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connecting people, sharing resources and supporting communities to live more sustainably

February Newsletter

Hello from AfSL,

February is a busy month for AfSL and this newsletter is packed with what we’ve got coming up this month.

Green Seeds has really kicked off, with the launch of the South Manchester Environmental Forum and the Green Survey. There are also details of AfSL’s Annual General Meeting and who to contact if you’d like to attend.

A Few Small Steps, our programme for schools, has got a lot going on this month as well. A new intern has started this week and will be supporting the school’s team for the next six months. Other developments include a new workshop for headteachers and a pilot project exploring how to get schools interested in renewable energy.

We would also like to announce three new volunteer opportunities with AfSL. The three placements are all related to Media and Communications, so if you are interested in this area (or know somebody else who might be), please forward this newsletter on to them.

For more details of what we’re doing and how you can get involved, read on...

	South Manchester Environmental Forum The first South Manchester Environmental Forum was held at Levenshulme Inspire on Tuesday the 8th of February. People from different parts of South Manchester came together to talk about how they want their community to be more sustainable and what they can do to make it this way. The first meeting focused on exploring what different people wanted and how best to work together. Josh Steiner, of AfSL, said “In just a few hours we’ve made massive strides towards a more sustainable Manchester. Community groups, housing associations, business and people all came together with a common purpose, to make South Manchester more green and ultimately, more pleasant.” SMEF is part of the Green Seeds project that is funded by the Big Lottery. Green Seeds will see AfSL working around South Manchester to promote and support sustainable communities. The next SMEF will be held in April, with the venue to be confirmed
	Green Survey Also part of the Big Lottery 'Green Seeds' project, AfSL are carrying out a Green Spaces survey to gather together the opinions and perspectives of the people in Manchester. This will allow AfSL to build a comprehensive picture of how people feel about their area, what they feel involved in and what they would like to see improved. To help us with this, please spare a few minutes to complete the online survey and pass it on to anyone you feel would be interested in having their views heard. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5YGWX2V
	AGM Action for Sustainable Living will be hosting its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 8th March at the Manchester Friends Meeting House from 6:00pm. Light refreshments will be served and followed by a Ceilidh. The AGM will focus on the events of the past year and celebrate the excellent work volunteers have done and offer them a chance to let their hair down with the team! For more information and to register your attendance, please contact office@afsl.org.uk
	AFSS News.
	>Rolls Crescent Primary Solar Panel Project. AfSL is running a pilot project to find effective ways to encourage schools to invest in low carbon technology. It is being run by the Schools Development Worker Josh Steiner and Luke Smith from Manchester Is My Planet. The aim is to find the best way to get schools to install photo-voltaic panels and take advantage of the wealth of space they often have which isn’t used, such as on their roof. These panels convert sunlight into electricity, saving the school money and teaching kids about the environment. Despite the National Framework for Sustainable Schools being changed by the government, the Renewable Heat Incentive has been kept. With the data that this pilot project will provide and this scheme, there is real scope for this service to be offered to schools and communities across the county.
	Breakfast Workshop with WWF A Few Small Steps will be working with the World Wildlife Foundation to help headteachers become more informed on sustainability, learn how their school can be more environmentally friendly and what the children who attend their schools can expect in the future. The workshop is taking place on Thursday 17th of February between 8 and 10.30am at the Chancellors Hotel. It will let head teachers know about what support is available to them and their school and how they can lead their school ‘to engage with the future’. For more information please contact Raichael Lock 0161 237 8881 or email office@meen.org.uk
	New AFSS intern I’d like to welcome a new member of the AfSL family, Kelly Kokaisel. She has a background in marketing and sustainable design, and has recently moved to England from across the Atlantic. Kelly will be working on letting teachers and educational networks know about the great service that AFSS offers and will be doing some hands-on work with schools. A big hello from everybody at AfSL!
	Volunteer News.
	New Volunteering Opportunities with AfSL There are three new volunteering opportunities with the Action for Sustainable Living team. They are all focused on communications and media and are a great way to hone skills in a safe environment that will nurture talent. Policy and Communications Volunteer The Policy and Communications volunteer will research upcoming changes to governmental policy (in the volunteering sector and environmental sector) on a local and national scale that are likely to effect the charity. You will produce short, clear updates, and attend the charity’s operations meeting once a month to provide team members a monthly briefing. Your role may include attending talks and conferences to inform your research. Go here to apply. Press and Media Intern The Press and Media Intern is responsible for the promotion of Action for Sustainable Living to local and national journalists and media outlets. You will get Action for Sustainable Living into the news by writing press releases and articles, and by networking with journalists and media outlets. Go here to apply Newsletter Writer The Newsletter Writer creates Action for Sustainable Living’s monthly newsletter. You will be responsible for researching, writing, publishing stories and sending out the newsletter online. You must be able to carry out this role from home at times. You will need access to the internet and a computer. Role will include: Researching stories. Writing and publishing articles using Mailchimp. Sourcing photos and images for the newsletter. Becoming familiar with sustainability issues at least in so far as they relate to your role. Get to know Action for Sustainable Living in its many forms. Go here to apply.
	Community Consultation for Recreate the Streets AfSL volunteer Bob Walley will be chatting to residents of Carlton Street in Old Trafford to let them know about his project ‘Recreate the Streets’. He wants to spruce up the alleyways in the area and make them a place where people would like to enjoy themselves. Having been neglected for years, the project will take a team of dedicated volunteers from the area to assist Bob. The ‘community consultation’ will take place on Monday 14th/ Tuesday 15th between 6 and 8 pm. For more information please contact Bob Walley at bob.walley@afsl.org.uk. Or 07931192230.
	Natural Recovery Digging Day The Natural Recovery project in Sale is holding a ‘digging day’ for people to come along and help build a sensory garden. This will be at Syrian House, a care home for people with mental health needs. The garden will be full of colourful, sweet smelling and tactile plants to stimulate the senses. There will be loads of activities, many of which will involve getting dirty hands, so fine clothes are best left at home. The session is going to take place between 11am and 3pm on Saturday 19th February at Syrian House (Sandiway Road, Sale, M33 5AL). For more details on how to get involved, please contact Carolina Scarinci at Carolina.scarinci@afsl.org.uk