Nifty Sustainability has recently secured from funding from the Co-Production Collective for an exciting project exploring how neurodivergence interacts with taking climate action and maintaining eco-hope. As part of the project, they are looking to recruit 5 people who are working or studying in a sustainability-related field, and who identify as neurodivergent to be part of a (paid) co-production group (3.5 days’ work @ £200 per day).
If this sounds like something that interests you, then please read on!
What is the project?
At Nifty Sustainability, we support individuals and organisations to embed sustainability in their practices. Through our work, we’ve observed many people involved in sustainability identify as neurodivergent, bringing important skills and
characteristics such as profound empathy, creativity and systems thinking.
However, we know that working in the context of climate, ecological and social emergencies takes its toll, which can lead to a loss of hope, overwhelm or paralysis around taking climate action (Wallace et al., 2020).
We have been awarded funding by the Co-production Collective to explore using co- production further with a group of people. Co-production brings together different forms of lived, living and learnt (personal and professional) knowledge,
understanding, and experience, for better outcomes and mutual benefit. Our project team includes people with lived experience of neurodivergence and anxiety, and we would like to engage a further small but diverse group of individuals.
We are now looking to recruit a group of 5 people working and / or studying in a sustainability-related field and who identify as neurodivergent. With this group we would like to explore lived experience around taking climate action and supporting or maintaining eco-hope, and how that interacts with neurodivergence. With this knowledge, we will co-produce a creative and accessible resource to further support climate action. We don’t know what this looks like yet, but it might be based around building a community, an activity or a learning resource.
What will it involve?
As a member of the co-production group, you would be involved in six, half day workshops between March and August 2024. Through the workshops we aim to:
- Better understand lived experience around taking climate action and maintaining eco-hope, and how that interacts (or not) with neurodivergence.
- Co-produce and pilot a creative and accessible resource to support this group and beyond in taking climate action and maintaining eco-hope.
- Co-produce and carry out an evaluation of the process and outcomes of the project.
The workshops
You will be able to join these workshops in person, online or in a hybrid format depending on your access preferences and accessibility requirements. We know the value of creating a safe, welcoming environment for discussions like these and will do all we can to make sure everyone is comfortable. We would like to make this project accessible to a wide variety of participants and will ensure we give lots of space and time for discussing how to make it work for everyone. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any access needs or concerns you may have at any stage.
What will you get for your valuable time, energy, experience and ideas?
We will pay members of the co-production group for 3.5 days of their time at £200 per day (a total of £700 per participant). We will also cover reasonable expenses, such as travel, that you may incur in being part of the project or that will enable you to participate.
At Nifty we look for ways to build capacity in those we are working with so would discuss with you areas you would like to develop through this project. As members of the co- production group, there will be scope to contribute to and / or lead on different aspects of the project such as workshop coordination, resource development, background research and evaluation of the project process and outcomes.
Application process for the project
If you would like to apply to be part of the co-production group, please complete this Short MS form. You will be asked:
- Your name
- Preferred contact method and details (email address / phone number)
- How you are involved with sustainability
- Why you are interested in being part of the co-production group
- Are there any access needs or preferences you would like us to take into account that would support you in being able to take part fully?
- Would you prefer to join the workshops in person or online?
- Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself at this stage?
If you have any access issues with this process, please email Jen Dyer (Project Lead) [email protected] to discuss an alternative (e.g., recording a voice note).
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 20th February at 2pm.
Next steps…
Nifty Sustainability will contact those who have applied by Friday 23rd February to arrange a follow-up chat to select the 5 paid members of the co-production group. This will be an informal discussion with two members of the project team to see whether the team think you would work well together and to ensure they have a diverse cohort of people with different lived experiences.
NB – Although only funding for 5 paid roles is available they would also be keen to discuss other ways of being involved if there are more than 5 people interested.
