Education for Sustainable Development Seminars

Part of the Training and Cooperation Plan (TCP) Youth in Action and British Council

5 – 9 March 2013 Or 9 – 13 April 2013

ASHA Centre,

Deadlines for Applications:

18 February 2013 (for March course)

18 March 2013 (for April course)

ASHA Centre, Gunn Mill House, Lower Spout Lane, Flaxley, GL17 0EA, Tel. +44(0)1594 822330; e-mail: [email protected] website: www.ashacentre.org

Summary

The aim of this course is to promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a framework for addressing the issues of climate change and environmental protection in youth work on a local and European level. Climate change makes sustainable development an urgent priority. Sustainable development is impossible without learning. This project provides an educational platform for it using a range of practical examples that can benefit young people and youth workers.

The main outcomes of the project are:

- Increased competences of youth workers and youth leaders (in , Scotland, Wales and NI) in addressing environmental issues

- Increased capacity of UK youth organisations and youth groups in tackling environmental issues and climate change

- Increased awareness of principles of Sustainable Development in practice and in the community

- Increased awareness of the opportunities offered by the YiA Programme to UK young people

- Knowledge of EU Sustainable Development Strategy

- Increased quality of youth projects on sustainable development, including local projects and European initiatives both within Youth in Action and outside it

Participant profile

The main target group of this project are youth leaders, volunteers and youth workers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We are willing to accept a delegation/group of applicants.

Applicants with a general interest in the subject i.e. with little or no previous experience are welcome to apply.

Participants need to be over 18 (there is no upper age limit). The total number of participants is 24.

Seminar venue

The ASHA Centre is an example of how sustainable development education can be put into practice for young people and local community. We regularly host local and international youth projects focused on sustainable development. In 2011, we hosted over 400 young people and youth workers in local, national, European and international projects.

We have a five acre biodynamic fruit and vegetable garden, designed according to the principles of Rudolf Steiner. We use an innovative BioBubble process to treat our waste. We have an EU-funded Agricultural Building that allows for hands-on ESD activities to take place on site. We also have an Eco-Shed to produce sustainable energy. In addition, the Centre runs local activities promoting sustainable development among young people and adults in the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire.

Programme

Participants accepted on the March seminar are expected to arrive by 12pm on 5 March and depart after 2pm on 9 March

Participants accepted on the April seminar are expected to arrive by 12pm on 9 April and depart after 2pm on 13 April.

The programme is built of five blocks – (1) principles and tools of ESD; (2) Climate change and young people (3) Sustainability in practice – case studies and good practice (4) Action for environmental protection (5) EU and Sustainable Development - Youth in Action as a structure of action.

The working methods will be based on non-formal learning methods and will include discussion groups, outdoor activities, multimedia presentations and individual learning assignments for participants.

The programme will include workshops by sustainability experts including visits to see sustainability ‘in practice’. These include the Ruskin Mill College, the Oaklands Centre, the Yorkley Eco-Community Project at Yorkley Court, and the Oaklands Centre where participants will see an innovative reed based system for waste processing.

Ruskin Mill College

Yorkley Court

Oaklands Park

Below is a selection of photos from our recent courses on Sustainable Development.

The Venue

ASHA Centre Gunn Mill House Lower Spout Lane Flaxley Gloucestershire GL17 0EA

For more info: www.ashacentre.org http://www.facebook.com/AshaCentre

Travelling to Gloucester and ASHA Centre

ASHA Centre is located in the Forest of Dean, near Gloucester.

Please check for the cheapest and most economical travel option from your city and contact ASHA Project Team ([email protected] ) for route and price approval.

You can get to Gloucester both by Coach and Train. http://ww.nationalexpress.com

Please, check www.nationalexpress.com for schedules and prices. It may be best if you book your ticket in advance as you may find very cheap ‘fun fares’.

You need to take a coach to Gloucester station (Gloucester Coach Station situated in the centre of the city). http://www.thetrainline.com

Alternatively you may also consider taking a train. Please be aware however of the limit of your travel expenses (see below)

You need to take the train to Gloucester station (Gloucester Railway Station, situated in the centre of the city) Please make sure you buy RETURN tickets in advance.

As this seminar is dedicated to promoting Sustainable Development, we ask you to consider the environmental impact of your travel. If however you feel the need to travel by Air, the nearest airports are (listed by distance/convenience of travel to Gloucester):

- Bristol Airport (Approx. 2h20 to Gloucester) - Gatwick Airport (Approx. 5h to Gloucester by coach) - Luton Airport (Approx. 5 hrs by coach to Gloucester by coach) - Heathrow Airport (Approx. 3- 4 hrs to Gloucester by coach) - Stansted Airport (Approx. 5h to Gloucester by coach) - Birmingham Airport (approx 2h to Gloucester by coach)

ASHA will arrange pick-ups from Gloucester coach station to Asha Centre (no public transport is available on this route). We will contact you with details of pick-up arrangements once all arrival times and dates will be confirmed.

Travel costs

All participants will have their travel expenses reimbursed in 100% up to the limit indicated in the travel limits below.

Accommodation

You will be sharing a room between 1 and 3 other participants of the same sex. All rooms have bathroom facilities. Towels and bed linen will be provided.

Photos of the ASHA Centre’s residential facilities can be found here: http://www.ashacentre.org/index.php/gallery/item/628-house

Contact

For further information, questions, or to submit an application contact:

Khalid Miah, Project Manager

Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01594 822 330

Travel reimbursement limits England – 60 GBP per person Wales – 40 GBP per person Scotland – 80 GBP per person Northern Ireland – 130 GBP per person