This guide is based on lessons learned from organising two rural Climathons in spring 2022, as part of a British Academy-funded project about net zero futures. This document is intended for Local Organisers of rural Climathons, to provide inspiration and suggested principles to ensure a successful event

Gardner, Abigail S

Ingram, Julie

Maye, Damian

Raseta, Sofia

Simmonds, Philippa

University of Gloucestershire Research Repository 

Philippa SimmondsDamian MayeAbigail GardnerJulie IngramSofia RasetaThis guide is based on lessons learned fromorganising two rural Climathons in spring 2022,as part of a British Academy-funded projectabout net zero futures. Both Climathons took place in rural livestock-farming communities; one in Cumbria (northwest England), the other in Cornwall (southwest England). Both were focused on net zerosolutions for the food and farming sector.This document is intended for Local Organisersof rural Climathons, to provide inspiration andsuggested principles to ensure a successfulevent.On the following page, we show how our sevenkey adaptations feed into the existingClimathon Playbook structure. "Climathon is a city-based programmethat offers a pathway to climate action." Climathon Playbook, 2022 version(available here)Cite as: Simmonds, P., Maye, D., Gardner, A., Ingram, J. and Raseta, S. (2022), Rural ClimathonPlaybook, Countryside and Community Research Institute Report, University of Gloucestershire.Optimise the schedule to make itmore accessible for the farmingcommunity and people withchildren. Consider utilising a hybridstructure with an onlinecomponent for scene-setting andinitial activities. Condense in-personevent to one working day, or splitacross two half-days, informed bylocal collaborator advice.Build outdoor and experientialcomponents into the programme.Purposes include demonstratingexisting net zero solutions,providing time for participants toexchange ideas and askquestions of local experts,energising participants after along period of sitting indoors, andfacilitating informal discussionamong the group. This may alsoincrease the appeal to farmers,given the popularity of farm walksfor social and educationalpurposes.Plan to incorporate these in theevent to enhance the experience forparticipants. For example, creativemethods can foster empathy as partof design thinking, or be used to  record key messages from the event2. ALIGNMENT WITH LOCALINITIATIVES7. COLLABORATIVE CULTUREWork with your localcollaborators to plan howthe event will add value toexisting programmes, andavoid duplicating theirprevious work. Identifyplanned funding bids orexisting projects thatmight provide a route totake solutions forward.3. CREATIVE APPROACHES 4. STREAMLINED STRUCTURERURAL CLIMATHON PLAYBOOK CONSORTIUM-BUILDING1.Dedicate time and energy toworking with local partners earlyon. Local knowledge andunderstanding are essential tomoderate organisers' expectations,co-design the event structure, andensure events are well-attendedand adapted for the local context.Consider using a blend of onlinemeetings and in-person recces tolocations.6. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIESCreate space for respectfuldialogue, particularly whendiscussing contentious topics.Consider co-creating ground ruleswith participants at the beginningof the event, and considerprioritising inter-team dialogueover a competition with "winners".Provide appetising mealsto attract participants andhighlight local food. Workwith local caterers tomake meals a highlight ofthe event. 5. LOCAL FOODLessons from adapting the climathonmethod to vision food and farming netzero  futures in rural communitiesPhase 1: Warm up Phase 4: Follow-upPhase 3:AwardsPhase 2:Ideathon

Rural Climathon Playbook

https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/11445/7/11445_Maye_Simmonds_Gardner_Ingram_Raseta_%282022%29_Rural_climathon_playbook.pdf

Rural Climathon Playbook

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University of Gloucestershire Research Repository