Organisations

Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) - aims to facilitate environmentally responsible practices within building

Campaign for Better Transport - help to create transport policies and programmes that give people better lives through high-level lobbying and strong public campaigning both locally and nationally

Carbon Rationing Action Groups (CRAGs) - a network of local grassroots groups dedicated to reducing their own carbon footprints and those of their communities

Centre for Alternative Technology - offer solutions and practical ways of addressing climate change, pollution and the waste of precious resources; and aim to show that living more sustainably is not only easy to attain but can provide a better quality of life

Combined Heat and Power Association (CHP) - works to promote the wider use of combined heat and power and community heating.

Eco-Schools - an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life

Energy Saving Trust - Community Action for Energy (CAfE) - promotes and facilitates local community-based energy projects

Freecycle Network - a worldwide 'gifting movement' that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on landfills

Local Government Association - promote the interests of English and Welsh local authorities with a shared vision of local government that enables local people to shape a distinctive and better future for their locality and its communities

Local Works - a project of Unlock Democracy, campaigning to implement the Sustainable Communities Act

Low-Impact Living Initiative (LILI) - a non-profit organisation whose mission is to help people reduce their impact on the environment, improve their quality of life, gain new skills, live in a healthier and more satisfying way, have fun and save money

New Economics Foundation (NEF) - aim to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environment and social issues

Seeds for Change - provide training and resources to grassroots campaigners, NGOs, Co-ops and other community groups and organisations in the environmental and social sector

Slow Food UK - part of the international Slow Food movement, supporting diversity and locality in food and drink

Soil Association - Local Food - supports the re-establishment of viable human-scale farming, processing, distribution and marketing; and the availability of local organic food to all within a thriving local food culture

Transition Towns - aims to equip communities for the dual challenges of climate change and peak oil

Useful documents

Guide to the Sustainable Communities Act - Local Works, the coalition that campaigned for the Act

Sustainable Communities Act 2007 - the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 online

Sustainable Communities Act 2007: A Guide - Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)

Sustainable Communites Act 2007: Response to Consultation on Regulations and Statutory Guidance - (DCLG)

Sustainable Communities Act: The key that finally unlocks real local potential? - New Local Government Network (NLGN)