Working Groups
Underpinning our three priorities of Educate, Engage and Support, are working groups which focus on different themes, activities and objectives. Each group is made up of volunteers who have a particular interest in that area. We always welcome more volunteers, so please register your interest if you would like to get involved.
1. Buildings & Retrofit
This group's objectives are centred around addressing the retrofit skills gap in the local construction industry, as well as raising awareness of home retrofit and providing knowledge resources for householders.
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2. Energy
Closely aligned with the Buildings & Retrofit group, this group aims to encourage schools and communities to decarbonise by facilitating local community energy projects, promoting Solar for Schools and helping householders reduce carbon emissions and save money by sharing Energy Saving Tips
3. Advocacy & Engagement
Through positive collaborations and proactive engagement with schools, community groups, businesses and the local authority, this group seeks to embed sustainability, encourage behavioural change, and influence environmental policy.
4. ZCH Planning Group
By monitoring the local planning scene, this group seeks to influence developers, Councillors and the Planning Authority to promote sustainable development and ensure that applications take full account of national and local climate change policies.
5. Natural Climate Solutions (NCS)
Restoring nature can help the fight against climate change. This group is actively involved with a number of partners and projects, such as White Rose Forest, the Rotary's Trees for Nidderdale, Community Acorn Collection Days and Long Lands Common community woodland project.
6. Sustainable Transport
In addition to contributing to public consultations and supporting road safety initiatives, this group aims to encourage sustainable travel choices through behavioural change campaigns such as Walk to School Day and Car Free Friday.
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7. Food & Agriculture
This group is currently inactive but you can help reduce food waste by supporting local community organisation, Resurrected Bites and downloading mobile phone apps, OLIO and Too Good To Go, which will connect you to surplus unsold food.
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8. Schools
This group aims to encourage sustainability in schools across the Harrogate District. We have partnered with the Northern Star Academy Trust to establish a School Leaders Sustainability Roundtable which aims to provide a forum for discussions on key climate themes and how we can take action. Our main work consists of promoting our behavioural change campaigns Walk to School Day and Car Free Friday which is a collaboration with The Harrogate Bus Company and North Yorkshire County Council, plus we'd support the Green Streets and Schools Streets ideas. These campaigns have overlap with the transport and Natural Climate Solutions group.
9. Business
This group aims to support businesses to be more sustainable. Key areas to focus include delivering Carbon Literacy Training, increasing the number of organisations taking part in our Car Free Fridays campaign and getting our peer-to-peer advisory board off the ground – a valuable network and resource base designed to encourage collaboration between partners to develop evolving strategic sustainability action plans that address multiple layers of business operations for each member.
