Training and Support
Transition Edinburgh University are offering training, support and advice on setting up and running practical projects, engaging and communicating effectively, and measuring and reporting your achievements.
We want to share our experiences running a diverse range of environmental projects that, since 2008, have reached over 10,000 people, cutting over 1,500 tonnes of CO2.
We can organise:
- Tailored training programmes including using our full team’s experience and arranging additional external trainers.
- Workshops, seminars and facilitated discussions at your event.
- Help and advice in person, by email or phone.
For more information contact training@teu.org.uk and 0131 65 040 65.
Setting up practical projects
Carbon Conversations
The Carbon Conversations was listed by the Guardian as one of the top 20 ways to fight climate change. Courses run in Edinburgh have led to over 500 tonnes of CO2 cuts in the first several months, with pledges of much larger savings over the next few years, making deep lasting changes in attitudes. Learn how to plan and facilitate courses.
Sustainable Food
TEU’s Food Fellowship scheme, encouraging low-meat and local diets, has trained volunteers and recorded over 200 tonnes of CO2 cuts. We also have experience setting up volunteer-run food sales schemes, developing the sustainability of university procurement, and running permaculture schemes on campus. Lean how to make fun food projects make lasting change and evidence cuts in CO2.
Student Energy Competitions in Universities
Our student energy competitions have cut over 100 tonnes of CO2 in student residences and saved £££ in bills. Learn how to use fun events and incentives to run effective schemes of your own.
Low CO2 Leisure Travel
Aviation accounts for a quarter of a University population’s CO2 emissions (TEU 2009 study). Learn how to engage students and staff with reducing the impact of their leisure travel footprint.
Reaching out and involving people
Tools and techniques for effective communication and engagement
Find out how we engaged over 10,000 people in our projects and campaigns using an effective, efficient, and methodical, face-to-face approach. We have learnt first-hand how to develop engagement campaigns from the ground up to directly reach out to your audience. We’ll cover the importance of clear strategy, messaging, co-ordination, data collection and analysis, and how to run effective and fun engagements and events.
Empowering volunteers to be at the centre of your project
Explore how to make your projects as participatory and open to new people as possible, based on our experience with projects including “Carbon Conversations” and “Big Green Makeover”.
Planning and organising effective events
Find out how to plan and deliver events which reach your audience, fit your budget, and leave a lasting impression on people. Be prepared and take a step by-step-approach learning from our diverse experiences running conferences, seminar series, exhibitions and film events.
Engagement through creativity
Explore the possibilities of using creative methods to engage your community based on our experiences with street theatre, bicycle-powered radio and film, and street art.
Running effective projects
Measuring and reporting progress
Find out how to measuring your successes to share with your funders, supporters, and the world. Build from our experience on accurate and efficient reporting.
Grant funding: how to write applications and get what you want
A successful grant application can be the perfect kick start to your idea. Find out how to meet the funders requirements and ensure successful outcomes for your project.
Background and context
Where Does CO2 Come From In A University?
If we want to cut CO2 we need to know where it comes from. Find out how we created the world’s first comprehensive university community carbon footprint, how you can learn from it, and how you can go about producing your own.
On-going support
Ad-hoc additional support by phone and email is also available as follow up for all the courses detailed according to your projects requirements.
Developing Successful Engagement Practices
Specific support is also available for your engagement process. We’ll start from your key aims and develop a tailored communications and engagement solution to match your situation. We work to use unique face-to-face marketing methods to directly involve your audience in our activities. We’ll advise on how you could set up your own systems to monitor and improve the situation and meet your goals.
Engagement Process and System Development
A successful engagement process depends upon a large number of back-office, strategic and administrative tools – training materials, analytics, software and contact management system. We will, with your complete understanding and support, undertake to develop and tailor the correct solutions to meet your goals. Software systems will be licensed on your behalf, and set up to match training materials and engagement structures developed according to your specific needs.
Ongoing technical support
We will continue to manage, host and support technical solutions to support your engagement processes. This includes dedicated staff support time, and a 24 hour response time guarantee for urgent problems, depending on external conditions.
Our Experience
We have lots of experience inspiring other communities, neighbourhoods, universities, colleges and schools with our work.
- In February 2012 we toured Scotland providing workshops for the NUS Scotland “Transition on Tour”.
- In March 2010 we ran a day conference with NUS Scotland called “University Footprints: Community Handprints” event.
- We organised a 2-day event with People & Planet and the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges called “Grassroots Climate Exchange”, 18-19 March at the University of Edinburgh, attended by over 120 students and staff. Click here to find out more.
- We have helped students and staff other Universities develop their own CO2-cutting ideas, including at the University of St. Andrews, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh Napier University, and the University of Aberdeen.
- We have developed a number of workshops and resources tailored for University groups, including our extensive “Footprints and Handprints” report, covered in the Guardian.
- We have presented our project at various conferences, including Shared Planet and the Transition Scotland Gathering in November 2010 (see People & Planet and Transition Scotland).
- We’ve created various training resources that you’ll find on our resources pages.
For more information
To help support our work, we ask that organisations who can afford to contribute a fee for our time and a contribution towards travel expenses. However, we want to support people with all budgets and none, so don’t let this put you off – just contact us and we’ll let you know how we can help.
Transition Edinburgh University Training
Contact Pam at training@teu.org.uk and 0131 65 040 65.
