Local Authorities
Carbon Literacy Toolkits for Local Authorities
Introduction
- Carbon Literacy Toolkits have been developed to maximise the ease and speed of adoption of CL.
- Other than local customisation, adopting a certified CL Toolkit eliminates course development and accreditation time and costs as barriers to adoption.
- Toolkit development is supported by The Carbon Literacy Project, but as always, training materials are contributed, curated, selected and reviewed by representatives of the relevant sector.
- Toolkit materials are kept up to date by sectoral experts and The Carbon Literacy Project.
- This approach maximises the chances that organisations use the latest and best sectoral materials for them
- As a result, ‘reinventing the wheel’ is avoided and the experiences of many brought together to deliver more effective training and better outcomes.
Development of The Local Authorities CL Toolkit has been funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) via the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), and has involved contribution and donation of materials and testing and piloting by 13 different local authorities across England and Wales.
Key Questions
Toolkits are designed for specific sectoral audiences and content is matched to the needs of that sector. As such, materials are only released to organisations that in the view of the funders, the sectoral consortium, or The Carbon Literacy Project, correctly belong to that sector. This is not only because of the need to maintain the quality of Carbon Literacy by ensuring the appropriateness of the content, but because Toolkits are usually governed by Creative Commons licensing agreements and content is owned by contributors who have only given permission for its use, or commercially licensed it for use, in specific not-for-profit contexts. Training organisations or consultants wanting to adopt Toolkit materials or adapt them for new sectors or audiences should in the first instance approach The Carbon Literacy Project.
If you are an organisation that has not had contact with CLP before we will normally have a talk with you by phone or online to understand your plans and connect you up with other organisations and people that may be able to help you. We normally respond to course requests within one working day.
The Carbon Literacy Public Sector Local Authorities Toolkit and all its components are covered by a Creative Commons Licence and this formulation of materials is Copyright © The Carbon Literacy Trust 2020.
This toolkit and materials are designed and curated for, the purpose of certified Carbon Literacy training within UK Local Authorities and approved partner organisations. The contents are distributed free of charge and licenced (and in many cases sub-licenced) by many contributing organisations for that purpose only. The rights and copyrights of contributing parties still apply.
In other words, the Local Authority Carbon Literacy Toolkits are free to use for the delivery of certified Carbon Literacy training within recognised UK Local Authorities and can be used by their appointed training partners to do this. The only external costs for usage are therefore those of certification for individuals, which is the standard £10 per participant for UK Local Authorities.
You may use these materials as a commercial product but ONLY to deliver certified Carbon Literacy training. You may not sell delivery of these materials outside of UK Local Authorities or to deliver training not intended to deliver certified Carbon Literacy. However, you may be granted rights to use these materials beyond the current licence. If you are interested in doing so, please contact the Project team via localauthorities@carbonliteracy.com
Making the Case
One of the most common queries from individual authorities is for advice and support to persuade colleagues of the financial case for their organisation to roll out Carbon Literacy; as well as for help, or useful materials, to make the initial case for participation to colleagues.
Here are some resources you can use to help you make that case:
Michael Cullen, Borough Treasurer at Stockport Council
Michael, the world’s first Carbon Literate local government Treasurer, discusses his experience of undertaking a Carbon Literacy course.
Naomi Wise, Sustainability Officer at Winchester City Council
Winchester City Council piloted the LAs Generic Staff Course with only two days between receiving it until delivery. How do you think it went?
Amy Scoins, Strategic Environment Officer at Leicestershire County Council
Amy discusses her experiences of delivering training using the Local Authorities Leadership and Management Toolkit.
Staff members from a cross-section of the BBC reflect on undertaking Carbon Literacy training and how it’s changed the way they think and work.
A helpful document to help you ‘make the case’ for Carbon Literacy training in your organisation.
Courses
Local Authorities Generic Staff Course
Free to use for qualifying organisations
Audience
Aimed at staff working in a local authority environment without differentiating between roles.
Versions
Three pathways to science section (part 1) based on:
- Carbon Literacy: Knowledge E-learning route
- Sir David Attenborough, ‘Climate Change – The Facts’ film route
- Presenter-led: online or face-to-face workshop route
All pathways are then followed up by a presenter-led, online or face-to-face, workshop (part 2).
“It was thought-provoking and incredibly valuable to step back and look at your daily activities and the impact they have on the world as an individual / community and species. You may think you’re environmentally conscious, but you realise there is always more you can do! This should become policy, not voluntary. I’d love to learn more and become a Carbon Literacy Certified Training Professional so that I can pass this information on.”
– Bids and Tenders Manager, Leicestershire County Council
Produced in partnership with
The Carbon Literacy Project
Course development funded by
Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)
Leadership and Management Course
Free to use for qualifying organisations
Audience
Aimed at leadership and management staff working in a local authority environment. The Leadership and Management Toolkit enables all local authority leaders and managers to explore how they can provide leadership in the climate emergency and how climate change can be integrated into decision-making.
Versions
The toolkit is one day’s worth of interactive training. There is one version of the toolkit.
“The Toolkits are really fantastic packages of learning because you get everything you need in a day to go off and start taking action and talking to other people. As soon as I got the Leadership and Management Toolkit, I thought it was exactly what we need. The overall feedback we got from learners was that they found the sessions very, very valuable. I have had feedback that learners are going to see how they can thread Carbon Literacy through their work.”
– Amy Scoins, Strategic Environment Officer, Leicestershire County Council
Produced in partnership with
Centre for Sustainable Energy
Rachel Coxcoon of ClimateGuide
Course development funded by
Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)
Elected Members Course
Free to use for qualifying organisations
Audience
Aimed at Councillors working within a local authority environment. The Elected Members Toolkit equips Councillors with the information they need to mobilise change within their constituency and to communicate climate change effectively to hard-to-reach groups.
Versions
The toolkit is one day’s worth of interactive training. There is one version of the toolkit.
“The toolkit is well structured and really tailored to the needs of elected members. You can feel confident that the science and insights you are providing are well researched. The training gives Councillors the tools and skills to be able to evaluate proposals based on their ability to limit climate change and bring about additional benefits.”
– Clare Foster, Environment Strategy Technical Officer and Hannah Swinburne, Principal Climate Change Officer, Peterborough City Council.
Produced in partnership with
Centre for Sustainable Energy
North Somerset Council
Rachel Coxcoon of ClimateGuide
Course development funded by
Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)
Parish and Town Council Course
Audience
Aimed at members of parish or town councils.
Community Leaders Course
Audience
Aimed at local authority delivery to community leaders within their local region.
Pension Fund Trustees and Managers Course
Audience
Aimed at those that manage pension funds and Pension Fund Trustees within a local authority environment.
Produced in partnership with
Great Places Housing Group
Manchester Metropolitan University
I think the most positive aspect of helping to deliver the training was in sharing views and perspectives with the other trainers and the people participating on the course. With such a diverse range of participants from across the organisation, it makes you more aware of the impact and successes of the Council as a whole and of where you can play a part in this.
Andrew Chase, Policy Officer Directorate for Families, Health and Wellbeing at Manchester City Council
"It was probably one of the most insightful, life-changing training days I've ever been on... You can make change that has an impact, and you can influence others and change the way decisions are made."
Michael Cullen, Borough Treasurer at Stockport Council
"Really thought-provoking and also helpful to see we could make changes at the council if we want to move things forward. Nice to see some successes made by other councils. Really enjoyable to mix with people across the council whilst homeworking - the course was still really effective even though we were in different places. This should be rolled out to all staff, especially those with decision making powers."
Planning – Resource Officer at Winchester City Council
"It’s vital. It’s urgent. Can’t wait. Very interactive / engaging. Powerful."
Diane Eaton, Corporate Director at Trafford Council
"It was thought-provoking and incredibly valuable to step back and look at your daily activities and the impact they have on the world as an individual / community and species. You may think you’re environmentally conscious, but you realise there is always more you can do! This should become policy, not voluntary. I’d love to learn more and become a Carbon Literacy Certified Training Professional so that I can pass this information on."
Vicki Louise Clements, Bids and Tenders Manager at Leicestershire County Council
"We need to face up to this major challenge, partly because of the health and quality of life of our own residents. We want to clean up the air that they breathe, we want to reduce the use of plastic that's cluttering our rivers and our green spaces. We want to put Greater Manchester in a position of leadership on this crucial issue that will shape the 21st century, but if we are to succeed it does require radical action now."
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
"You will learn and think about things you hadn’t previously considered, regardless of your level of knowledge."
Paul Farrand, Senior Planner at Trafford Council
"I've been working in renewable energy and sustainability for several years, so when I went on the Carbon Literacy program, I thought, "well, I wonder what it will teach me?" And I came back inspired and driven to carry on spreading the message. I saw how valuable it was and that, if it can talk to professionals that work in the sector but also engage at a level for people that have maybe very little understanding of [climate change], to be able to have a training program that speaks across the board was just so powerful. And so I was very keen to become a trainer myself and to pass this on throughout my council. So, yes, I highly recommend it!"
Naomi Wise, Sustainability Officer at Winchester City Council
Request a Course
To request one or more of the available courses for Local Authorities, please Contact Us listing ‘Local Authority Toolkit’ as the subject. Please include the following:
- A local authority organisational email address
- Which course you are requesting?
- Why you are interested in these particular sectoral courses?
If you’d prefer not to use the contact form, please email us at localauthorities@carbonliteracy.com