Sherwood CVS
In this session we will look at why funders give grants and how they decide which projects to support. We will also consider what groups need to do before they decide which funder to approach and how to pitch ideas. We will then go through a sample application form, line by line, providing hints and tips on what should be included in each section. We will cover ‘evidence of need’; ‘outputs’; and ‘outcomes’ in more detail. By the end of the session groups will have a good understanding of what funders are looking for; how to plan a project before looking for funding; and how to complete an application form.
Inspiring Communities Conference
8:30am – 6pm
Julien Cahn Pavillion, West Park, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford
£40, concession available
This one day conference offers a platform to highlight local and national initiatives that have been developed by individuals and communities, identifying, practical and constructive solutions to sustainability. The conference has secured a line-up of speakers with a proven track record of inspiring communities. The speakers will be sharing knowledge, advice and information, while demonstrating how initiatives can be created, developed and strengthened to facilitate economic and social cohesion, locally and nationally.
Over the past five years, the West Bridgford community have developed a number of initiatives that provide answers to the challenges communities face when energy becomes more expensive, climates more chaotic and economic situation more uncertain. These projects look to make communities more robust, more content and ultimately better places to live.
Introduction to Trading and Selling for Voluntary and Community Groups
2pm - 4pm
Acacia Centre, Acacia Avenue, off Forest Road, Annesley Woodhouse, NG17 9BH
Is your group thinking of earning income from trading or selling your services? Or are you already trading and looking to do more or sell to a new market? Maria Ward from Nottingham CVS, an experienced entrepreneur and fundraiser, will ask groups to think about what they have to sell and who they can sell it to. She will also cover topics including: legal structures, business plans, market research, effective marketing, pricing, budgets and cash flow.
The Arctic to Buxton
7:30pm
The Paupers' Pit, Old Hall Hotel, Buxton
Hosted by Transition Buxton
An evening with two fascinating talks, followed by a discussion:
- Prof Terry Callaghan: The Rapidly Changing Arctic: What it Means to You. The Arctic's climate is changing faster than anywhere else on earth. The changes are having major impacts on the extent of snow and ice and on the animals, plants and people who live there. However, as the Arctic regulates global climate and sea level, the changes there will affect everyone: there will be both winners and losers. Terry Callaghan, with 46 years of working throughout the Arctic, will illustrate the changes and their consequences for people who live there.
- Prof J.P.Grime: Testing Predictions of Ecosystem Response to Climate Change: The Buxton Experiments. In 2013 scientists celebrated the 20th year of continuous manipulation of rainfall and temperature in an ancient sheep pasture at Harpur Hill. In this talk ecologist Phil Grime and engineer Andrew Askew will explain how the experiments are conducted and how the results relate to the future of agriculture and nature conservation in the South Pennines.
Superhomes Open Days
This September you can get the inside story on more than 50 exceptional home improvement projects across the UK. Superhomes are older homes which have been refurbished to be amongst the most energy efficient older homes in the UK. In every SuperHome you can learn about a range of installed technologies. Tours and Q&A sessions let you quiz the owners on specifics. You’ll discover what worked and get frank feedback on anything that didn’t. If your goal is increased home comfort, reduced energy bills or a smaller carbon footprint, a visit is sure to inspire. Entry is free, but you need to book. A number of Superhomes can be found in Nottinghamshire.
Community Woodland Shares Information Event
8pm at Church House, Melbourne (next to Melbourne Parish Church)
This will be an informal event to ask questions and find out more about the project and the investment opportunity.
More information about the project:
Whistlewood Common Limited is selling shares in a community-owned woodland, based in Melbourne, Derbyshire, which will be used for local good production. This exciting 10 acre initiative will see the creation of orchards, forest gardens, productive woodlands and a space for events and education on Melbourne Common, all for the benefit of people living in the area.
The project has already received a grant of more than £50K from the National Forest Company and £18K of shares has already been raised. However, a further £32K is needed as soon as possible to secure the purchase of the land.
Sarah Spencer, of Whistlewood Common Ltd, said:
‘We must secure the rest of the investment quickly, in order to secure the land - which is currently for sale on the open market.
‘As a shareholder you will have membership of the society, may stand as a director, and can influence its activities, but this is not a speculative or money-making investment and shares will not be tradable. You will be investing in building an innovative land-based community project of potentially national significance, not simply in a company.’
A share prospectus and application forms are on the project’s website: www.whistlewoodcommon.org.
The project can be followed on Twitter: @ediblewoods