‘Carbon Makeover' is one of the country's most successful community environmental awareness and action projects.

 

It has been nominated at the 2010 National eWell-Being Awards for Building Community Networks.

 

It has been lauded regionally, nationally and internationally, with the EU Commission describing it as ‘a win-win project and the most interesting example we saw of community work that demonstrates environmental sustainability and social cohesion'. And Robert Woolf and SEA have played a integral part in that success. Misty Tunks, the Project Coordinator, says: "His involvement has been completely pivotal. No other member of the team here had the level of understanding of how important digital technology could be in a project like this."

 

‘Carbon Makeover' aimed to reduce the carbon footprint of Knowle West in South Bristol - which, by any of a number of measures, is ranked as one of the most deprived areas in the country.

 

It was run by the Knowle West Media Centre, which uses arts, design and media activities as a platform to involve people and provide a community glue. The centre originally hired Robert as ‘Digital Innovator', to provide technical expertise for its social and environmental projects, run workshops and mentor staff and residents - ensuring that digital media plays a major role in improving the quality of life in the area.

 

Misty says: "Part of Robert's role has been to increase the digital capabilities people in Knowle West can access, and help them make sense of what's available.

 

"Robert is a brilliant communicator. Digital technology can be quite intimidating to those who don't really know what it means or what it's about. He's very good at breaking it down and making it relevant to people.

 

"He comes from the position - as do we - that digital media can bridge economic and social divides."

 

With Carbon Makeover, Robert and the Media Centre team realised early on that they needed to make the otherwise vague concept of carbon reduction relevant to the real needs and motivations of local people - defining it as issues of energy, health, nature, food, travel and waste. It quickly struck a chord; more than 100 homes pledged to cut their carbon footprint and local social enterprises emerged promoting action ranging from home energy-saving to the supply of locally grown fruit and vegetables. Robert helped nurture these by encouraging the people behind them to employ relevant digital technologies to make them more accessible, successful and sustainable.

 

Misty says: "He has worked with us to provide a number of websites; developing content and design as a real ‘hand-holder' - not just behind the scenes technically but also by being involved throughout the process."

 

What had begun as a ‘green' campaign soon demonstrated wide-ranging social benefits as well. For instance, Sue D, a local Carbon Makeover champion who launched ‘Team Fab', an initiative to reduce the use of plastic bags in the area, had been housebound for 20 years. She says: "Because of my poor health, I had lost motivation in life, but running Team Fab has given me a goal. It keeps me going...It's an opportunity for me to get back into the community and challenge environmental behaviour."

 

The EU commission plaudits recognizing this broader dimension followed a ‘Social Fairness in Sustainable Development' conference in Brussels, where Robert emphasized his belief that digital media can foster social inclusion in deprived neighbourhoods. ‘Carbon Makeover' was among just six projects internationally - and the only one from the UK - selected as ‘exemplary initiatives'.

 

Robert is convinced that digital media is massively important in unlocking people's potential - removing physical boundaries, raising literacy, self-esteem and confidence and giving previously excluded people a voice. He says: "I've really enjoyed working with the community to up skill them in digital media, gain their trust and help improve their social andeconomic situation. To see previously unengaged individuals become engaged, and stay consistently engaged, has been life-changing for me. Now I aspire to deliver the same results across similar projects elsewhere."

 

SEA has subsequently produced a ‘Carbon Makeover toolkit' - enabling the lessons learned to be rolled out to other organisations, councils and housing associations nationally.

 

Some websites created by local Carbon Makeover campaigners:

 

 

 

 

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