Overview

This course will help you and your councils prepare a plan to tackle the climate emergency, and then make it happen cost-effectively. It will enable you to understand the dangers, the need to act, and the areas where councils can improve the future lifestyle of their community. It will give you the knowledge and confidence to help your community “live well for the planet”.

The course covers the basic science and the impact on our planet of what we do with our current lifestyles. It covers the legal and ethical reasons to act. You will get practical guidance on the activities to take within your community to make it fit for the future. It covers why and how to improve insulation of homes and buildings, get energy from renewable sources, use transport which does not use fossil fuels, eat more plant-based food (bought locally), and protect our countryside. Councils can, directly and indirectly, influence all these aspects.

You will be encouraged to create pledges for actions after the course for yourself and a group towards getting a certificate from the Carbon Literacy Project (CLP). You will be confident to persuade others of the urgent need to change what they do today.

Dates

Tuesday 21 March, 9:00am – 1:00pm
Tuesday 28 March, 9:00am – 1:00pm

Price

Members: £120 + VAT
Non-Members: £120 + VAT

CPD points

Claim 4 CPD points upon completion of the qualification.

Joining instructions will be sent to you 3 weeks before the event (please check your spam inbox) and your invoice will be sent before the event. We advise that, on receipt of the joining instructions, you are liable for any fees incurred in order to attend the event.

Having spent a lot of time since Shrewsbury Town Council declared its Climate Emergency back in March 2019 looking at climate related matters I really questioned whether the Carbon Literacy Course would be for me.  I was surprised at how much I learnt in terms of the technical data around the emergency we find ourselves in but many of those practical measures that can help me as a Clerk help my Council achieve its long-term goals.  It was evident from doing the course that it wasn’t really about how the town council could achieve carbon neutrality, but more about how we can influence others, and maybe not everyone is on the same page as we are about the position we find ourselves in globally.  This is a worthwhile course to help any clerk address the needs of their council in addressing the Climate Emergency, but also challenging them to do their part individually and being confident enough to shout about it.”
Helen Ball, Clerk to Shrewsbury Town Council

About the Trainers

This webinar is kindly provided by Allan Wilson and Richard Watkins from Save our Shropshire (SOS).

Allan Wilson

Allan co-founded Save Our Shropshire CIO (SOS) in July 2021, a charity dedicated to increasing people’s understanding of Climate Change. SOS provides education to Householders and Parish/Town Councils to enable them to make lifestyle changes to achieve a net-zero carbon future in Shropshire.

Allan had a 31-year career in the Police Force until 2015. As part of his service, he provided 3-day courses in drink/drug driving and rehabilitation, to bring about behaviour change.

Since retirement in 2015, he has been actively involved in his passionate concern for the environment. He co-founded the Edgmond Wildlife Trust to increase biodiversity and protect the parish where he lives. In 2017 he created a hedgehog preservation organisation. He became a parish councillor and then was elected to become chair of the council in 2019. He was also elected to become vice-chair of the Shropshire Association of Local councils, holding the portfolio responsibility for climate change matters. Allan has presented to councils extensively on their responsibilities under the Climate change Act 2008.

He gained an MBA from Wolverhampton University.

 

Allan Wilson - Save Our Shropshire

Richard Watkins

Richard co-founded Save Our Shropshire in July 2021. He gained Carbon Literacy certification in 2020 and pledged to get involved in the fight against the effects of Climate Change. His enthusiasm builds on the power of education to bring about transformational behaviour change. His driving force is the need to pass on a safe environment for grandchildren.

For the previous 30 years, he provided education and consultancy for manufacturing companies, which helped big and small businesses change their systems, processes and culture. Clients saw phenomenal improvements in the way that they performed, improving customer service and improving profitability. At its core, the consultancy drove behaviour change.

Between 1978 and 1990 he worked for ICI Agrochemicals in a global marketing tole, and in a project team which transformed the business performance of the division. After university, he worked in industrial marketing with Tube Investments Ltd.

He gained an MBA from London Business School, and an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

 

Richard Watkins - Save Our Shropshire

Wrong time? Wrong place?

SLCC is always keen to respond to members’ needs for training. If you would like to register an interest in having a particular course delivered via webinar or in your region, please let us know.

Expressions of Interest 2022