34 things a champion could do

We hope this stimulates your thinking about what you might want to do as a low carbon champion. WinACC can usually link you with other people who have done something similar, or someone who lives near you and might like to work with you. Contact us on 01962 827083 or winacc@winacc.org.uk

1 Invite people to your home for a drink and discussion about climate change and what you could do about it
2 Use an existing local community event to get the message across - WinACC has materials for a stall, ideas for competitions etc and a list of people who are asked to help when we know about an event coming up. Or simply put your name on WinACC's list of people who will help at a stall if they can.
3 Arrange a showing of "The Age of Stupid"  or another climate change film with a discussion afterwards, for friends, neighbours, your society or club, or a public showing (WinACC has films to lend)
4 Make a pact with a few neighbours that you will all make your own homes more carbon-efficient by changing your light bulbs, working out how your heating thermostat works and turning it down, installing insulation or double-glazing, and support each other to do it, sharing ideas and builders. WinACC can provide information about how to approach this
5 Organise an event for people to learn more about (for example) home insulation or double glazing
6 Support existing neighbourhood climate change groups in Alresford, Bishops Waltham, Colden Common, Fulflood, Oliver's Battery and Whiteley

7 Set up a climate change group in your local area,  or help other people who are keen to launch their own neighbourhood group
8 Develop quizzes, games (for adults and children) etc that can be used by other low carbon champions and WinACC at events, stalls and talks
9 Work withy our neighbours to organise a street party with shared local food, to show that low carbon living is fun
10 Facilitate a discussion or arrange a speaker and discussion in your church, workplace, or any club or society you belong to
11 Offer to give talks to community groups or associations in your area
12 Support the WinACC Faith Communities and Climate Change project, involving your local faith group
13 Join WinACC's panel of speakers, so that we can share out invitations to speak (working in pairs can be useful)
14 Get trained and then facilitate the ""Carbon Conversations"" programme to get people thinking about climate change

15 Form a low carbon group at work and encourage your employer to join WinACC by calculating and reducing their carbon footprint
16 Attend your parish annual meeting and speak about the importance of cutting carbon emissions - make a practical proposal of what can be done locally
17 Write letters and articles for your parish magazine, club newsletter, school paper, etc (join WinACC's list if you want to be warned of something that needs a letter to the editor)
18 Monitor the Hampshire Chronicle, the Echo or another local paper and take opportunities to write to the editor
19 Set up a car-share scheme among other parents at your children's school, or among other people who want to go to the farmers' market, to work, or to the pub
20 Get backing and funding to provide cycling proficiency training for the local Scouts / guides / youth club / school
21 Work with your local school to help it become a low-carbon school (the WinACC Schools Group can help)
22 Set up sessions to swap skills useful for low-carbon living, such as cooking, vegetarian cooking, knitting mending, compost-making, growing vegetables, mending bicycles

23 Organise a shared meal in your road / community and discuss how to reduce the carbon footprint of your food (WinACC has leaflets and other materials, and the WinACC Food group will support you)
24 Work with other people locally to increase the options for growing your own food: e.g. by linking up neighbours who can't keep their garden tidy themselves; setting up a community garden e.g. on spare public land that's an eyesore
25 Learn about some aspect of domestic energy and offer to talk to people who want to know what's really involved  - for example, roof insulation, cavity wall insulation, under floor insulation, solar panels, photo-voltaic cells, water butts, grey water recycling, internal and external wall insulation. The WinACC Built Environment Group would be glad to help.
26 Support WinACC arts projects - detailed programme of events and ways to get involved from the WinACC office
27 Reach new people by knocking on doors in targeted areas (as part of a group, with a plan and a prepared approach)

28 Encourage people who are interested in WinACC to take the further step of pledging to monitor and cut their carbon footprint (as part of a group, with a plan and a prepared approach)
29 Identify people you know who are concerned about climate change and encourage them to join WinACC
30 Make low carbon cakes that we can use to lure people to visit the WinACC stall at events
31 Blog on the WinACC website about what you are doing to cut your footprint
32 Write letters to your politicians and elected representatives at parish, local council and national levels
33 Help raise funds for WinACC
34 Take charge of the WinACC library box of books on climate change for people to borrow.