The Ambleside to Zero (AtoZ) initiative is an ambitious community-led project aimed at transitioning the town of Ambleside towards carbon neutrality by 2030. The project’s scope goes beyond just environmental benefits – it serves as a blueprint for other communities in the UK, providing a socially inclusive, sustainable model for renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency retrofitting. At its heart, the project emphasises community engagement and awareness, aiming that everyone in the local community is part of this crucial transition. 

The AtoZ project was established with three core objectives:   

1. Achieving carbon neutrality for Ambleside: By 2030, the community aims to significantly reduce its carbon footprint through renewable energy adoption and retrofitting existing buildings for energy efficiency.  
2. Creating a template for other communities: The project serves as a replicable model, demonstrating how other towns and communities can embark on their own path towards sustainability.  
3. Social inclusion: Striving to get every sector of society included, the project promotes widespread participation, making the benefits of green energy accessible to all.  

The MCS Foundation’s Contribution:  

The MCS Foundation grant was crucial in funding the community engagement aspect of the project. With AAFAF (Ambleside Action for a Future), a relatively new community group at the time, the grant enabled the development of a comprehensive engagement strategy. The main focus was to:

• Build and expand a community network that includes all sectors of Ambleside, ensuring that every demographic has the opportunity to participate and contribute.  

• Reach beyond Ambleside, involving external organisations that could help influence future projects.

Successes and Key Achievements:

• Community engagement: The success of the project lay in translating a theoretical strategy into practical community events. These events successfully brought local residents on board, raising the profile of AAFAF and positioning it as a serious and lasting voice in the community.  

• Template for other communities: One of the most impactful legacies of this project has been the creation of a model that other communities can replicate. For instance, the partnership between AAFAF and CAfS (Cumbria Action for Sustainability) on the Solar Made Easy initiative has already been rolled out to 16 different communities across Cumbria.  

• Thermal imaging surveys: Another innovative model was the free thermal imaging surveys, conducted by AAFAF-trained volunteers. With the help of CAfS, this model has since been shared across Cumbria, with over 150 thermal imaging surveys completed during the winters of 2023 and 2024, helping residents identify areas where their homes are losing heat. 

Lasting Impact and Future Outlook: 

The project has succeeded in kick-starting community engagement around sustainability in Ambleside. Through the involvement of a broad network of local residents, AAFAF’s initiatives have continued to thrive. This includes increased awareness of the group, the recruitment of new volunteers, and the expansion of its core mission.

One of the most promising outcomes is the scaling of the solar and retrofit engagement model, which, through the support of CAfS, has reached over 700 households so far. This model continues to evolve and inspire action in other regions, showing the potential for wide-reaching environmental and social impact.  

Looking ahead, the work in Ambleside is far from over. AAFAF remains an ongoing community initiative, with plans to continue promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as developing new ‘Growing & Biodiversity’ and ‘Water’ groups. CAfS is also set to expand its efforts, launching an exciting new pilot program, EV Made Easy, which will help communities transition to electric vehicles as part of their broader sustainability goals. 

This case study is a testament to the power of community-led action, showing how local efforts can contribute to national sustainability goals.