April 2013

NCVO Vulnerable People and Climate Change Project

Climate Change, Vulnerability and the Voluntary Sector A learning report

An overview of NCVOs work with voluntary and community organisations supporting people more vulnerable to climate impacts in England Our approach, achievements, insights and recommendations for stakeholders

Supported by:

Climate Change, Vulnerability and the Voluntary Sector April 2013

Contents
1 Introduction 2 The project 3 So what, now what? Participants concerns and responses 4 Reflections and recommendations Appendix Project participants

Over the past two years, NCVOs Vulnerable People and Climate Change project has worked with over 50 voluntary organisations across England to explore the impact climate change could have on their work and beneficiaries. The organisations involved in the project all support people who are likely to be disproportionately affected by this global trend. Our investigations highlighted the unique role voluntary organisations can play in helping to find appropriate solutions to this societal challenge - as a matter of social justice.

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Executive Summary
Climate change means that in coming years we will be more at risk from rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns and severe adverse weather events, from flooding to drought. These changes will hit the most vulnerable in society hardest: old people, disabled people and those experiencing poverty or other forms of disadvantage are more at risk of climate impacts. NCVOs Vulnerable People and Climate Change project was set up to help voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) prepare for the impacts of climate change on their work and on those they work with, enabling them to become: more knowledgeable about climate change impacts; better prepared to adapt to the changing climate; more motivated to reduce their carbon emissions; and more likely to campaign on climate change.

could VCOs themselves; and

people in poverty would struggle to cope with the financial consequences of adverse climate events.

Actions
Twenty organisations developed action plans in response to the issues explored in the programme, focusing on how they could adapt to anticipated changes and / or reduce carbon emissions. Each plan was tailored to their particular needs and included: identifying vulnerable people in their community, so they could provide targeted support in extreme weather conditions; working with communities to strengthen their resilience so they are better able to deal with, and recover from shocks when they occur; working with local authorities and NHS bodies to ensure their users needs were addressed in climate change policies and plans; supporting their users to campaign on climate change.

Each organisation was given information about the drivers of climate change, and the need to reduce greenhouse gases, so they could consider the implications for them and their beneficiaries. From this they drew up an action plan to address their particular needs and circumstances. Between 2011 - 2013 the project worked with 51 VCOs and reached over 1,200 people, including:

Conclusions
By focusing on the social mission of VCOs, this project has shown that climate change is an issue for all of us, not just environmental organisations. And by focusing on those particularly at risk of climate impacts, it highlights the need for targeted solutions and approaches to protect the most vulnerable. It has demonstrated that VCOs can make a vital contribution to climate change plans, ensuring that those plans deliver fairer outcomes. Public agencies charged with developing national and local responses to climate change should therefore ensure that VCOs are fully involved in this process. They should actively seek opportunities to invite VCOs to contribute their specialist knowledge of users needs, as well as their broader community links, at both a strategic and operational level. But if the sector is to be able to play its full role in future, a wider range of VCOs will need to be involved in programmes such as this, so that they too can support and engage their users and beneficiaries. They will need to invest time and resources to decide how this will impact on them and what action they can take to mitigate or adapt to climate change. Future support must be a priority if opportunities to develop socially just responses to climate change are to be maximised.

343 staff, volunteers and trustees; and 753 service users and others (eg family members and carers.

Impacts
Although each organisation focused on their own needs and priorities, there were some common concerns:

extreme temperatures (hot or cold) can be hazardous to the health of vulnerable people; people with limited mobility are will face particular practical difficulties in severe weather conditions such as flooding; access to key services, such as medical supplies or benefits, could be disrupted as

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In the past, climate change has been viewed purely as an environmental issue: it is our responsibility to ensure that it is understood and treated as a mainstream issue.

1 Introduction
NCVO and Climate Change
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations champions and strengthens the voluntary sector, from the largest charities to the smallest community organisations. We make sure the English voluntary sector can do what it does best. NCVO recognises that climate change is one of the most serious challenges facing us.

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

Sector leadership
Since 2009, climate change has been a strategic priority for NCVO. We see this as an issue for all organisations and sectors and we are committed to leading by example: providing the joint secretariat, with Green Alliance, for the Ministerial and Third Sector Task Force on Climate Change1

This global issue has society-wide implications and all running The Big Response, with Green Alliance and voluntary and community organisations - whatever Global Action Plan, a pilot project exploring the their mission - need to consider and prepare for the relevance of climate change for the work of four likely impacts this will have on their work and those organisations: British Red Cross, Equinox (a drug they support. and alcohol charity), Friends of the Elderly and RNIB2 We face a double challenge: adapting to the already inevitable effects of our changing climate and The Vulnerable People and Climate Change project continuing urgent efforts to cut global greenhouse built on the Big Response and took it to the next emissions to avoid runaway climate change. stage, working with a wider range of voluntary and community organisations and their beneficiaries. The voluntary sector, with its unparalleled reach into communities and to those at the margins of society, This report shares insights from this unique has a crucial role to play in helping to find and achieve programme. fair, effective solutions to both sides of this dilemma.

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2 The project
NCVOs Vulnerable People and Climate Change project (April 2011 to March 2013) worked with 51 non-environmental voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) to explore how climate change could affect their work and beneficiaries. The project targeted VCOs supporting people in England who could be particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Four cohorts of organisations were recruited from specialist fields and in different locations: Older peoples organisations in London Disability and mental health organisations in London Black and minority ethnic (BME) organisations in Greater Manchester Organisations supporting people on low incomes in Hull and Portsmouth.

Outcomes
The project had four key outcomes for the participating organisations and some of their service users, aiming for them to become: 1. More knowledgeable impacts. about climate change

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 programme approach

All four cohorts were supported through a programme of 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.

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 reduce carbon emissions. 1. Rising average temperatures year round with more heatwaves and fewer cold snaps. 2. Changing rainfall patterns: more and heavier rain in the winter, less in summer. 3. Rising sea levels. 4. Increased risk of flooding. 5. Increased risk of drought. 6. Climate effects elsewhere; for example, changing availability of goods and resources, increased migration, decreased world security.

The project concluded with a final celebration event for participants and a policy roundtable during Climate 7. Pressure for a low carbon society; the continued, Week 2013. urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change. Mini reports of each cohorts work were also produced to share nationally with other VCOs in the specialist Participants were supported to identify the implications fields. of each driver for their organisation and service users. After discussions with colleagues and beneficiaries, they selected the issues which, in their view, would have most significance for their organisation. These Methodology priority issues formed the basis of each organisations The programme approach was based on NCVO action plans. Foresight methodology3, which supports organisations to identify and respond to external trends or forces (drivers) through three simple questions: What drivers could affect your organisation? So what are the implications for you? Now what can you do in response?

Adaptation: responding to inevitable climate change Mitigation: reducing greenhouse gases to avoid runaway climate change

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Programme USP
The methodology puts the social mission of each organisation at the core of the question, to enable participants to appreciate the relevance of climate change in their own context, and to find appropriate ways to respond. While the approach puts strong emphasis on the need to adapt to our changing climate, the seventh drivers focus on carbon reduction (mitigation), ensured participants developed a rounded understanding of the issues. The programme drew on each organisations expert knowledge of their service users and their needs and aimed to equip participants to make their own informed decisions about how to respond to climate change.

Expert input
The workshops and supporting activities were designed and led by NCVO staff, but a range of speakers were recruited to bring specialist expertise to the programme. Each initial workshop began with an overview presentation on climate change delivered by experts 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 other agencies such as the National Flood Forum, climate change officers from relevant local authorities, university researchers and environmental VCOs local to the cohorts. The chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation provided the keynote address at the final event on its complementary climate change and social justice programme5. The project also drew on a range of advisors6 and, for each cohort, a steering group of infrastructure support agencies and sector leaders was recruited from within the 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 to take part in the activities (see appendix).

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Each organisation had the opportunity to have two places on the programme and 74 individuals took part A range of materials7 were developed for the over the course of the project. Most were senior programme, including: representatives or the main project worker for the organisation, except the older peoples cohort, which a booklet tailored to each cohorts field and location, was mostly made up of self-organising, peer-led to help participants frame their in-house discussions groups of older volunteers. with colleagues (modeled on NCVOs Foresight pocket guides8); and

Resources

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

Project reach

The total project reach was much wider, with over Resources were available to make it easier for VCOs 1,200 people directly involved in related activities: to access the programme: participation was free and travel and carer costs were offered. With advice from 343 staff, volunteers and trustees took part in the inhouse conversations the associated steering group, a small honorarium was paid to members of the BME cohort, as many of the target organisations for this particular work stream 753 service users and others (eg family members and carers) were involved in the projects run by operated on a shoestring. participating VCOs.

2.2 Participants
A total of 51 organisations took part in the project, with between 8 and 18 VCOs in each cohort. The profiles of those participating covered a broad spectrum in terms of size, type of organisation, services and specialisms, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the voluntary sector, as shown in the illustration below. See the appendix for the full list of VCOs involved.

The project also attracted a lot of interest from wider arenas including academia, local authorities, other VCOs and even NCVOs sister organisation in Australia.

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Engaging service users

Project achievements

At the second workshop, participating VCOs were Of those taking part in the project: supported to devise and deliver a suitable, small scale project to discuss the implications of climate change 31 VCOs (57%) completed the programme. with some of their service users. 20 developed an action plan for their organisation. 26 projects were delivered, involving between 1 and 150 beneficiaries! All but one project covered both 95% of participants interviewed at the end of the programme reported that they knew more about the adaptation and mitigation issues, and most featured at implications of climate change for their organisation. least one item from the resource pack. The challenge for VCOs was to identify appropriate 80% felt their organisation was better prepared for the changing climate. ways to explore climate change with their beneficiaries, to enable those service users taking part to gain an understanding of how climate change could 83% felt more motivated to reduce their organisations carbon footprint. affect them personally, and to identify possible ways to respond individually. 43% considered that their organisation was more likely to campaign in some way on climate change. As most participating VCOs were working with vulnerable client groups, it wasnt feasible to get direct feedback from many of the service users involved in the project. However, the organisations reported that beneficiaries generated a range of issues and ideas for action during their activities. The implications of climate change for participating VCOs, and the people they support, are explored further in the next section, alongside illustrations of how these organisations have responded.

The range of activities carried out were incredibly broad 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 Thames Barrier.

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3 So what, now what? Participants concerns and responses

Extreme weather
The effects of extreme weather was a major concern, for example: Service users with limited mobility, eg wheelchair users and frail older people, are likely to face particular practical difficulties getting about in heavy rain or during very hot spells. They may face enhanced dangers in flood or storm conditions.

Hundreds of ideas were generated during the course Extreme weather could prevent individuals from accessing services they rely on, eg medical of the project about how climate change is likely to supplies, benefit appointments and emergency impact on the work of socially focused VCOs and services (which could in turn become overthose they support. burdened as well as disrupted). This section provides an overview of the key issues and implications identified by the organisations Voluntary organisations could also be directly involved and the responses they came up with. affected, through disruptions to communications and staff travel for example.

3.1 So what: the implications

Many VCOs are likely to experience increased demand for services in the short-term as beneficiaries turn to them for advice and assistance, and as other services they rely on also come under pressure. Additional support may be needed through recovery periods, eg with insurance claims or rebuilding self-confidence after the shock of events.

Although each cohort came up with their own ideas Heat health risks about the implications of the seven climate change drivers, there were many shared concerns across the Heat health risks also featured strongly, for example: specialist groups, which are outlined here. For older people (particularly those over 75), it becomes harder to keep cool in hot temperatures. The implications span both organisational issues (from operational to strategic level) and concerns for Some health conditions such as certain types of service users. arthritis may benefit from warmer temperatures but other types of disability may be aggravated in hot Additional issues identified by each cohort are weather. featured in the summary reports for the related work 10 strands. Many people on low incomes live in poor quality housing ill-equipped to deal with extreme heat (or cold). Those renting their homes are largely reliant on landlords to make adaptations to properties, while owner occupiers on low incomes may not be able to afford to make changes. Over-heated working conditions can also affect the productivity 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:

People with specialist support needs may be unintentionally overlooked or excluded from mainstream emergency response plans.

Our globalised supply chains will be susceptible to Concern for communities abroad climate impacts in other parts of the world, likely pushing up the cost of some imported food and Service users, particularly those from BME communities, may have family and friends in other contributing to the cost of fuel. countries already experiencing severe climate impacts, where conditions such as drought, The financial impacts of flooding hit people on low hurricanes and land lost to rising sea levels are incomes particularly hard. Many have no contents already leading to increasing hardship, tensions and insurance to cover lost or ruined possessions, and migration. lack the financial capacity to replace items readily. Damage to homes from extreme weather can cause vulnerable people considerable anxiety in terms of organising and overseeing repairs and worrying about the risk of rogue traders, as well as handling bills. Concerned relatives and community members here in the UK are likely to experience increased anxiety about those affected. Some individuals may face heavier financial burdens if they send more money home to support those most in need.

The project really made me think about how isolated our members can be - both from information and practically - and how vulnerable that makes them in a crisis.
Amanda DSouza, Headway East London

Water shortage impacts

The disability and older peoples cohorts identified particular concerns about possible effects of drought conditions. Some people with disabilities require a lot of water for hygiene purposes. Water shortages could reduce the availability of public toilets, which could deter older people for example from getting out and about.

Active citizenship opportunities

There was a strong consensus, particularly within the disability, BME and low income cohorts, of the need to Climate change impacts may exacerbate the risk of support potentially marginalised groups to contribute isolation for some service user groups, which has to carbon reduction efforts. implications for general wellbeing and wider Supporting service users to reduce, re-use and community cohesion, as well as individual safety. recycle, eat seasonally, or monitor their energy usage In extreme weather, service users may be reluctant for example, are all tangible actions that individuals to undertake independent journeys to amenities can take. and activities. These types of contributions boost self-confidence Those reliant on public transport may face disrupted and enable individuals to make a difference as active citizens. They help to combat isolation and can or cancelled services. contribute to recovery for people with mental health Language and cultural differences may present needs. barriers to information and advice about climate impacts for BME communities.

Service user isolation

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Increased organisational running costs

Project participants realised that many of these issues could have financial implications for their organisations. For example: increased demand for services would need resourcing, whether in the short or longer term; operational challenges in extreme conditions often bring additional costs;

3.2 Now what: taking action

weather Twenty organisations created an action plan in response to the issues explored in the programme. Commitments in the plans and those made adapting premises to make them climate ready subsequently span the planned outcomes for the and low carbon often requires capital investment; project: and 1. Developing knowledge and understanding. if the practice of payment by results in contracts becomes more widespread, increasing incidents of 2. Preparing to adapt to our changing climate. extreme weather could bring additional risk for 3. Reducing organisational carbon emissions. delivery agents. 4. Campaigning on climate change.

Service user concerns

An analysis of the actions across all the plans reveals that:

Flood and heat risks, and cost of living impacts 50% are adaptation focused; were the most recurrent themes emerging from the VCOs discussions with service users. There was 25% contribute to carbon reduction; and also a lot of interest amongst beneficiaries in carbon 25% deliver both adaptation and carbon reduction reduction issues. benefits. The discussions also explored a range of societal solutions spanning both mitigation and adaptation While there are no direct commitments in the plans to responses e.g. growing your own fruit and campaigning, some participants are already active in vegetables (reducing food miles and building food this area, or can see the potential. security), tree planting (carbon sinks and a cooling An overview of participants responses, with examples technique). from across the cohorts, is given below. A number of groups also wanted to see more holistic education and awareness raising around climate change.

Building extreme weather resilience

Organisations are reviewing and updating a range of their policies and practices in preparation for increasing incidents and severity of extreme weather.

Assisting service users

New Testament Church of God in Manchester is building a contact list of elders and other vulnerable members of the congregation so that it can provide targeted outreach support in extreme conditions.

Church Elders

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Headway East London is looking at the possibility of offering transport to its members (who have brain injuries), to support them with shopping in heavy rain or very high temperatures.

Horizon Community Development and Learning Links are testing out ways to include climate change as a topic in their back to work services for unemployed people. Horizon has introduced the subject in its conversation skills activities, asking clients How will climate change affect you? Policies Meanwhile, Learning Links is developing a short The Limes Childrens Centre in East London drew course on the changing climate which also explores on its recent experience of preparing for disruption the green jobs market. from the Olympics to improve its contingency plans. Impact Theatre hopes to work with its service users After assessing the impact of flooding on its service to develop a climate change workshop that they can users in Cumbria when staff had to make 50 mile run for other people with learning disabilities. rount trips for home visits, Walsingham (an organisation supporting people with learning disabilities) has added tinned food to the checklist of essential household items for beneficiaries. Life skills Impact Theatre in London has revised its health and Participating organisations identified a number of ways to help individuals develop practical ways to safety policy to include heatwave risk factors. cope with climate change challenges. Wai Yin Chinese Women Society in Manchester is encouraging service uses to grow specialist foods that Flexible working are usually imported. This helps its members to Horizon Community Development covers a large reduce their carbon footprint, reduce food bills and geographical area across Lincolnshire and the develop a reliable, local food supply. Humber. To deal with the increasing risk of disruption to staff travel in extreme weather, it is looking to Similarly, Hackney and City Mind is investigating develop flexible working facilities to enable its team to setting up a local food co-op to help service users operate remotely. shop sustainably and affordably. Through its fuel poverty programme, Portsmouth Citizens Advice Service is helping service users to identify low cost and low carbon lifestyle choices, such as buying energy efficiency products and taking up free or discounted home insulation offers (which will also help to keep homes cool in high temperatures).

Developing service user resilience

As well as providing support in difficult circumstances, the VCOs taking part in this project recognised that they can play a major role in strengthening communities over the longer term, so that they are Connecting people better able to deal with, and recover from shocks Wandsworth Older Peoples Forum has been when they occur, and play their part in the shift prompted by the project to fulfill a long-standing wish towards a low carbon future. to forge links with the local elders network for black and minority ethnic communities. Ealing University of the Third Age has connected with the local Transition Town group, which is helping There is huge scope for building climate issues into to keep focus and momentum on this topic, alongside existing programmes with service users. For members other interests. example:

Building awareness

Hackney and City Mind has added flashcards of different types of weather into its staff resource pack to support conversations about the changing climate with service users. And along with Headway East London, Mind has also brought the topic into its existing gardening and lunch club activities.
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Organisational resilience
Given the uncertainties of climate change, organisations can develop a better understanding of its impacts by tracking demand for support services in key areas. Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice Bureau has surveyed clients to look for evidence of need around flood insurance and energy bill costs. If increasing need becomes evident, the CAB will look to expand service provision in appropriate areas. Given pressures on funding, it may also consider prioritising support to the most vulnerable and signposting other clients to alternative sources of support.

Advocacy and campaigning

Participating organisations were quick to identify the need to ensure that their service users interests are addressed in wider climate change policies and plans and, in some cases, to support beneficiaries to campaign. Walsingham sees an opportunity to add associated issues to local authority partnership board agendas while Hackney and City Mind feels it is now in a position to lead discussions with its NHS contacts. Both Citizens Advice Bureaux involved in the project will feed insights into their national umbrella organisation to help inform broader policy.

Rainbow Community Garden is experimenting with different crops to deal with changes in growing Age UK London is breaking new ground by representing its service users at London NHS events conditions. on climate change11. It has also renewed its Learning Links is reviewing its contract and grant commitment to tackling fuel poverty by running peer agreements to ensure it wont be penalised by delays advocacy training sessions on the Green Deal for to service delivery caused by extreme weather. older people.

We completely overhauled our policies and practice on energy use and travel.
Helen Schofield, North Bank Forum

Manchester BME Network is fostering links with the Greater Manchester local authorities and other local voluntary organisations working on climate change, to enable BME organisations and those they support to get involved with related initiatives. Creative Hands Foundation has worked with another organisation Virtual Migrants to deliver a powerful news-based performance for BME organisations, highlighting climate impacts around the world and helping to foster a sense of solidarity with other communities internationally.

The project prompted some organisations such as Walsingham and North Bank Forum to undertake or extend an internal efficiency review, partly because they were spurred by the need to cut carbon, but also in recognition of the financial implications of climate impacts. Perhaps surprisingly, participating organisations wanted to see more climate-related requirements in contracts and grant agreements as a prompt for them to take action.

We're now in a position to lead on climate change discussions if they come up, for example with the NHS.
Jon Higgs, City and Hackney Mind

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4 Reflections
This two year project was designed to scale up and develop the approach of The Big Response pilot project in 200912. Working with over 50 VCOs, this initiative was able to test much more broadly the question of how relevant climate change is to the missions of nonenvironmental organisations.

participating VCOs missions. We also feel worked because it focused on beneficiary need and enabled participating organisations to choose their own responses, appropriate to their particular circumstances.

Climate change is a key cross-cutting issue for us. We hadn't realised this before.
Tazeem Shah, My Community UK

It also aimed to find an effective methodology for working with larger groups of VCOs rather than the tailored one-to-one consultancy support provided in The climate change label the pilot, in order to reach a much broader audience. The decision to frame the project as a climate change initiative - rather than focusing for example on This section considers what worked and what was sustainability or resilience - bucked the current trend less successful about the approach taken. It of downplaying overt references to climate change. concludes with some reflections on broader voluntary sector needs in this area and recommendations for However, in our opinion, the approach was various stakeholders. appropriate for this audience of organisational representatives, enabling participants to link cause and effect and to consider the implications from a strategic perspective rather than a purely personal one.

4.1 Programme critique

Similarly, addressing climate change adaptation issues as well as the need for mitigation was a deliberate decision, enabling participating VCOs to Overall, the initiative worked well, with over half the make properly informed, rounded decisions about participating organisations completing the full how to respond to the overarching challenge of programme and almost all reporting increased climate change. understanding of the implications of climate change At times, we did observe some confusion amongst for their work. participants between the terms mitigation and Some of the insights highlighted by participants are adaptation, and some conversations strayed from climate-related issues to broader not likely to be new to those working on the impact of specific environmental concerns such as the declining bee climate change on vulnerable communities. Others population. are likely to be common concerns for a wide range of bodies. However, those involved in the project have Discussions also tended to veer towards mitigation also been able to identify particular implications for efforts at times, though this is perhaps unsurprising as their service users and their own operations which societal awareness of the need for adaptation is still may not be apparent to other agencies. generally low and was a new idea for most And as the previous section illustrates, many of the participants. Framing discussions around climate VCOs were able to identify relevant ways to respond, change impacts quickly helped participants to think with a good number already putting ideas into action beyond their own organisational carbon footprint, which was the starting point for most when they by the close of the project. signed up for the project. This response rate reflects the success of the programme design which made the climate change topic accessible and relevant to most of the
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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 people and those living in poverty, for example, are likely to be particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Because of their closeness to those they work with, VCOs can bring to this work specialist knowledge of the needs of their users and beneficiaries, their particular vulnerabilities and how to respond to these.

Programme elements
Given the project ask and the significant external pressures facing the voluntary sector, the number of organisations completing the project (31) suggests that the programme design was largely successful.

The only exception were some of the participants in the older peoples cohort representing peer learning organisations steered by the personal interests of individual members. At times, the framing of issues from a voluntary sector perspective did not chime with them. However, enjoyment of the three workshops Participating organisations demonstrated sophistic- was consistently high (100%) across all the cohorts. ated understanding of the range of factors that may contribute to an individuals vulnerability in different situations. For example, they appreciated the need to take account of personal capacity alongside issues Workshops and methodology which were likely to be common to many of their The over-arching design and delivery of the three core service users. workshops was successful, with a good mix of facilitated exercises and specialist speakers. The With mitigation efforts becoming ever more pressing NCVO Foresight model provided a simple but and policy responses on adaptation being formed and effective structure. Although there was some overlap put into practice, the need for voluntary sector between the seven drivers, together they provided a engagement on climate change is very current - holistic treatment of climate change, covering both particularly if the sector is to fulfill its potential in adaptation and mitigation, allowing for understanding helping to ensure solutions are effective for all of cause and effect. members of society. It was noticeable that most of the so what? implications identified by participants focused on risk. On reflection, perhaps more emphasis on exploring opportunities would have been beneficial.

Participation levels

There was strong engagement from participants throughout the initiative. And although drop out rates Tools and tasks after the first workshop were (43%), the programme achieved meaningful interaction with all of the The tools developed during the programme were very participating organisations, with every VCO attending simple and easy to use, but were tailored to speak to the first workshop which generated the insights participating VCOs concerns. refined in later sessions. The tasks between sessions (discussions with staff Reasons for leaving the programme included and trustees, then engagement work with some participants moving jobs, unexpected developments service users) worked well, supporting participants to within organisations and general lack of capacity. work independently and helping to embed learning One volunteer-led disability VCO found the activities within the organisations. too tiring. Two trial online discussion forums were also set up on The project also launched (in 2011) just as the extent existing environmental platforms for two of the cohorts of government cuts were becoming apparent and to support networking and peer learning between pressures on the voluntary sector were rapidly sessions, but neither facility took off. escalating, both in terms of reduced availability of The project demanded a lot of commitment from funding and increased demand for services. participants in terms of time and effort. A less intense The programme required a significant commitment programme may attract more VCOs. In particular, from participants: attendance of the three workshops engaging beneficiaries (the most substantial task) could be optional for those with limited time. and delivery of two substantial exercises in between. The programme worked better on a shorter timescale; the last cohort running over four months had more momentum than the earlier strands which had each lasted between eight and ten months.
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Sub-sectoral cohorts
The development of specialist sub-sectoral cohorts enabled us to:

Sector need

explore whether there are significant differences or Most non-environmental voluntary and community similarities of concern around this agenda for VCOs organisations in England appear to view climate in particular specialist fields (as considered in change as largely irrelevant to their work. section 3); Those that are engaged tend to focus on reducing foster peer-to-peer learning, networking and their organisational carbon footprint and are often support opportunities; driven to take action on that front by the personal interests of individuals within the organisation. engage key infrastructure organisations through the cohort steering groups, which helped to reach This can be a good place to start but all VCOs need to potential participants, endorse the project and its understand the implications of climate change as a messages to frontline VCOs, and embed major societal trend that will affect their work and understanding within the field; those they support, so that they can continue to serve their beneficiaries interests into the future. test the level of awareness in different parts of the voluntary sector through the preliminary work with The achievements of this programme both in terms of the knowledge and understanding developed by the the steering groups; and VCOs and the range of responses they made develop tailored arguments and case studies for shows the value and importance of widening other VCOs in the field, to make a stronger and awareness across the sector. more relevant case for taking action. However, given the large number of similarities between the cohorts concerns, any future initiative may work equally well with a more mixed group of participants. Some commonalities amongst a cohort would still be useful eg location, organisation size, or particular operating circumstances.

Wider connections
The programme linked participants with a range of other organisations working on climate change (eg University of Manchester, regional Climate Change Partnerships, National Flood Forum, local environmental VCOs), enabling them to build relationships, participate in other initiatives and sustain their interest in the topic. It may also have demonstrated to these organisations the value of including climate adaptation issues alongside mitigation, in order to build broader alliances and reach new audiences through nonenvironmental VCOs.

The project helped us to focus beyond the Cathedral's own energy efficiency, by giving us information and awareness about how the wider impacts would affect our congregation and other people in Portsmouth.
Jonathan Lloyd, Portsmouth Cathedral

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4.3 Recommendations

National Adaptation Plan and Climate Ready service

The Governments climate change adaptation policy and support service should view the sector as a This project has demonstrated that VCOs can play a discrete audience for Climate Ready support services, vital role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of which should be tailored to suit their needs. climate change - and doing so in ways that lead to Environmental VCOs more socially just outcomes. There are opportunities for all agencies involved in Environmental organisations working on climate this field to build on this programme, recognizing and change can look to maximise their impact by building (eg valuing the role of the voluntary and community sector alliances with non-environmental organisations 13 the Energy Bill Revolution campaign ). and the difference it can make to their work. Relationships with socially focused VCOs can provide Opportunities for voluntary organisations reach into communities and to those at the margins of We have found little evidence of other initiatives that society, helping to mainstream the issue. A focus on engage VCOs on climate change adaptation as well adaptation can help to demonstrate the relevance of as mitigation, but we can see various opportunities for climate change to these organisations. developing a groundswell of activity. For example, VCOs that are already taking action to reduce their carbon footprint may be interested in going further, looking at how they can respond to inevitable climate change as well. As this project has shown, with the right support and information they could make a real difference. There is also a need to better understand voluntary sector involvement in broader community resilience activity eg emergency response work in the UK, in order to draw on existing expertise and examples of good practice, building links across and beyond the sector.

Funders

VCOs will need resources to enable them to make a full and effective contribution. Therefore when reviewing their funding strategy, funders may want to consider the impacts climate change is likely to have on vulnerable communities and the role VCOs can play in helping to develop socially just responses. Those funders already supporting mitigation activities have an opportunity to broaden the remit of existing funding streams to include work on adaptation.

Overall, greater priority should be given to supporting and engaging voluntary and community organisations Locally, there is an opportunity to link action on in efforts to combat climate change to ensure that climate change with community development and everyone has an equal chance of withstanding its wider work to foster social capital. Bringing together impacts. environmental organisations and community groups will help to build awareness and resilience from the bottom up and enable vulnerable people to become active citizens. Infrastructure organisations providing both generic and specialist support to the sector - once they understand the implications - can play an invaluable role in championing the topic with their members.

Public sector
Actively involving VCOs in developing responses to climate change would enable public sector agencies to benefit from the specialist knowledge of service users that VCOs bring, as well as their broader community links: community engagement initiatives are likely to have much more traction if VCOs can act as conduits.
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Climate Change, Vulnerability and the Voluntary Sector April 2013

Appendix

BME cohort
Community organisations: Community on Solid Ground, Moss Side and Hulme Community Development Trust, Hyde Bangladesh Welfare Association, The Jamaica Society, Wai Yin Chinese Women Society and My Community UK Older peoples lunch clubs: Khush Amid and Tameside Elders Association Advocacy groups: Warm Hut UK, Voice of the Voiceless and Salford Refugee Forum

Programme participants
Older peoples cohort

three Universities of the Third Age: Ealing, Norwood Faith organisations: Salford Interfaith Network, Faith and Hackney Network 4 Manchester, New Testament Church of Wandsworth and Greater London Older Peoples God Forums* Childrens and young peoples organisations: CSVs14 Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme Creative Hands Foundation, Vision youth club and Youth Village. Age UK Camden and Age UK London*. Steering group: Manchester BME Network, One North *Steering group members, plus Age UK (national) West, Black Environment Network, Voice4Change England.

Disability cohort
Manor Gardens Stroke Project, Ald Life, Arthritis Low income cohort Self-Help Network London, Headway East London two university Students Unions: Portsmouth and Hull Universities Childrens and young peoples organisations the Limes Children's Centre, Earls Court Youth Club two Citizens Advice Bureaux: Portsmouth* and Hull and the African Caribbean Support Group for carers & East Riding of children with special needs organisations supporting people into work: Learning Mental health agencies St Mungo's, Good 4 You Links* and Horizon Community Development and City & Hackney Mind faith-based organisations: Inter-Denominational Learning disability organisations Walsingham and Christian Resources and Business Centre, and Impact Theatre Company. Portsmouth Cathedral Steering group: Voluntary Orgnanisations Disability Group, Equalities National Council of BME Disabled People and Mental Heath Providers Forum (withdrew) an older peoples organisation: Personal Choice Hull Community Legal Advice Centre two environmental projects Greener Nei.ghbourhoods Hull and Rainbow Community Garden North Bank Forum*, a local infrastructure organisation in Hull. *Steering group members, plus Community Links

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