Every day we can see the impact of climate change. We know we need to take action as part of a global programme of work, and as part of that, all of us need to understand the actions we need to take.

Save Our Shropshire is a charity delivering education to householders, local government, businesses, and schools across Shropshire and the rest of the UK.

They draw their inspiration from a fantastic organisation based in Manchester called the Carbon Literacy Project (CLP).

CLP supports the education of people and organisations by providing training material (toolkits), supporting the development of trainers, and working with organisations to encourage climate action across the world.

As a UK 19th century philosopher, Herbert Spencer said “The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”

The Carbon Literacy Organisation assesses organisations for their contribution to their work, and gives awards graded as Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Save Our Shropshire are delighted that they have been recognised as a Platinum-level organisation by the Carbon Literacy Organisation. Allan Wilson and Richard Watkins were handed their award on June 13th by Phil Korbel – co-founder of the Carbon Literacy Project.  

There are only 11 organisations in the UK that have been awarded the prestigious level of Platinum.

SOS’ award recognises the fact that they have developed new training courses (for householders and Parish and Town Councillors). They have widely promoted the Carbon Literacy Project’s work by talks to various groups across the country, and developed links with other training organisations. They have also developed SOS into a leading organisation in the area over just three years.

SOS has delivered training across the country and projects are growing as a result of our work. Pontesbury Village have built a community allotment to encourage growing locally. A council in East Sussex has built a repair café. In Wem the action group have started a local awareness program, and a new Green fair was set up in Rocke Street, Shrewsbury.in June. Education in action!

The Trustees (Di Lyle, Allan Wilson and Richard Watkins are all Carbon Literacy certificated.

SOS will shortly be spreading education to Small Businesses across Shropshire, and they have recently had a Carbon Literacy course for sixth formers certified and will be delivering that to schools in Shropshire.

We have until 2030 to reduce our collective individual impact on the planet by around 80 %.

Shropshire is taking a lead on climate action as evidenced by organisations like Zero Carbon Shropshire and South Shropshire Climate Action, which recently held a hugely successful conference on accelerating change on climate action.

SOS is delighted to highlight the work that Shropshire is doing and being recognized by this fantastic award.