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Sustainability and the environment are becoming an ever-increasing issue and there is much we can do as a sector to encourage responsible living.

Locally based organisations

• MERCi – MERCi is Manchester’s innovative resource initiative that work to putting idea’s into action for a sustainable future.  Their sustaining change programme helps to support organisations to improve their sustainability - economically, socially and environmentally.  
• If you want to get connected and involved on an individual or organisational level you can also contact the Environmental Network for Manchester, which is hosted by MERCi: www.en4m.org.uk/
• The Kindling Trust – Set up by two co-founders of MERCi and some other key figures in the environmental movement, visit their website to see what they are working on. 
• Action for Sustainable Living (AfSL) - is a dynamic charity based in Manchester whose core focus is to engage people on lifestyle changes relating to sustainable living topics such as: recycling, waste, clothing, energy, fair-trade, gardening, holidays, household, local food, transport and more

National Resources and Links

There are a mass of resources out there on the internet. Here are just a few...

• Centre for Alternative Technology - Offers information and advice on how to be more environmentally friendly www.cat.org.uk
• Reuze – how, what and where to recycle in the UK, also a directory of furniture reuse schemes and a facility to post items to give a way or wanted www.reuze.co.uk
• Business in the Community - inspires, engages, supports and challenges companies to continually improve the impact they have on society and the environment through their responsible business programme, sometimes referred to as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) www.bitc.co.uk
• The Energy Saving Trust gives simple ways of saving energy as well as information on climate change and how to generate your own energy: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
• Every Action Counts is a three year project to embed sustainable action for the future through training, simple pledges and good practice www.everyactioncounts.org.uk
• Freecycle – changing the world, one step at a time – one step better than recycling www.freecycle.org
• Recycle-IT is a social enterprise based in Old Trafford that refurbishes old/broken IT equipment and then sells IT on (very cheaply) to projects at home and abroad (mostly Africa). They also run IT training courses for unemployed people - www.recycle-it.uk.com/

Get Toasty campaign
This campaign provides subsidised or free loft and cavity wall insulation for Greater Manchester residents. Working with the Energy Saving Trust the ten local authorities across Greater Manchester are offering
access to discounted insulation through accredited installers from as little as £50, with some people even eligible for free insulation. Visit www.getmetoasty.com for more info.

Shared Energy Toolkit
The shared energy toolkit is designed to help community organisations to raise awareness of climate change and plan for different possible future scenarios, with a booklet of games, ideas and discussion topics to get staff, volunteers and service users talking and thinking. It has been produced by bassac, the body for multi-purpose community organisations, but appears to be useful for any community group, in pdf via
www.bassac.org.uk/node/881

NetRegs is a free and confidential website that aims to help small and medium sized enterprises to understand what they need to do to comply with environmental legislation and protect the environment. www.netregs.gov.uk