Online course over 3 evenings
This course is for existing councillors who want to learn how climate change will affect their constituency, and it is for councillors who want to become more proactive, by learning how they can play a role in reducing the inequality climate change is already causing, making their neighbourhoods and homes more sustainable and building community resilience. The course is also directed at individuals who want to know how they can work with or stand for a local council in order to have a greater say in the decisions that affect people’s lives. You will learn from examples across the country, and unpack what works and what doesn’t. To end up with practical strategies tailored to your position and context.
What will I do and learn?
- Understand the expected effects of climate change on local communities in Britain and what this means for communities and local councils.
- Learn how councils can become more ambitious and proactive.
- Learn from inspiring examples of what local councils have done, and feel empowered to achieve something similar.
- Learn how local councils can work with members of the community and the voluntary sector to set up or contribute to initiatives that benefit the lives of their constituents and help communities become greener, fairer and more resilient.
- Learn about different ways in which local councils can generate funding in order to set up or contribute to initiatives that benefit the lives of their constituents and help communities become greener, fairer and more resilient.
- Learn where your local council needs to be significantly strengthened, understand the options, including that of taking over the council.
- Be supported in creating a practical action plan that you can start to implement as an individual or group.
- Sharing knowledge and experience with other participants that have similar aims and aspirations.
Key Information
Dates: Wednesday 14 September, Wednesday 21 September AND Wednesday 28 September
Time: 7pm – 9.15pm
Instructions: After booking your spot, you be able to access the webinar link.
NOTE: Your ticket covers all three evening courses!
Who will I learn from?
Peter Macfadyen
Peter is pioneer of Frome’s extraordinary town council and author of Flatpack Democracy. He will be sharing his direct experience of creating more ambitious local councils that seek to position themselves as key organisations in a more cohesive community. He has worked in areas of social justice for over 40 years. In 2010 this took him into local politics, co-creating a new relationship between local government and the people in Frome. Moving from politics based on fear and confrontation to listening, empathy and co-operation are central to his ethos. His work and lifestyle see humankind as a small part of the wider ecology, with recycling, reusing, organic growing, cooking, bicycling, community and family all central.
Peter Lefort
Peter runs the University of Exeter’s Green Futures Network, connecting communities and organisations to the latest environmental research and resources. Before that he worked for Cornwall Council developing partnerships for a carbon neutral county. His work in these roles, and as the Co-Chair of the international Transition Network, is to support people and places to collectively respond to complex challenges and our changing world.
They will be joined by various invited guests with both scientific expertise and from successful council initiatives across Britain.
How much does it cost?
We would like our courses to be available to all, so we ask you to pay what you can towards our courses. We have some tickets available at a reduced rate of £15 and others at a higher rate of £75.
If you are unable to afford a ticket, please contact info@blackmountainscollege.uk. We have some bursaries available.
Accessibility
This course is rated as 1 (fully accessible) on our scale of accessibility as it takes place online.
Please see our booking terms & conditions on our Eventbrite page for more information. When booking, you confirm you agree to these terms.