Community groups play a crucial role in fostering a sense of responsibility and self-reliance among citizens.
By taking proactive steps, these groups can significantly contribute to the wellbeing and development of their local areas.
The Havering Green Forum brings together local people who are passionate about taking action to protect the environment.
Regular meetings take place alternately face to face and virtual to be welcoming to all.
Email engagement@havering.gov.uk if you would like to join the forum meetings.
There are Green Information Hubs now in each of our Havering libraries.
Look out for the ‘Go Green’ book towers with new books for all ages about nature and protecting the environment.
The hubs have trusted information books on what climate change is and how to help lower our impact on the environment and aid biodiversity, alongside beautiful books on gardening, wildlife and the countryside all connecting us with our amazing natural world.
If you’d like to get involved in climate action locally you’ll also find out about Havering’s Local Green Action Groups and the online Green Book Club.
Calculate your community’s carbon footprint
Using the Impact Community Carbon Calculator you can measure the carbon footprint of your community.
Impact is a digital visualisation tool developed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy that helps you understand your community’s carbon footprint.
It also helps identify the areas where taking action to tackle climate change can make the biggest difference.
Volunteering
Volunteering is at the heart of community action, an opportunity for everyone to play a part in caring for our local area and making a real difference where we live.
Our Where We Live campaign is all about bringing people together to create cleaner, safer, and greener neighbourhoods across Havering.
By joining forces with neighbours, friends, and local groups, you can help transform neglected spaces, take part in community clean-ups, and foster a sense of pride in your surroundings.
Where We Live empowers residents to get involved in practical ways, from litter picks and reporting fly-tipping to adopting ‘grot spots’, those forgotten corners of land that could be turned into vibrant community gardens or green spaces.
Every small action adds up, and together, we can build a stronger, more connected community that looks after its environment for everyone’s benefit.
Whether you’re new to volunteering or already active in your area, there’s a place for you in this movement.
Rewild outdoor spaces
Do you have any outdoor spaces that could benefit from being ‘rewilded’? From choosing insect-friendly plants for your pots, to building a pond, there are lots of things you can do in your community to create much-needed habitats for wildlife in Havering.
Check out this guide to rewilding for useful hints and tips.
Plant trees
This is a great way to involve the whole community and help enhance the ecological value of your area. But remember, it’s always important to follow the 'Right Tree, Right Place' principle when planting trees.
Find out more information on funding a community wood.
Reduce the carbon footprint of your buildings
Do you have any community-owned or community-run buildings that could be adding to your community’s carbon footprint? Take a look at the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s handy guide that outlines key changes that can be made to buildings to improve their energy efficiency.
Community energy
Find out more about community energy and opportunities in your area on the Community Energy England website.
Schools and learning
Access resources for your school
There are lots of resources out there to help schools engage with students on the issues related to climate change. Here are a few you could start with.
- WWF Climate Change resources for schools – This range of resources for the classroom are linked to the curriculum and designed to help pupils explore the issues of climate change.
- British Council climate resources for teachers – This range of online events, programmes and classroom resources have been produced to help teachers support positive action towards climate change
- Together for our planet: schools resource pack – Developed in conjunction with COP26 this pack will help you discover ideas and tools to inspire and celebrate Climate Leaders in your school and beyond
- Eco schools - This programme aims to rally and unite young people to make realistic but dynamic change, creating positive impacts for our planet now.
Join other schools
Join UK schools taking action on climate change in Let’s Go Zero, a national campaign, uniting teachers, pupils, parents and their schools as they all work together to be zero carbon.
Through the campaign you can access the Let’s Go Zero toolkit for schools, which includes a tailored action plan specific to your school.