|
Mission Statement
Community First recognises that it has a unique role in supporting local communities in Wiltshire and Swindon to understand what actions they can take to help prevent climate change and to alleviate the impacts of climate change on their communities.
With communities we will draw on the willingness and enthusiasm of residents, collectively, to embrace a continuing process of change.
In our activities, working practices and business relationships, we are committed to protecting, conserving and enhancing all aspects of the environment over which we have control or can influence.
We believe a shared sense of ethical purpose and values is likely to lead to a more committed and loyal workforce that enhances the business performance of an organisation.
Corporate Environmental Action
In response to the challenge that environmental sustainability presents us all, at the beginning of 2007, an Environmental Working Group was formed at Community First comprising members of staff with a background or interest in environmental issues.
Following an environmental audit of Community First which was undertaken by Envolve Consultancy in 2006, this Environmental Working group drew up an ‘organisational response’ to tackle environmental issues from an internal corporate perspective - effectively to put our own ‘house in order’ before we can move towards developing green initiatives involving communities in Wiltshire and Swindon.
So that we could begin to reduce our environmental footprint from a corporate perspective, the Environmental Working Group have recently undertaken environmental surveys of Community First’s building and of staff working practises and they have also carried out awareness raising initiatives for Community First staff.
1. Environmental surveys
The first area that the Environmental Working Group decided to concentrate on in relation to surveying resource use at Community First was focussed very much on energy use due to the pressing global warming agenda.
The first survey the group undertook was an energy walkround audit of the Community First building to identify where energy was being wasted; both via infrastructure and via working practises. Follow this link for the Energy Walkaround Audit. (pdf file - 58kb)
Secondly, the group carried out a baseline study of energy consumption to identify how much energy we use at CF with a view to comparing it with (& ultimately reducing) the amount of energy we use in the future. Follow this link for the baseline Study of Energy Consumption. (pdf file - 40kb)
More recently we have also undertaken a survey of our travel to work patterns. Follow here for the Survey of our Travel to Work. (pdf file - 21 kb)
The results of all of these surveys have been shared with Community First staff at staff meetings and at Community First staff days.
The object of undertaking these surveys has been primarily to provide a starting point from which to benchmark our use of natural resources and also, critically, to help raise awareness amongst staff members about taking action on resource use.
2. Awareness raising initiatives for Community First staff
The environmental working group have also begun an environmental awareness campaign which has involved a number of different activities including:
- Conducting an energy awareness survey to gauge staff members’ level of understanding and attitudes towards energy use
- The distribution of some hints & tips for reducing energy use in the office
- Revision of the CF environmental policy
Follow the links below for the documents.
Energy Awareness Survey (pdf file - 35kb)
Hints & Tips (pdf file - 122kb)
Community First Environmental Policy (pdf file - 13kb)
|
