sUStain: transforming climate concerns into Active Hope

sUStain is a pioneering climate anxiety project, which provides support for adults and young people, in partnership with UEA, the Climate Psychology Alliance (CPA) and other partners. 

First piloted in 2019, we now offer a range of support around climate distress (such as eco-anxiety and climate grief and many other feelings about our changing world).   These emphasise our connection to each other (the “us” in sUStain) which is crucial in helping us face this enormous global challenge .

We offer: 
  • One-off workshops and creative awareness events exploring these approaches to normalise these concerns.
  • Monthly 'Climate Cafe' drop ins co facilitated by UEA students where feelings and thoughts can be shared
  • A 6 week programme based on mindfulness and elements of the Active Hope approach (following the best-selling book Active Hope: How to face the mess we are in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power by Resilience expert Chris Johnstone and eco-philosopher Joanna Macy). This course has recently been evaluated by the University of Bath.
  • There are also opportunities for group participants to be mentored to continue run their own Active Hope book groups – we hope to offer this again in future.

What is Active Hope? The Active Hope element of this approach, is radical in that it does not require us to feel hopeful to take action, or paradoxically, to focus on the outcome. This frees us to try new, creative ways to resolve issues. We can use gratitude, mindfulness and a whole range of resilience practices to resource us to do this.  

We are currently working proactively with students at UEA and residents in North Norfolk directly affected by climate change thanks to funding from our fundraising efforts. 
 
We are also able to offer our activities in collaboration with various partners in Norwich and across Norfolk and Waveney. Over the last year these have included The Sainsbury Centre, Norwich Theatre, First Light Festival, The Natural History Museum, Anglia Ruskin University as well as sessions for Cambridge City Council and Natural England. Please do contact us for further information.   

 

 
Active Hope in Challenging Times Workshop
 

 
BBC News Coverage: Don't let doom win project tells worriers

A new project has been launched to address rising climate anxiety in students at the University of East Anglia.

At the opening in Norwich, students told BBC News they felt
hopelessness, anger and despair about climate change.

They worry how they will live in a world with an unpredictable climate and the destruction of nature.

Read more here

 

 
More about Climate Cafes

Climate cafes offer a friendly, facilitated space to talk about how you are feeling about the climate emergency over a hot or cold drink and some cake. Talking with like-minded others can help us find, or revive, our agency and compassionate resourcefulness, rather than leaning into despair, shame and helplessness.
 
  • Climate cafes at University of East Anglia (UEA) Last Friday of every month from 18:30 - 19:30
  • Climate Cafes- North Norfolk
  • Climate cafes at REST Norwich (Churchman House, 71 Bethel Street, Norwich, NR2 1NR), last Friday of every month from 18:30-19:30 
  • Climate Cafe series at the Sainsbury Centre, second Tuesday of each month from 5pm - 6.30pm.
UEA Climate Cafes REST Norwich Climate Cafes Sainsbury Centre Climate Cafes

 

 

Mindfulness and Active Hope Course UEA

Embark on a transformative journey toward cultivating Mindfulness and Active Hope with our course, inspired by the pioneering work of Chris Johnstone and Joanna Macy. 

Here’s what you’ll experience: 
• Gain essential tools to navigate our planetary crises with grace and strength. 
• Explore a rich tapestry of simple yet potent practices to thrive amidst adversity. 
• Harness intense emotions as catalysts for growth and positive change through compassionate inquiry. 
• Learn practical insights into authentically transforming fear, despair, and anxiety into sources of Active Hope. 

Co-design meetings: October 17th and 24th
Main sessions: Thursdays from October 31st to December 19th
Time: 17.30-19.30
Where: Earlham Hall, room 0.34

BOOKING A PLACE IS ESSENTIAL. 

To book, please email sustain@norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk
Download Poster

 

sUStain Coastal : Community Wellbeing Project

Are you feeling anxious about the future of Happisburgh or Trimingham? Distressed or angry about the impact on your home and community? 

sUStain Coastal is a new project funded by the Coastwise Coastal Communities Transition Fund, offering bespoke support for Happisburgh and Trimingham residents cope with the devastating impacts of coastal erosion.

We would love to hear what kind of support you would like!
We’ll be holding a series of ‘listening events’ where you can tell us what kind of activities, skills and support would help you feel more resilient, less stressed and more hopeful ….
We’ll design a project together which enables you to:
  • Share your thoughts about our threatened coastlines and environment.
  • Express your worries and hopes in a relaxed, a-political and non-judgmental environment.
  • Connect with fellow community members who face the same challenges. 
  • Benefit from wellbeing support and information events as well as activities, groups and workshops that help keep us resilient and well. 
  • Access free counselling and complementary therapies

Our focus is on processing thoughts and feelings about the impacts of coastal erosion and policy rather than political action.  While campaigning is important, here we focus on emotional support and building resilience, which are key for mental wellbeing at times when we are under stress and facing enormous challenges.

For more information please contact Ruth Taylor at
sustain@norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk or call 0300 330 5488

 
Would you like to join our free Climate Cafe's, events or courses?
 
For further information about the project, please contact Azza Dirar, Project Co-ordinator at sustain@norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk

 

 
Get involved with the project as a volunteer!

There will be more exciting opportunities available for students at UEA to volunteer with this project.

We are looking for student volunteers to take an active role in steering the sUStain project, co-designing workshops and helping to run climate anxiety cafes. Research has shown that giving yourself agency within climate anxiety can improve your own wellbeing, as well as benefiting others you are supporting. And there are also opportunities to continue aspects of the project into the future. 

For more information about the project and opportunities available please download the link below.
Visit our Volunteer Page

 

 
Coffee & Geography - Georamblings

Kit chats to Rebecca Nestor & Caroline Fernandez about tacking climate anxiety, active hope through conversations, knitting, TV box sets amongst other things!

Rebecca is a climate activist and climate psychologist, and a recovering doctoral student at the University of Essex. She works mostly through the Climate Psychology Alliance, where she is on the board of directors and lead on climate cafes, but also a freelance organisational consultant and facilitator. Rebecca’s work is about supporting those facing the climate crisis. She lives in Oxford and regularly splashes about in the Thames.

Caroline is Project Coordinator for sUStain. She is a networker, food grower, environmentalist and chirpy ex Londoner, now living in Norfolk. Eldest of eight siblings, Caroline loves to travel the world through food, loves speaking German, and has family in India.

 

 

 
For more information about climate anxiety, including our partners, please see:

 

 



 

Head Office

50 Sale Road
Norwich
Norfolk
NR7 9TP
Tel: 0300 330 5488
 

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