Robert & Misty present Carbon Makeover and Digital Inclusion to the EU Commission in Brussells.

Imagine a snowball rolling down a mountain. It grows bigger and bigger but only in one direction. If the snowball were a digital inclusion project or campaign, its appeal would be limited to the incentive on offer (e.g. free broadband, training, mentoring etc).

Now imagine dropping a stone in calm water. It ripples outwards in all directions. Allowing ideas and enterprises to grow in all directions, with access points for everyone, via the strategic and creative use of digitial media is a clever way of removing social and economic barriers through digital inclusion. And we should know, having worked on an influential project in the UK called Carbon Makeover - the brainchild of Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC).

The aim of Carbon Makeover is to engender positive behavioural change alongside low carbon living in excluded communities and to unengaged groups, helping participants to improve their social and economic situations. It was funded to explore ways in which media could increase social inclusion and reduce environmental impacts – in particular by encouraging grass roots solutions to issues such as energy, health, nature, food, travel and waste.

Oh, you've heard of it already? Well, here's something you probably didn't know. We were originally approached by KWMC to pitch for a project where 10 Carbon Makeover campaigns could be implemented in the community of Knowle West, South Bristol. We got the brief late, we didn't know the area, we decided to outline our approach rather than our ideas. And so it transpired. We didn't win the pitch. and nor did any other agencies. So KWMC pitched the idea out to residents within Knowle West and received the most incredible and terrific ideas you could imagine. Remember, these are the same people who fit the statistics and stereotypes of the "socially deprived". Well, 8 residents became Carbon Makeover Campaigners - a master stroke. 

A few weeks later, KWMC got in touch with us at SEA to run a digital workshop instead and, 18 months later, we're still on the scene enabling Carbon Makeover campaigners to develop their social enterprises through mentoring and marketing.

Here are some of the testiments that have been said of Carbon Makeover.

• "A win-win project and the most interesting example we saw of community work that demonstrates environmental sustainability and social cohesion". EU Commission


• "We expect surprisingly positive results to come from the final analysis. This must be set against the acknowledged severe difficulties this estate has suffered, since it was built, more than 60 years ago." Interim report


• "For me, it was good to get many of the Bristol Digital movers and shakers together in the same room. However, it was Knowle West and Mil's "delicious technology" that stole the show...no argument that local champions is where the energy and enthusiasm for Digital Inclusion really is...just need to find a way to nurture, support and share it." Martha Lane Fox (visit to Bristol)

Who's Mil? Let's just say that in the first digital workshop 18 months ago, she sat in the corner of the room as an unwilling Carbon Makeover campaigner. Didn't want to learn anything about Digital. She's now on the national panel for Digital Inclusion at Martha's invitation. So, as you can see, digital inclusion is an enabler of social inclusion. It has enabled Mil to develop her social enterprise providing opportunities for herself and others in the community. See www.green-footprints.org.uk. And it has enabled others to improve their self-esteem, confidence and economic situations.

Not bad eh?

About Carbon Makeover:

• 80% of the community having background knowledge of Carbon Makeover.


• It comprises 250 active participants with over 70 participating households.


• Carbon Makeovers' longetivity depends on its ability to transcend geographical and demographical locations, engendering positive behavioural change alongside low carbon living. SEA are currently helping KWMC to disseminate the products and services of Carbon Makeover to local, national and international audiences via the CM toolkit.