The Coddenham Centre is the first in a series where we look at Suffolk’s Greenest County success stories. The idea is to explore what works and what does doesn’t so lessons learned can be applied elsewhere. The numbers countdown the number of weeks remaining for organisations to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2025 as part of the Suffolk 25 By 25 initiative.

Andrew MacPherson  (The Individual)

As a retired professional, Andrew has both time and skills to contribute.  Formerly involved in successful culture change management projects (rare indeed) he knows how to make things happen. 

So the first things Andrew talks about aren’t cutting carbon or saving the planet but needing vision, leadership and hard work.  For him it’s all about getting people involved by communicating and engaging with the community. 

“People need to walk the talk, not just have a big list then do nothing” Andrew argues.  “It’s not ‘if’ but ‘what’ are we going to do!”  Making a project competitive and fun are also important – and somewhat unexpected.

The Coddenham Centre  (The Organisation)

It all started in 2019 when Andrew took over Chairmanship of what was then Coddenham Village Hall.  He inherited weak finances and a capital asset with an emerging long list of legacy maintenance liabilities – a LOT needed doing. 

Creating a vision of what could be achieved was his first step.  A transformation was needed and started with renaming Coddenham Village Hall to The Coddenham Centre.  The legal structure was changed to a charity with help from Groundworks East. 

Local support was initially uncertain.  People had mixed feelings as the Centre was a financial burden paid for through their parish precept.  Like many things, a combination of events was a catalyst for change, and this time it was Covid.

Coddenham Village (The Community)

Already a strong community, the pandemic brought people together through the Coddenham Community Response Group.  A community web site was created and slowly perception changed of what could be achieved.  

Andrew, fellow trustees and volunteers with grant support not only caught up with building maintenance, but have cut fossil fuels and their carbon footprint by 83%. Instead of outsourcing, volunteers removed a 1½ ton boiler by themselves.  Scope widened and now includes waste reduction, renewable energy and biodiversity.

The Centre has become more accessible to community bodies, and is professionally run with new events and initiatives.  Influencing others to take action is a key aim and Andrew sees their Plug In Suffolk EV chargers and eighty solar panels as totemic in their drive to Carbon Net Zero in 2030. 

To find out what Andrew, The Coddenham Centre and The Coddenham Community have achieved in the pursuit of Creating the Greenest County visit The Coddenham Centre and the Environment web page. 

Tags

Strong Leadership, Clear Vision, Action Plan, Local Community, Carbon Charter, Suffolk 25 By 25, Net Zero 2030, Property Emissions