Environmental sustainability
MBF is working to develop our long-term environmental sustainability as we recognise that our operations have an effect on the local, regional and global environment. As a result we are setting up a working group to help us develop in this area further. The government is encouraging us in this and recognises that care for the environment needs to be an integral part of their policy making for the third sector to thrive and grow.
We want to encourage mentoring and befriending projects to become more environmentally sustainable. If you’ve got any examples about how your project is becoming greener or have any other tips you can pass on to other projects or think your organisation would make a good case study in this area, please email info@mandbf.org.uk so that we can share this information with other projects.
MBF is encouraging mentoring and befriending organisations to create an environmental policy and to think about what you can do to help make the sector more sustainable.
We suggest exploring the following four areas as a starting point to see what’s feasible for you:
We want to encourage mentoring and befriending projects to become more environmentally sustainable. If you’ve got any examples about how your project is becoming greener or have any other tips you can pass on to other projects or think your organisation would make a good case study in this area, please email info@mandbf.org.uk so that we can share this information with other projects.
MBF is encouraging mentoring and befriending organisations to create an environmental policy and to think about what you can do to help make the sector more sustainable.
We suggest exploring the following four areas as a starting point to see what’s feasible for you:
- Energy efficiency
- Recycling
- Travel
- Purchasing
How MBF is working towards improvements
Energy efficiency
- switching off our computers and lights when not in use
- ensuring that our heating and ventilation systems are used effectively and efficiently
- setting printers and photocopiers to double-sided printing
Recycling
- part of a recycling collection scheme (paper, cardboard, cans, plastic bottles, toner cartridges)
- reducing our consumption of paper by using e-communications internally to circulate documents
- producing more information in online formats only
- printing our hard copy leaflets, publications and magazines on recycled paper
- promoting our website to encourage members and users to download information
Travel
- promoting environmentally friendly forms of transport by encouraging the use of car sharing or public transport for employees travelling to the workplace as well as to external meetings
- communicating by email and telephone rather than travelling to ‘face to face’ meetings when feasible
- increasing our use of teleconferencing and webconferencing facilities for internal meetings plus external ones where possible
Purchasing
- using local caterers whenever possible when providing food for events and meetings
- buying Fairtrade tea and coffee
- using recycled products such as photocopier paper, notepads etc
- switching off our computers and lights when not in use
- ensuring that our heating and ventilation systems are used effectively and efficiently
- setting printers and photocopiers to double-sided printing
Recycling
- part of a recycling collection scheme (paper, cardboard, cans, plastic bottles, toner cartridges)
- reducing our consumption of paper by using e-communications internally to circulate documents
- producing more information in online formats only
- printing our hard copy leaflets, publications and magazines on recycled paper
- promoting our website to encourage members and users to download information
Travel
- promoting environmentally friendly forms of transport by encouraging the use of car sharing or public transport for employees travelling to the workplace as well as to external meetings
- communicating by email and telephone rather than travelling to ‘face to face’ meetings when feasible
- increasing our use of teleconferencing and webconferencing facilities for internal meetings plus external ones where possible
Purchasing
- using local caterers whenever possible when providing food for events and meetings
- buying Fairtrade tea and coffee
- using recycled products such as photocopier paper, notepads etc
Further information and support
Every Action Counts is an initiative supported by Defra and is delivered through a consortium of voluntary and community sector organisations. Their website has links to lots of useful information such as: how to develop an energy efficient office, choosing a green electricity and gas supplier, switching to greener travel options, starting an office paper recycling scheme, promoting Fair Trade and lots more
VolResource has lots of useful links around the environmental and social impact of voluntary organisations including recyling, energy saving, ethical investment and other issues
Act on CO2 from Directgov has lots of information about climate change and how you can measure and reduce your carbon footprint. They also offer an energy saving helpline
IdeA has lots of links and resources to show how local government is pioneering much of the best practice in environmental sustainability and climate change
Association for Conservation of Energy encourages a positive national awareness of the need for and benefits of energy conservation
Energy Saving Trust - Green Communities aims to support, facilitate and promote community based energy projects and offers free training and advice, technical support and a website packed with resources
Energy Saving Community offers extensive advice on working as a community to save energy and the site provides a readable guide to everything you need to get a community project started including lots of self-help ideas that anyone can use to save energy
Low Carbon Communities Network aims to encourage the adoption of low carbon and zero carbon technologies and lifestyles at a community level and to enable groups to be as effective and efficient as possible
Championing CSR includes a sample environmental policy and toolkit with other useful resources
VolResource has lots of useful links around the environmental and social impact of voluntary organisations including recyling, energy saving, ethical investment and other issues
Act on CO2 from Directgov has lots of information about climate change and how you can measure and reduce your carbon footprint. They also offer an energy saving helpline
IdeA has lots of links and resources to show how local government is pioneering much of the best practice in environmental sustainability and climate change
Association for Conservation of Energy encourages a positive national awareness of the need for and benefits of energy conservation
Energy Saving Trust - Green Communities aims to support, facilitate and promote community based energy projects and offers free training and advice, technical support and a website packed with resources
Energy Saving Community offers extensive advice on working as a community to save energy and the site provides a readable guide to everything you need to get a community project started including lots of self-help ideas that anyone can use to save energy
Low Carbon Communities Network aims to encourage the adoption of low carbon and zero carbon technologies and lifestyles at a community level and to enable groups to be as effective and efficient as possible
Championing CSR includes a sample environmental policy and toolkit with other useful resources
Funding
Council grants - local councils support a wide range of environmental activity by not-for-profit organisations so check out if there are any environmental grants available in your area on your local council’s website
02 Community Fund - awards of up to £1,000 are available to support local environmental, urban renewal and conservation projects
Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CESP) - open grants programme to provide £8 million to community-based organisations for the installation of micro-generation technologies, and energy efficiency measures. There are several application deadlines per year
Waterloo Foundation – Environment Grant - for UK third sector organisations undertaking schemes that reduce man-made climate change. The application process is ongoing and interested applicants may apply at any time
Funding Central – local grants - search the Funding Central website for green grants in your area
02 Community Fund - awards of up to £1,000 are available to support local environmental, urban renewal and conservation projects
Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CESP) - open grants programme to provide £8 million to community-based organisations for the installation of micro-generation technologies, and energy efficiency measures. There are several application deadlines per year
Waterloo Foundation – Environment Grant - for UK third sector organisations undertaking schemes that reduce man-made climate change. The application process is ongoing and interested applicants may apply at any time
Funding Central – local grants - search the Funding Central website for green grants in your area
Share your 'green' good practice with us
Please get in touch if you've any examples about how your organisation or project is becoming greener. We'd like to create some case studies about how you've gone about doing this, so please email us at info@mandbf.org.uk if you'd like to help us.
