Welcome to the The Key, your fortnightly guide to the news, events, funding and jobs from Oxfordshire's environmental community.

To submit content for The Key please contact Peter Lefort at peter.lefort@resourcefutures.co.uk.

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Bicester Reuse Centre gets green light

Funding has been secured by Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and the Community Action Group Project to develop the idea of a reuse centre in Bicester.

Student climate forum brings experts to Oxfordshire

The Oxford Climate Forum runs from Friday 3 to Saturday 4 February, with speakers including Mark Lynas, Special Advisor on Climate Change to the President of the Maldives; John Aston, the FCO envoy on climate change; and John Vidal, the Environment Editor for the Guardian.

Sign up now for the Big Green Bike Ride

Entry to the Friends of the Earth cycle trip from London to Edinburgh in May closes in late February. Ride the full 500 miles in six days, or join for just a day.

Climate Change Risk Assessment shows the UK needs to adapt

Defra have published ‘The Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA)‘, highlighting the top 100 challenges to the UK and its economy of a changing climate and “provides the most compelling evidence yet of the need to increase our resilience”. A Government report published alongside the CCRA gives details of plans which will address some of the risks identified.

The Funding Network - Oxford: £5,000 for social change projects. Deadline 14 February.

TOE2: Up to £2,000 towards practical or capital projects promoting accessibility of green space.
See box below for full details.

Assistant Community Manager (Supplier Engagement Service) - 2degrees
£18-25k.
Full details here - Closing date ASAP (and ongoing call for further posts)

Research Fellow, Building Performance Evaluation - Oxford Brookes University
2 years, £28,251, rising annually to £30,870. Oxford.
Full details here - Closing date 7 February

Gardening Specialist - Restore 
Full time, £16,830 to £17,802 pa, across Oxfordshire.
Full details here - Closing date 20 February

Public Relations Manager – CPRE Oxfordshire
Part time - 15 hours a week, for 2 years. £10k, Wheatley/home.
Full details here – Closing date 20 February

Research Consultant - Aether
Full time, permanent, salary dependent on experience.
Full details here - Closing date 29 February

Communities improving Oxfordshire's environment

TOE2 has now been running for almost a year, providing small grants for Oxfordshire’s communities and environment. They can fund projects which improve biodiversity, improve access to green spaces and also deliver more energy efficient community buildings.

The first step to improving the environmental performance of a community building is to carry out an energy audit. TOE2 now has a dedicated fund available to provide grants specifically for village halls and other community buildings to carry out energy audits. 

They also provide small grants towards the cost of carrying out works to reduce energy consumption, as recommended from an energy audit. This could be improving insulation, upgrading the boiler or installing double glazing. Once energy efficiency measures have been implemented they can consider applications for funding towards the installation of alternative sources of energy eg; a ground source heat pump or solar or PV panels. 

For further information about TOE2 please contact toe@oxonrcc.orgt.uk or 01865 883488.