Charity Insights

I had my last day at ACT! on Friday (and woke up pretty hungover on Saturday). I finished my project and discussed it with Charles – he seemed pleased with my work which was a relief. My framework for city ‘greening’ will be put together with a number of other parallel projects (focusing on energy, transport or land taxation for example) to build up a complete sustainable city model. With Bristol crowned European Green Capital 2015 the city has a lot to achieve ‘greening-wise’ in the next two years – so who knows, hopefully our sustainable city model will come to some use in Bristol…

I’m sad to leave Bristol, it’s such a lively and striking city, and I was so lucky with the weather – I spent many evenings on the Clifton Downs with some of my colleges from ACT! It was exciting to be a part of something so new and dynamic. At times things were a little muddled but that’s all part of an organisation’s growth and development at the early stages. I’m looking forward to seeing how ACT! progresses and hoping I’ll be back again in the not too distant future. It’s been a privilege – thank you Charity Insights for giving me this opportunity, and now I’m looking forward to my holiday!

Read The final ACT! (maybe) in full

I’ve just come out of a meeting that I arranged with a local ‘Green Business Advisor’ and an ‘Ethical Business Coach’. We discussed issues around green infrastructure, general ‘green’ practice in businesses and their experiences working in Bristol. It was good to get some first hand, local expertise and heartening to see two old guys still passionate about what they do. They also told me about some interesting examples that I might use as case studies in my project.

I’m now well underway with writing up my project – a framework for the further ‘greening’ of UK cities. Sure enough, my preparatory research was not enough and I’ve been finding out more and more as I’ve been writing (I came across a speech by Iolo Williams which is the best, most moving speech that I’ve ever seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnJQjtvngqA). It’s a lot to get your head around in just a few weeks – just finding and understanding all the relevant legislation and policies (at international, European, national, regional and local scales!) has been a challenge, but a valuable challenge. I’ve not had much experience writing about law/ policy and planning before, after all.

Read Of meetings and speeches in full

I’ve recently been to the monthly Bristol Green Mingle with Charles and Fi. It was the first time I’d been to a mingle and I didn’t know quite what to expect – but unsurprisingly, it was just people (specifically Bristol’s greenies) drinking, eating and chatting. I met an interesting mix of people including local MPs, an ecologist and the director of the Bristol Green Capital initiative (who’s become a local hero after Bristol won the European Green Capital Award earlier this year). As well as being an enjoyable, relaxed and interesting evening it was also very useful – I gained a few handy contacts who seemed to know something (if not a lot) relevant to my internship project.

I’m coming to the end of my preparatory research before starting the write up the report/ action plan framework for city ‘greening’, although I feel like there’s so much that I’ve still not uncovered – there is just so much out there on it! I just need to bring it together. In outline I’m preparing an evidenced case for the literal ‘greening’ of cities (via planting trees, installing green roofs, creating wetlands etc.) for multi-functional benefits such as increased habitat connectivity, better water management, air purification and climate amelioration. There are some truly innovative and magnificent ways to ‘green’ urban areas – vertical gardens for example (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFZn1DYCz2U), which beg the question: why aren’t our cities already greener?

Read Mingling with Bristol’s greenies in full

I’m now 2 weeks into my internship with The ACT! Alliance in Bristol. The ACT! Alliance is a newly set up campaigning organisation which differs from those that already exist in that it seeks to pool the efforts and resources of existing organisations to gain strength for change, rather than all working in an isolated and fragmented way. Importantly, ACT! does not compartmentalise the issues that we face, seeing that the deteriorating environment, the faltering economic system, failing politicians and poverty are all interlinked, and so are the solutions. Broadly, ACT! campaigns for sustainable development in environmental, economic and social systems. I am helping to launch their ‘Nature Reborn’ project, which is part of their wider ‘Restoring the Earth’ initiative. For more information on The ACT! Alliance visit: http://www.theactalliance.com.

During my first week I had a couple of meetings with Charles (my supervisor and director of ACT!) to refine my project aims and structure. That’s one of the best things about working for a small and new organisation – I’ve been able to have increased input into my project design, allowing me to focus more upon issues which are of particular interest to me. So I’m researching and writing a report to help further ‘green’ (literally!) UK urban areas for conservation, recreational and climate adaptive purposes. So far so good, I’ve really enjoyed working alongside others at ACT!, Fi (one of my managers) took me for lunch on my first day to chat about ACT! and the work I’d be doing, and also just to get to know each other.

Aside from my project I’m enjoying vibrant Bristol! It’s a perfect size (much less daunting than massive London) and there’s so much going on! I went to St. Paul’s carnival last Saturday – although missed the parade (whoops!) – the weather was gorgeous, and so with Red Stripe and Jerk chicken in hand I boogied on down with the 1000’s of other carnival goers.

Read ACT! in Bristol in full