Acting as a partnership platform to support and enable action
Programmes, projects and campaigns successfully delivered that improve our performance on sustainable development.
Our activities here include:
- Champion Sustaine initiatives
- Provide advice and support to facilitate action
- Engage and liaise with appropriate national and local sustainable development networks
Sustaine drives forward action on sustainable communities through the Sustainable Communities North East Initiative, and provides a ‘support and challenge’ role to ClimateNE.
Sustainable Communities North East Initiative
Creating sustainable communities is the outcome we are trying to achieve, to improve people’s quality of life, and help secure our future.
The Sustainable Communities North East Initiative (SCNEI) is a partnership project led by Sustaine. 23 organisations from across North East England have funded the initiative including 19 local authorities (prior to reorganisation in local government in 2009), Durham Heritage Coast, the Government Office for the North East, the Association of North East Councils, and Northumberland National Park Authority.
In response to a need expressed by our communities, the SCNEI worked with community groups and experts organisations amongst a wide range of other partners to develop a toolkit on sustainability.
The SCNEI, through the Brighter Futures Together Toolkit, seeks to :
- Promote greater awareness, understanding and recognition of the value of sustainability principles for communities.
- Create a sense of empowerment within communities.
- Increase capacity within communities across the region to self-organise in order to deliver.
The Brighter Futures Together toolkit coherently summarises a wealth of information that is of relevance to local communities. It directly supports the work of local authority officers working in sustainability, waste management and community development teams. Local authorities across the region find the resource invaluable, helping them to respond to and work with their local communities, helping them to take action to improve their neighbourhoods and quality of life.
The Brighter Futures Together toolkit assists local authorities and the voluntary and community sector to embed sustainability principles and activity. It is a truly unique initiative, and does not currently exist anywhere else in England.
For further information on the Brighter Futures Together Toolkit, please click here
ClimateNE
ClimateNE brings together a range of private, public and voluntary organisations committed to providing a focus on delivering a low carbon and climate resilient economy.
ClimateNE has developed a sound understanding of the scale of the challenge we face and has developed a robust evidence base that will enable both businesses and local government to provide confidence to define stretching targets and promote aspiration and achievement. This work includes the award-winning Climate Change Adaptation Study - looking at what the future climate is likely to be for the North East and how we will need to adapt; an analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions; and, crucially, the economic implications and opportunities for the region.
For further information on ClimateNE and their activity please visit www.climatenortheast.com.
North East Sustainable Development Officers Network
Sustaine continues to work closely with the Association of North East Councils to provide a meeting point for officers working on the sustainable development agenda from across the 12 local authorities and across agencies working regionally to group regularly, share practice, discuss challenges, and develop a partnership approach to key areas of activity and opportunities. The North East Sustainable Development Officers Network facilitates and enables a single voice to be drawn from across the local and sub-regional levels across North East England to collectively advocate and work towards achieving the goals of sustainable development.
For further information on the North East Sustainable Development Officers Network please contact Sustaine