Climate Change, Vulnerability and the Voluntary Sector Report

8/13/2019 Climate Change, Vulnerability and the Voluntary Sector Report

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April 2013

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NCVO Vulnerable People andClimate Change Project

Climate Change, Vulnerability

and the Voluntary SectorA learning report

An overview of NCVOs work with voluntary andcommunity organisations supporting people more

vulnerable to climate impacts in England

Our approach, achievements, insights andrecommendations for stakeholders

Supported by:


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Climate Change, Vulnerability and the Voluntary SectorApril 2013

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Contents

1 Introduction

2 The project

3 So what, now what? Participantsconcerns and responses

4 Reflectionsand recommendations

Appendix

Project participants

Over the past two years,

NCVOs VulnerablePeople and ClimateChange project hasworked with over 50voluntary organisationsacross England to explorethe impact climate changecould have on their workand beneficiaries.

The organisationsinvolved in the project allsupport people who arelikely to be

disproportionatelyaffected by this globaltrend.

Our investigationshighlighted the uniquerole voluntary

organisations can play inhelping to find appropriatesolutions to this societalchallenge - as a matter ofsocial justice.


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Executive Summary

Climate change means that in coming years we willbe more at risk from rising sea levels, changingrainfall patterns and severe adverse weatherevents, from flooding to drought.

These changes will hit the most vulnerable insociety hardest: old people, disabled people andthose experiencing poverty or other forms ofdisadvantage are more at risk of climate impacts.

NCVOs Vulnerable People and Climate Changeproject was set up to help voluntary and communityorganisations (VCOs) prepare for the impacts of

climate change on their work and on those theywork with, enabling them to become:

more knowledgeable about climate changeimpacts;

better prepared to adapt to the changingclimate;

more motivated to reduce their carbonemissions; and

more likely to campaign on climate change.

Each organisation was given information about thedrivers of climate change, and the need to reducegreenhouse gases, so they could consider theimplications for them and their beneficiaries. Fromthis they drew up an action plan to address theirparticular needs and circumstances.Between 2011 - 2013 the project worked with 51VCOs and reached over 1,200 people, including: 343 staff, volunteers and trustees; and

753 service users and others (eg familymembers and carers.Impacts

Although each organisation focused on their ownneeds and priorities, there were some commonconcerns:extreme temperatures (hot or cold) can be

hazardous to the health of vulnerablepeople;

people with limited mobility are will faceparticular practical difficulties in severeweather conditions such as flooding;

access to key services, such as medicalsupplies or benefits, could be disruptedas

could VCOs themselves; and

people in poverty would struggle to copewith the financial consequences of adverseclimate events.

Actions

Twenty organisations developed action plans inresponse to the issues explored in the programme,focusing on how they could adapt to anticipatedchanges and / or reduce carbon emissions. Each planwas tailored to their particular needs and included:

identifying vulnerable people in their

community, so they could provide targetedsupport in extreme weather conditions;

working with communities to strengthen theirresilience so they are better able to deal with,and recover from shocks when they occur;

working with local authorities and NHS bodiesto ensure their users needs were addressedin climate change policies and plans;

supporting their users to campaign on climatechange.

ConclusionsBy focusing on the social mission of VCOs, thisproject has shown that climate change is an issue forall of us, not just environmental organisations.

And by focusing on those particularly at risk of climateimpacts, it highlights the need for targeted solutionsand approaches to protect the most vulnerable.

It has demonstrated that VCOs can make a vitalcontribution to climate change plans, ensuring thatthose plans deliver fairer outcomes.

Public agencies charged with developing national andlocal responses to climate change should thereforeensure that VCOs are fully involved in this process.They should actively seek opportunities to inviteVCOs to contribute their specialist knowledge ofusers needs, as well as their broader communitylinks, at both a strategic and operational level.

But if the sector is to be able to play its full role infuture, a wider range of VCOs will need to be involvedin programmes such as this, so that they too cansupport and engage their users and beneficiaries.

They will need to invest time and resources to decidehow this will impact on them and what action they cantake to mitigate or adapt to climate change. Futuresupport must be a priority if opportunities to developsocially just responses to climate change are to bemaximised.


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1Introduction

NCVO and Climate Change

The National Council for Voluntary Organisationschampions and strengthens the voluntary sector, fromthe largest charities to the smallest communityorganisations. We make sure the English voluntarysector can do what it does best.

NCVO recognises that climate change is one of themost serious challenges facing us.

This global issue has society-wide implications and allvoluntary and community organisations - whatevertheir mission - need to consider and prepare for thelikely impacts this will have on their work and thosethey support.

We face a double challenge: adapting to the alreadyinevitable effects of our changing climate andcontinuing urgent efforts to cut global greenhouseemissions to avoid runaway climate change.

The voluntary sector, with its unparalleled reach intocommunities and to those at the margins of society,has a crucial role to play in helping to find and achievefair, effective solutions to both sides of this dilemma.

In the past, climate changehas been viewed purely asan environmental issue:it is our responsibility toensure that it is understoodand treated as a

mainstream issue.Civil Society: a framework for action (2009)NCVOs vision for the future

Sector leadership

Since 2009, climate change has been a strategicpriority for NCVO. We see this as an issue for allorganisations and sectors and we are committed toleading by example:

providing the joint secretariat, with Green Alliance,for the Ministerial and Third Sector Task Force onClimate Change

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running The Big Response, with Green Alliance andGlobal Action Plan, a pilot project exploring the

relevance of climate change for the work of fourorganisations: British Red Cross, Equinox (a drugand alcohol charity), Friends of the Elderly andRNIB

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The Vulnerable People and Climate Changeprojectbuilt on the Big Response and took it to the nextstage, working with a wider range of voluntary andcommunity organisations and their beneficiaries.

This report shares insights from this uniqueprogramme.

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The project

NCVOs Vulnerable People and Climate Changeproject (April 2011 to March 2013) worked with 51non-environmental voluntary and communityorganisations (VCOs) to explore how climate changecould affect their work and beneficiaries.

The project targeted VCOs supporting people inEngland who could be particularly vulnerable to the

impacts of climate change.Four cohorts of organisations were recruited fromspecialist fields and in different locations:

Older peoples organisations in London

Disability and mental health organisations inLondon

Black and minority ethnic (BME) organisations inGreater Manchester

Organisations supporting people on low incomes in

Hull and Portsmouth.

Outcomes

The project had four key outcomes for theparticipating organisations and some of their serviceusers, aiming for them to become:

1. More knowledgeable about climate changeimpacts.

2. Better prepared to adapt to the changing climate.

3. More motivated to reduce their carbon emissions.

4. More likely to campaign on climate change.


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2.1

The programmeapproach

All four cohorts were supported through a programmeof activities over several months that included:

three day-long workshops;

an in-house conversation with staff and/or trustees;

in-house work with service users; and

development of an action plan.

The project concluded with a final celebration eventfor participants and a policy roundtable during ClimateWeek 2013.

Mini reports of each cohorts work were also producedto share nationally with other VCOs in the specialistfields.

Methodology

The programme approach was based on NCVOForesight methodology

3, which supports organisations

to identify and respond to external trends or forces(drivers) through three simple questions:

Whatdrivers could affect your organisation?

So what are the implications for you?

Now whatcan you do in response?

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Climate change drivers

Seven climate change drivers were developed for the

programme, based on the UK Climate Projections4,international impacts and the pressing need to reducecarbon emissions.

1. Rising average temperatures year round with moreheatwaves and fewer cold snaps.

2. Changing rainfall patterns: more and heavier rain inthe winter, less in summer.

3. Rising sea levels.

4. Increased risk of flooding.

5. Increased risk of drought.

6. Climate effects elsewhere; for example, changingavailability of goods and resources, increasedmigration, decreased world security.

7. Pressure for a low carbon society; the continued,urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions toavoid catastrophic climate change.

Participants were supported to identify the implicationsof each driver for their organisation and service users.

After discussions with colleagues and beneficiaries,they selected the issues which, in their view, wouldhave most significance for their organisation. Thesepriority issues formed the basis of each organisationsaction plans.

Adaptation: responding to

inevitable climate changeMitigation: reducinggreenhouse gases toavoid runaway climatechange

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Programme USP

The methodology puts the social mission of each

organisation at the core of the question, to enableparticipants to appreciate the relevance of climatechange in their own context, and to find appropriateways to respond.

While the approach puts strong emphasis on the needto adapt to our changing climate, the seventh driversfocus on carbon reduction (mitigation), ensuredparticipants developed a rounded understanding ofthe issues.

The programme drew on each organisations expertknowledge of their service users and their needs and

aimed to equip participants to make their owninformed decisions about how to respond to climatechange.

Expert input

The workshops and supporting activities weredesigned and led by NCVO staff, but a range ofspeakers were recruited to bring specialist expertise tothe programme. Each initial workshop began with anoverview presentation on climate change delivered byexperts in the field, such as the Environment Agency,Global Action Plan and Your Climate (the Climate

Change Partnership for Yorkshire and Humber).

Subsequent sessions featured input from otheragencies such as the National Flood Forum, climatechange officers from relevant local authorities,university researchers and environmental VCOs localto the cohorts. The chief executive of the JosephRowntree Foundation provided the keynote addressat the final event on its complementary climatechange and social justice programme

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The project also drew on a range of advisors6and, for

each cohort, a steering group of infrastructure support

agencies and sector leaders was recruited from withinthe specialist field to:

inform each work stream;

help recruit VCOs to the programme; and

disseminate the subsequent learning.

Some of the steering group members also opted totake part in the activities (see appendix).

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Resources

A range of materials7 were developed for the

programme, including:

a booklet tailored to each cohorts field and location,to help participants frame their in-house discussionswith colleagues (modeled on NCVOs Foresightpocket guides

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a compilation of existing free resources forparticipants to use with beneficiaries if they wished.

Resources were available to make it easier for VCOsto access the programme: participation was free andtravel and carer costs were offered. With advice from

the associated steering group, a small honorariumwas paid to members of the BME cohort, as many ofthe target organisations for this particular work streamoperated on a shoestring.

2.2Participants

A total of 51 organisations took part in the project, withbetween 8 and 18 VCOs in each cohort.

The profiles of those participating covered a broadspectrum in terms of size, type of organisation,services and specialisms, reflecting the breadth anddiversity of the voluntary sector, as shown in theillustration below. See the appendix for the full list ofVCOs involved.

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Each organisation had the opportunity to have twoplaces on the programme and 74 individuals took partover the course of the project. Most were seniorrepresentatives or the main project worker for theorganisation, except the older peoples cohort, whichwas mostly made up of self-organising, peer-ledgroups of older volunteers.

Project reach

The total project reach was much wider, with over1,200 people directly involved in related activities:

343 staff, volunteers and trustees took part in the in-

house conversations

753 service users and others (eg family membersand carers) were involved in the projects run byparticipating VCOs.

The project also attracted a lot of interest from widerarenas including academia, local authorities, otherVCOs and even NCVOssister organisation inAustralia.
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Engaging service users

At the second workshop, participating VCOs were

supported to devise and deliver a suitable, small scaleproject to discuss the implications of climate changewith some of their service users.

26 projects were delivered, involving between 1 and150 beneficiaries! All but one project covered bothadaptation and mitigation issues, and most featured atleast one item from the resource pack.

The challenge for VCOs was to identify appropriateways to explore climate change with theirbeneficiaries, to enable those service users taking partto gain an understanding of how climate change could

affect them personally, and to identify possible waysto respond individually.

The range of activities carried out were incrediblybroad and creative, including: special events;

presentations;

games;

surveys;

art sessions;

writing and performing a Climate Song;9

informal chats;

discussions in existing life-skills activities;

trips eg to recycling centres and the ThamesBarrier.

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Project achievements

Of those taking part in the project:

31 VCOs (57%) completed the programme.

20 developed an action plan for their organisation.

95% of participants interviewed at the end of theprogramme reported that they knew more about theimplications of climate change for their organisation.

80% felt their organisation was better prepared forthe changing climate.

83% felt more motivated to reduce their

organisations carbon footprint.

43% considered that their organisation was morelikely to campaign in some way on climate change.

As most participating VCOs were working withvulnerable client groups, it wasnt feasible to get directfeedback from many of the service users involved inthe project. However, the organisations reported thatbeneficiaries generated a range of issues and ideasfor action during their activities.

The implications of climate change for participating

VCOs, and the people they support, are exploredfurther in the next section, alongside illustrations ofhow these organisations have responded.
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3

So what, now what?Participants concernsand responses

Hundreds of ideas were generated during the courseof the project about how climate change is likely toimpact on the work of socially focused VCOs and

those they support.

This section provides an overview of the key issuesand implications identified by the organisationsinvolved and the responses they came up with.

3.1So what: the

implications

Although each cohort came up with their own ideasabout the implications of the seven climate changedrivers, there were many shared concerns across thespecialist groups, which are outlined here.

The implications span both organisational issues(from operational to strategic level) and concerns forservice users.

Additional issues identified by each cohort arefeatured in the summary reports for the related workstrands.

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Extreme weather

The effects of extreme weather was a major concern,

for example:

Service users with limited mobility, eg wheelchairusers and frail older people, are likely to faceparticular practical difficulties getting about in heavyrain or during very hot spells.

They may face enhanced dangers in flood or stormconditions.

Extreme weather could prevent individuals fromaccessing services they rely on, eg medicalsupplies, benefit appointments and emergency

services (which could in turn become over-burdened as well as disrupted).

Voluntary organisations could also be directlyaffected, through disruptions to communicationsand staff travel for example.

Many VCOs are likely to experience increaseddemand for services in the short-term asbeneficiaries turn to them for advice and assistance,and as other services they rely on also come underpressure. Additional support may be neededthrough recovery periods, eg with insurance claims

or rebuilding self-confidence after the shock ofevents.

Heat health risks

Heat health risks also featured strongly, for example:

For older people (particularly those over 75), itbecomes harder to keep cool in hot temperatures.

Some health conditions such as certain types of

arthritis may benefit from warmer temperatures butother types of disability may be aggravated in hotweather.

Many people on low incomes live in poor qualityhousing ill-equipped to deal with extreme heat (orcold). Those renting their homes are largely relianton landlords to make adaptations to properties,while owner occupiers on low incomes may not beable to afford to make changes.

Over-heated working conditions can also affect theproductivity of an organisations staff.
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Increased living costs

All cohorts identified a range of ways in which climate

change is likely to contribute to increased living costs,for example:

Our globalised supply chains will be susceptible toclimate impacts in other parts of the world, likelypushing up the cost of some imported food andcontributing to the cost of fuel.

The financial impacts of flooding hit people on lowincomes particularly hard. Many have no contentsinsurance to cover lost or ruined possessions, andlack the financial capacity to replace items readily.

Damage to homes from extreme weather cancause vulnerable people considerable anxiety interms of organising and overseeing repairs andworrying about the risk of rogue traders, as well ashandling bills.

The project really mademe think about how

isolated our members canbe - both from informationand practically - and howvulnerable that makesthem in a crisis.

Amanda DSouza, Headway East London

Service user isolation

Climate change impacts may exacerbate the risk ofisolation for some service user groups, which hasimplications for general wellbeing and widercommunity cohesion, as well as individual safety.

In extreme weather, service users may be reluctantto undertake independent journeys to amenitiesand activities.

Those reliant on public transport may face disrupted

or cancelled services. Language and cultural differences may present

barriers to information and advice about climateimpacts for BME communities.

People with specialist support needs may beunintentionally overlooked or excluded frommainstream emergency response plans.

Concern for communities abroad

Service users, particularly those from BMEcommunities, may have family and friends in othercountries already experiencing severe climateimpacts, where conditions such as drought,hurricanes and land lost to rising sea levels arealready leading to increasing hardship, tensions andmigration.

Concerned relatives and community members herein the UK are likely to experience increased anxietyabout those affected.

Some individuals may face heavier financialburdens if they send more money home to supportthose most in need.

Water shortage impacts

The disability and older peoples cohorts identified

particular concerns about possible effects of droughtconditions.

Some people with disabilities require a lot of waterfor hygiene purposes.

Water shortages could reduce the availability ofpublic toilets, which could deter older people forexample from getting out and about.

Active citizenship opportunities

There was a strong consensus, particularly within thedisability, BME and low income cohorts, of the need tosupport potentially marginalised groups to contributeto carbon reduction efforts.

Supporting service users to reduce, re-use andrecycle, eat seasonally, or monitor their energy usagefor example, are all tangible actions that individualscan take.

These types of contributions boost self-confidenceand enable individuals to make a difference as activecitizens. They help to combat isolation and can

contribute to recovery for people with mental healthneeds.


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Increased organisational running costs

Project participants realised that many of these issues

could have financial implications for theirorganisations. For example:

increased demand for services would needresourcing, whether in the short or longer term;

operational challenges in extreme weatherconditions often bring additional costs;

adapting premises to make them climate readyand low carbon often requires capital investment;and

if the practice of payment by results in contractsbecomes more widespread, increasing incidents ofextreme weather could bring additional risk fordelivery agents.

Service user concerns

Flood and heat risks, and cost of living impactswere the most recurrent themes emerging from theVCOs discussions with service users. There wasalso a lot of interest amongst beneficiaries in carbon

reduction issues.

The discussions also explored a range of societalsolutions spanning both mitigation and adaptationresponses e.g. growing your own fruit andvegetables (reducing food miles and building foodsecurity), tree planting (carbon sinks and a coolingtechnique).

A number of groups also wanted to see moreholistic education and awareness raising aroundclimate change.

Church Elders

3.2

Now what: takingactionTwenty organisations created an action plan inresponse to the issues explored in the programme.Commitments in the plans and those madesubsequently span the planned outcomes for theproject:

1. Developing knowledge and understanding.

2. Preparing to adapt to our changing climate.

3. Reducing organisational carbon emissions.

4. Campaigning on climate change.

An analysis of the actions across all the plans revealsthat:

50% are adaptation focused;

25% contribute to carbon reduction; and

25% deliver both adaptation and carbon reductionbenefits.

While there are no direct commitments in the plans tocampaigning, some participants are already active inthis area, or can see the potential.

An overview of participantsresponses, with examplesfrom across the cohorts, is given below.

Building extreme weather resilience

Organisations are reviewing and updating a range oftheir policies and practices in preparation forincreasing incidents and severity of extreme weather.

Assisting service users

New Testament Church of God in Manchester isbuilding a contact list of elders and other vulnerablemembers of the congregation so that it can providetargeted outreach support in extreme conditions.


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Headway East Londonis looking at the possibility ofoffering transport to its members (who have braininjuries), to support them with shopping in heavy rainor very high temperatures.

Policies

The Limes Childrens Centre in East London drewon its recent experience of preparing for disruptionfrom the Olympics to improve its contingency plans.

After assessing the impact of flooding on its serviceusers in Cumbria when staff had to make 50 milerount trips for home visits, Walsingham (anorganisation supporting people with learningdisabilities) has added tinned food to the checklist of

essential household items for beneficiaries.

Impact Theatrein London has revised its health andsafety policy to include heatwave risk factors.

Flexible working

Horizon Community Development covers a largegeographical area across Lincolnshire and theHumber. To deal with the increasing risk of disruptionto staff travel in extreme weather, it is looking to

develop flexible working facilities to enable its team tooperate remotely.

Developing service user resilience

As well as providing support in difficult circumstances,the VCOs taking part in this project recognised thatthey can play a major role in strengtheningcommunities over the longer term, so that they are

better able to deal with, and recover from shockswhen they occur, and play their part in the shifttowards a low carbon future.

Building awareness

There is huge scope for building climate issues intoexisting programmes with service users. Forexample:

Hackney and City Mind has added flashcards of

different types of weather into its staff resource packto support conversations about the changing climatewith service users. And along with Headway EastLondon, Mind has also brought the topic into itsexisting gardening and lunch club activities.

Horizon Community Development and LearningLinksare testing out ways to include climate changeas a topic in their back to work services forunemployed people. Horizon has introduced thesubject in its conversation skills activities, askingclients How will climate change affect you?Meanwhile, Learning Links is developing a shortcourse on the changing climate which also exploresthe green jobs market.

Impact Theatrehopes to work with its service usersto develop a climate change workshop that they canrun for other people with learning disabilities.

Life skillsParticipating organisations identified a number ofways to help individuals develop practical ways tocope with climate change challenges.

Wai Yin Chinese Women Society in Manchester isencouraging service uses to grow specialist foods thatare usually imported. This helps its members toreduce their carbon footprint, reduce food bills anddevelop a reliable, local food supply.

Similarly, Hackney and City Mind is investigating

setting up a local food co-op to help service usersshop sustainably and affordably.

Through its fuel poverty programme, PortsmouthCitizens Advice Service is helping service users toidentify low cost and low carbon lifestyle choices, suchas buying energy efficiency products and taking upfree or discounted home insulation offers (which willalso help to keep homes cool in high temperatures).

Connecting people

Wandsworth Older Peoples Forum has beenprompted by the project to fulfill a long-standing wishto forge links with the local elders network for blackand minority ethnic communities.

Ealing University of the Third Agehas connectedwith the local Transition Town group, which is helpingto keep focus and momentum on this topic, alongsidemembers other interests.


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Organisational resilience

Given the uncertainties of climate change,

organisations can develop a better understanding ofits impacts by tracking demand for support services inkey areas.

Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice Bureauhassurveyed clients to look for evidence of need aroundflood insurance and energy bill costs. If increasingneed becomes evident, the CAB will look to expandservice provision in appropriate areas. Givenpressures on funding, it may also consider prioritisingsupport to the most vulnerable and signposting otherclients to alternative sources of support.

Rainbow Community Garden is experimenting withdifferent crops to deal with changes in growingconditions.

Learning Links is reviewing its contract and grantagreements to ensure it wont be penalised by delaysto service delivery caused by extreme weather.

We completely

overhauled our policiesand practice on energyuse and travel.

Helen Schofield, North Bank Forum

The project prompted some organisations such asWalsinghamand North Bank Forumto undertake orextend an internal efficiency review, partly because

they were spurred by the need to cut carbon, but alsoin recognition of the financial implications of climateimpacts.

Perhaps surprisingly, participating organisationswanted to see more climate-related requirements incontracts and grant agreements as a prompt for themto take action.

Advocacy and campaigning

Participating organisations were quick to identify the

need to ensure that their service users interests areaddressed in wider climate change policies and plansand, in some cases, to support beneficiaries tocampaign.

Walsinghamsees an opportunity to add associatedissues to local authority partnership board agendaswhile Hackney and City Mind feels it is now in aposition to lead discussions with its NHS contacts.

Both Citizens Advice Bureaux involved in theproject will feed insights into their national umbrellaorganisation to help inform broader policy.

Age UK London is breaking new ground byrepresenting its service users at London NHS eventson climate change

11. It has also renewed its

commitment to tackling fuel poverty by running peeradvocacy training sessions on the Green Deal forolder people.

Manchester BME Networkis fostering links with theGreater Manchester local authorities and other localvoluntary organisations working on climate change, toenable BME organisations and those they support toget involved with related initiatives.

Creative Hands Foundation has worked withanother organisation Virtual Migrants to deliver apowerful news-based performance for BMEorganisations, highlighting climate impacts around theworld and helping to foster a sense of solidarity withother communities internationally.

We're now in a position to

lead on climate changediscussions if they comeup, for example with theNHS.

Jon Higgs, City and Hackney Mind

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4

Reflections

This two year project was designed to scale up anddevelop the approach of The Big Response pilotproject in 2009

12.

Working with over 50 VCOs, this initiative was able totest much more broadly the question of how relevantclimate change is to the missions of non-

environmental organisations.

It also aimed to find an effective methodology forworking with larger groups of VCOs rather than thetailored one-to-one consultancy support provided inthe pilot, in order to reach a much broader audience.

This section considers what worked and what wasless successful about the approach taken. Itconcludes with some reflections on broader voluntarysector needs in this area and recommendations forvarious stakeholders.

4.1Programme critique

Overall, the initiative worked well, with over half theparticipating organisations completing the fullprogramme and almost all reporting increasedunderstanding of the implications of climate changefor their work.

Some of the insights highlighted by participants arenot likely to be new to those working on the impact ofclimate change on vulnerable communities. Othersare likely to be common concerns for a wide range ofbodies. However, those involved in the project havealso been able to identify particular implications fortheir service users and their own operations whichmay not be apparent to other agencies.

And as the previous section illustrates, many of theVCOs were able to identify relevant ways to respond,with a good number already putting ideas into action

by the close of the project.This response rate reflects the success of theprogramme design which made the climate changetopic accessible and relevant to most of the

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participating VCOs missions. We also feel workedbecause it focused on beneficiary need and enabledparticipating organisations to choose their ownresponses, appropriate to their particularcircumstances.

Climate change is a keycross-cutting issue for us.We hadn't realised thisbefore.

Tazeem Shah, My Community UK

The climate change label

The decision to frame the project as a climatechange initiative - rather than focusing for example onsustainability or resilience - bucked the current trendof downplaying overt references to climate change.

However, in our opinion, the approach wasappropriate for this audience of organisationalrepresentatives, enabling participants to link cause

and effect and to consider the implications from astrategic perspective rather than a purely personalone.

Similarly, addressing climate change adaptationissues as well as the need for mitigation was adeliberate decision, enabling participating VCOs tomake properly informed, rounded decisions abouthow to respond to the overarching challenge ofclimate change.

At times, we did observe some confusion amongstparticipants between the terms mitigation and

adaptation, and some conversations strayed fromspecific climate-related issues to broaderenvironmental concerns such as the declining beepopulation.

Discussions also tended to veer towards mitigationefforts at times, though this is perhaps unsurprising associetal awareness of the need for adaptation is stillgenerally low and was a new idea for mostparticipants. Framing discussions around climatechange impacts quickly helped participants to thinkbeyond their own organisational carbon footprint,which was the starting point for most when theysigned up for the project.
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Vulnerability

Although anyone may be affected by adverse weather

events, some are less able to withstand these events,or cope with their aftermath. Older or disabled peopleand those living in poverty, for example, are likely tobe particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Because of their closeness to those they work with,VCOs can bring to this work specialist knowledge ofthe needs of their users and beneficiaries, theirparticular vulnerabilities and how to respond to these.

Participating organisations demonstrated sophistic-ated understanding of the range of factors that maycontribute to an individuals vulnerability in different

situations. For example, they appreciated the need totake account of personal capacity alongside issueswhich were likely to be common to many of theirservice users.

With mitigation efforts becoming ever more pressingand policy responses on adaptation being formed andput into practice, the need for voluntary sectorengagement on climate change is very current -particularly if the sector is to fulfill its potential inhelping to ensure solutions are effective for allmembers of society.

Participation levels

There was strong engagement from participantsthroughout the initiative. And although drop out ratesafter the first workshop were (43%), the programmeachieved meaningful interaction with all of theparticipating organisations, with every VCO attendingthe first workshop which generated the insightsrefined in later sessions.

Reasons for leaving the programme includedparticipants moving jobs, unexpected developmentswithin organisations and general lack of capacity.One volunteer-led disability VCO found the activitiestoo tiring.

The project also launched (in 2011) just as the extentof government cuts were becoming apparent andpressures on the voluntary sector were rapidlyescalating, both in terms of reduced availability offunding and increased demand for services.

The programme required a significant commitment

from participants: attendance of the three workshopsand delivery of two substantial exercises in between.

Programme elements

Given the project ask and the significant external

pressures facing the voluntary sector, the number oforganisations completing the project (31) suggeststhat the programme design was largely successful.

The only exception were some of the participants inthe older peoples cohort representing peer learningorganisations steered by the personal interests ofindividual members. At times, the framing of issuesfrom a voluntary sector perspective did not chime withthem. However, enjoyment of the three workshopswas consistently high (100%) across all the cohorts.

Workshops and methodology

The over-arching design and delivery of the three coreworkshops was successful, with a good mix offacilitated exercises and specialist speakers. TheNCVO Foresight model provided a simple buteffective structure. Although there was some overlapbetween the seven drivers, together they provided aholistic treatment of climate change, covering bothadaptation and mitigation, allowing for understandingof cause and effect.

It was noticeable that most of the so what?implications identified by participants focused on risk.On reflection, perhaps more emphasis on exploringopportunities would have been beneficial.

Tools and tasks

The tools developed during the programme were verysimple and easy to use, but were tailored to speak toparticipating VCOs concerns.

The tasks between sessions (discussions with staff

and trustees, then engagement work with someservice users) worked well, supporting participants towork independently and helping to embed learningwithin the organisations.

Two trial online discussion forums were also set up onexisting environmental platforms for two of the cohortsto support networking and peer learning betweensessions, but neither facility took off.

The project demanded a lot of commitment fromparticipants in terms of time and effort. A less intenseprogramme may attract more VCOs. In particular,

engaging beneficiaries (the most substantial task)could be optional for those with limited time.

The programme worked better on a shorter timescale;the last cohort running over four months had moremomentum than the earlier strands which had eachlasted between eight and ten months.


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Sub-sectoral cohorts

The development of specialist sub-sectoral cohorts

enabled us to:

explore whether there are significant differences orsimilarities of concern around this agenda for VCOsin particular specialist fields (as considered insection 3);

foster peer-to-peer learning, networking andsupport opportunities;

engage key infrastructure organisations through thecohort steering groups, which helped to reachpotential participants, endorse the project and its

messages to frontline VCOs, and embedunderstanding within the field;

test the level of awareness in different parts of thevoluntary sector through the preliminary work withthe steering groups; and

develop tailored arguments and case studies forother VCOs in the field, to make a stronger andmore relevant case for taking action.

However, given the large number of similaritiesbetween the cohorts concerns, any future initiative

may work equally well with a more mixed group ofparticipants. Some commonalities amongst a cohortwould still be useful eg location, organisation size, orparticular operating circumstances.

Wider connections

The programme linked participants with a range ofother organisations working on climate change (egUniversity of Manchester, regional Climate Change

Partnerships, National Flood Forum, localenvironmental VCOs), enabling them to buildrelationships, participate in other initiatives and sustaintheir interest in the topic.

It may also have demonstrated to these organisationsthe value of including climate adaptation issuesalongside mitigation, in order to build broaderalliances and reach new audiences through non-environmental VCOs.

4.2

Sector need

Most non-environmental voluntary and communityorganisations in England appear to view climatechange as largely irrelevant to their work.

Those that are engaged tend to focus on reducingtheir organisational carbon footprint and are oftendriven to take action on that front by the personalinterests of individuals within the organisation.

This can be a good place to start but all VCOs need tounderstand the implications of climate change as a

major societal trend that will affect their work andthose they support, so that they can continue to servetheir beneficiaries interests into the future.

The achievements of this programmeboth in termsof the knowledge and understanding developed by theVCOs and the range of responses they made shows the value and importance of wideningawareness across the sector.

The project helped us tofocus beyond theCathedral's own energyefficiency, by giving usinformation andawareness about how thewider impacts would

affect our congregationand other people inPortsmouth.Jonathan Lloyd, Portsmouth Cathedral


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4.3

RecommendationsThis project has demonstrated that VCOs can play avital role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts ofclimate change - and doing so in ways that lead tomore socially just outcomes.

There are opportunities for all agencies involved inthis field to build on this programme, recognizing andvaluing the role of the voluntary and community sectorand the difference it can make to their work.

Opportunities for voluntary organisationsWe have found little evidence of other initiatives thatengage VCOs on climate change adaptation as wellas mitigation, but we can see various opportunities fordeveloping a groundswell of activity.

For example, VCOs that are already taking action toreduce their carbon footprint may be interested ingoing further, looking at how they can respond toinevitable climate change as well. As this project hasshown, with the right support and information theycould make a real difference.

There is also a need to better understand voluntarysector involvement in broader community resilienceactivity eg emergency response work in the UK, inorder to draw on existing expertise and examples ofgood practice, building links across and beyond thesector.

Locally, there is an opportunity to link action onclimate change with community development andwider work to foster social capital. Bringing togetherenvironmental organisations and community groupswill help to build awareness and resilience from the

bottom upand enable vulnerable people to becomeactive citizens.

Infrastructure organisations providing both genericand specialist support to the sector - once theyunderstand the implications - can play an invaluablerole in championing the topic with their members.Public sector

Actively involving VCOs in developing responses toclimate change would enable public sector agencies

to benefit from the specialist knowledge of serviceusers that VCOs bring, as well as their broadercommunity links: community engagement initiativesare likely to have much more traction if VCOs can actas conduits.

National Adaptation Plan and ClimateReady service

The Governments climate change adaptation policyand support service should view the sector as adiscrete audience for Climate Ready support services,which should be tailored to suit their needs.

Environmental VCOs

Environmental organisations working on climatechange can look to maximise their impact by buildingalliances with non-environmental organisations (egthe Energy Bill Revolution campaign

13).

Relationships with socially focused VCOs can providereach into communities and to those at the margins ofsociety, helping to mainstream the issue. A focus onadaptation can help to demonstrate the relevance ofclimate change to these organisations.

Funders

VCOs will need resources to enable them to make afull and effective contribution. Therefore whenreviewing their funding strategy, funders may want toconsider the impacts climate change is likely to haveon vulnerable communities and the role VCOs can

play in helping to develop socially just responses.Those funders already supporting mitigation activitieshave an opportunity to broaden the remit of existingfunding streams to include work on adaptation.

Overall, greater priority should be given to supportingand engaging voluntary and community organisationsin efforts to combat climate change to ensure thateveryone has an equal chance of withstanding itsimpacts.

13
http://www.energybillrevolution.org/http://www.energybillrevolution.org/


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Appendix

Programmeparticipants

Older peoples cohort

three Universities of the Third Age: Ealing, Norwoodand Hackney

Wandsworth and Greater London Older PeoplesForums*

CSVs14

Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme

Age UK Camden and Age UK London*.

*Steering group members, plus Age UK (national)

Disability cohort

Manor Gardens Stroke Project, Ald Life, ArthritisSelf-Help Network London, Headway East London

Childrens and young peoples organisations theLimes Children's Centre, Earls Court Youth Cluband the African Caribbean Support Group for carersof children with special needs

Mental health agencies St Mungo's, Good 4 Youand City & Hackney Mind

Learning disability organisations Walsingham andImpact Theatre Company.

Steering group: Voluntary Orgnanisations DisabilityGroup, Equalities National Council of BME DisabledPeople and Mental Heath Providers Forum (withdrew)

14

BME cohort

Community organisations: Community on Solid

Ground, Moss Side and Hulme CommunityDevelopment Trust, Hyde Bangladesh WelfareAssociation, The Jamaica Society, Wai Yin ChineseWomen Society and My Community UK

Older peoples lunch clubs: Khush Amid andTameside Elders Association

Advocacy groups: Warm Hut UK, Voice of theVoiceless and Salford Refugee Forum

Faith organisations: Salford Interfaith Network, FaithNetwork 4 Manchester, New Testament Church of

God

Childrens and young peoples organisations:Creative Hands Foundation, Vision youth club andYouth Village.

Steering group: Manchester BME Network, One NorthWest, Black Environment Network, Voice4ChangeEngland.

Low income cohort

two university Students Unions: Portsmouth andHull Universities

two Citizens Advice Bureaux: Portsmouth* and Hull& East Riding

organisations supporting people into work: LearningLinks* and Horizon Community Development

faith-based organisations: Inter-DenominationalChristian Resources and Business Centre, andPortsmouth Cathedral

an older peoples organisation: Personal Choice

Hull Community Legal Advice Centre

two environmental projects GreenerNei.ghbourhoods Hull and Rainbow CommunityGarden

North Bank Forum*, a local infrastructureorganisation in Hull.

*Steering group members, plus Community Links

Documents

Climate Change, Vulnerability and the Voluntary Sector Report