On Monday 2nd Dec 2024 Climate Action Leeds (CAL) hosted their six-monthly climate assembly in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds. This climate assembly had a special purpose – to link up community groups with contacts at the city’s four universities on areas of common interest.
The day was organised and facilitated by Simon Dixon (CAL / Our Future Leeds) and Sue Hoey (CAL / Together for Peace). To open the event, there was a welcome from Professor Paul Chatterton (CAL / University of Leeds). He thanked the University of Leeds for offering us the space in which to hold the day’s event and extended a warm welcome to both the community groups and the universities representatives.
The first part of the session involved introductions from everyone in the room and their reasons for being there. Representatives from Leeds Arts University, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University, and the University of Leeds all introduced themselves and explained what opportunities they can offer community groups for collaboration and what they wish to learn from communities.
One presenter was Juliet Harrison who is the Research Impact and Policy Engagement Manager for Leeds Beckett University and was there representing the work of Leeds Sustainability Institute and the University's School of the Built Environment whose remit she explained is to research sustainable behaviour, sustainable buildings and sustainable environments. Within the School they have community leads whose role it is to support sustainable partnerships, which currently have an emphasis on health and wellbeing, but they are looking to broaden their remit and are open to hearing from community groups about how they may collaborate.
Following the university introductions, it was the turn of the community groups to pitch project ideas that they wanted to get off the ground, and convey what sort of help they desired from universities.
One of the pitches came from Ian Dickinson and Raymond Wolfson from Alwoodley Community Energy, a spin-off from the Alwoodley 2030 climate action hub. They asked for help to research and map potential sites for renewable energy developments in LS17. They were also looking for help as a recently registered CIO, for development of a generic business model that they could adopt and share with other interested community energy groups across the country.
After the community groups had all pitched to the room, there was dedicated networking time. People were encouraged to find and speak to the people that they felt would be a good match for them and could help with their project. The networking was certainly lively, judging by the energy, noise and excitement that filled the air.
During this networking activity, there was a visit to the School of Geography from the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Leeds, Professor Shearer West CBE. The Climate Action Leeds team had the chance to say hello and explain a little bit about the project and the purpose of the event.
The final wrap-up saw Simon and Sue ask the room for feedback about the exciting new conversations that had taken place during the event. We then concluded with more networking time over food and hot drinks, allowing attendees to swap contact details to continue the conversations.
The City Movement Building team then took some of the event delegates over to 9 Blenheim Terrace, to see the newly re-opened Imagine Leeds. The space is now up and running and available for co-working, workshops and events, for anyone working on climate, nature or social justice.
Imagine Leeds can be found at 9 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds, LS2 9HZ
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