Footsteps - Faiths for a Low Carbon Future is one of the seven community organisations that make up BrumEnergy. Footsteps’ role in this project is to connect BrumEnergy with Birmingham’s faith communities. 

Ways to save energy in the home range from small steps that help reduce electricity use, through low-cost changes that can make big differences to a complete ‘retrofit’ that can reduce energy use and costs by up to 80%. 

To help people find the right energy saving action for them, Footsteps has developed sets of energy saving flash cards that give basic information about a wide range of ways to save energy and reduce bills. 

Here are some of the recent ways Footsteps have been using the flash cards in faith communities helping to teach people how to save energy at home.  

Faiths for Fun – young people’s energy saving tips 

On Saturday March 9th Footsteps members, Toqueer and Ruth, led a workshop on climate change and energy saving at Faiths for Fun, the annual multifaith event for Scouts and Guides. 

There were about 50 young people taking part – the workshop was engaging, and the children were keen to share tips as well as articulate the reasons why the energy measures where good for the environment. 

The children read the teachings of all the faiths about caring for the planet, noting their similarity. Then we involved them in lively discussion about energy saving, green methods of travel and domestic cooking, lighting and heating. They were interested in the slow cooker and energy saving light bulbs and we talked about how they travel to school. 

All the children wrote or drew on cards an idea for saving energy, – you can see their work below. They each took away a pack of ideas and a badge. The young people enjoyed visiting the Footsteps base so much that Footsteps has been asked to go and lead a similar workshop at a Beavers’ group in Handsworth. 

Flash cards used in Walsall Anglican Church 

Footsteps’ John Nightingale led a mid-week Lent service on the environment attended by around 35 congregation members.  It began traditionally with an opening prayer, hymn, and a Bible reading from Leviticus about letting the land go fallow and having a Year of Jubilee. 

Each member of the congregation was given a pack of nine specially selected Footsteps’ energy saving flash cards in a special envelope linked to the Arocha Eco Church scheme.  John then took the congregation through the energy saving cards one at a time encouraging people to think about the steps they could take to save energy in their own lives and situations.  John said afterwards ‘the cards were well received and seemed to reach people where the were’.  Several people spoke to John afterwards about different cards and he felt very encouraged. 

From Global Solidarity to Local Action 

In February and March 2024 the Letters from the Global South exhibition was hosted at All Saints Church, Kings Heath. Footsteps took the opportunity to hold a workshop exploring how the Exhibition and the Climate and Ecology Bill can inspire local action.

Letters from the Global South Exhibition 

Letters from the Global South is a travelling, pop-up exhibition that aims to increase awareness of the impacts of climate change and environmental destruction in the majority world.  The images, letters and short testimonials that make up the exhibition are real-life accounts from communities worldwide already impacted by climate change and nature destruction.   

The Exhibition had already been incorporated in an All Saints’ Sunday morning service with congregation members creating their own response to the messages from young people from the Global South.  

Some of the All Saints’ responses are below.  

Footsteps’ ‘From Global Solidarity to Local Action’ workshop 

After viewing the exhibition, 25 of us held a Footsteps’ workshop aimed at gaining ideas for local climate action. We drew inspiration from the exhibition, the speakers and our fellow attendees.  There was also an update on Footsteps’ work and a display of energy saving resources and flash cards as part of BrumEnergy 

Our first speaker, Stephanie Boyle explained how Eco Together focused on the four main powers everyone has to make a difference:  lifestyle, communication, community and advocacy.  Stephanie has set up five Eco Together groups across Birmingham enabling people to take climate action in ways that are appropriate to their situations and interests. 

View Stephanie’s presentationDownload 

Next Caroline Egan outlined the evolution of the Climate and Ecology Private Member’s Bill and how it was unique in tackling the climate and ecological emergencies together.  It is a blueprint for a new UK law that addresses the full extent of the climate and nature crisis in line with the most up-to-date science. 

Caroline also explained the movement building and Zero Hour campaign that complements and supports the Parliamentary work on the Bill. 

View Caroline’s presentationDownload 

We ended with a lively Q & A session and table discussions about the climate action inspired by our speakers. 

For more information about energy advice and to access Footsteps' energy saving flashcards visit: https://footstepsbcf.org.uk/energy/