The Church House team are delighted to announce that the diocesan offices have been given a Bronze Eco Church award by A Rocha. The diocesan offices registering as an Eco Church is a requirement for our diocese to become an Eco Diocese.

In 2019 a group of staff started meeting as the Church House environment working group and they devised an action plan to reduce the environmental impact of the offices. The plan included three key targets:

  • To reduce the carbon emissions from staff travel;
  • To reduce the carbon emissions from heating and light;
  • To reduce the carbon emissions from resources used.

Actions taken include:

  • Training for staff;
  • Switching to recycled or sustainable stationary;
  • A cycle to work scheme; composting;
  • Making digital documents the default;
  • Using eco-friendly cleaning products.

The work is ongoing but the progress to date has been recognised as significant enough to achieve the A Rocha award. The team are now working towards the Silver award which they hope to obtain in 2023.

Kate Cortez, Head of Operations at Church House said: “Our working group members are our Creation Care Champions and I am so proud of what they have achieved to date. For example, earlier in 2022 the group held a fundraising event with the staff and raised enough money to sponsor two toilets – one in the Republic of Congo, the other in Honduras – via Toilet Twinning. This was a great way to engage colleagues in environmental issues and show how everyone can play their part.

“A key thing for us is that we know churches are being asked to make changes to help reach Net Zero by 2030 and we want to walk alongside them in this. We are all part of the diocese and staff are really keen to do their bit.”

To find out more about what being an Eco Church is about or becoming a Creation Care Champion you can email Ben Lillie, our Diocesan Environment Officer.