Helene Gosden, Arup, Donal Brown, Ashden Climate Solutions & Josiah Lockhart, Changeworks
This week Sara welcomes Helene Gosden, Associate Director at Arup, Donal Brown, Director of UK Programs at Ashden Climate Solutions, and Josiah Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer, Changeworks.
AJ Climate Champions: IF_DO’s Sarah Castle
IF_DO founder Sarah Castle explains that community engagement is not just asking people what they want but also what they can do, and discusses the refurbishment of the grand 1924 Observer Building, which had suffered more than three decades of neglect and a dozen owners when IF_DO took on the project.
AJ Climate Champions: WeCanMake’s Melissa Mean
Melissa Mean from community land trust WeCanMake explains how a community-led approach in Bristol is tackling the housing crisis
AJ Climate Champions: Summer Islam – Material Cultures
Material Cultures co-founder Summer Islam explains how a regional ‘materials matrix’ informs the design process.
Retrofitting for real impact: Community, social value & system change
As part of Futurebuild’s ‘Retrofit Mini Series’ host, Martin Hurn speaks with Sara Edmonds—architect, activist, and co-director of the National Retrofit Hub. She shares how the retrofit movement is shifting from policy and pilots to purpose, people and place. In this episode, Sarah explores the potential of community retrofit, the role of collective action, and the system innovations needed to scale solutions. A must-listen for anyone serious about the retrofit revolution.
CIVIC SQUARE, Birmingham
CIVIC SQUARE is a Birmingham-based Community Interest Company demonstrating neighbourhood-scale civic infrastructure for social, ecological, economic and climate transition.
CIVIC Square: Ladywood, Birmingham – Doughnut Portrait
CIVIC Square co-created the Ladywood neighbourhood Doughnut Portrait. The Doughnut Portrait is a participatory tool which supports communities and practitioners to identify local needs and align neighbourhood aspirations with planetary boundaries and responsibilities to global communities.
Kirklees Warm Homes
Kirklees Warm Zones (2007–2010) was a pioneering area-based fuel poverty and energy efficiency initiative in West Yorkshire, unique for its cross-tenure model offering free loft and cavity wall insulation to all households in the borough, regardless of tenure, without means-testing.