All posts tagged as tips
Some last minute tips for ideas generation
Here are my top three tips for holding an effective ideas generation session - helpful if your group is still searching for its big idea or just needs a last minute injection of creative thinking!
1. Get everyone involved. Encourage everyone to share their ideas. Someone might have jotted down a gem of an idea in their notebook, but if they’re too nervous to speak up then you’ll never know about it!
2. Ban negative thinking. In an ideas generation session all ideas are good ideas. Quickly dismissing an idea as ‘bad’ or ‘impossible’ might hold others back from sharing their ideas – and a ‘bad’ idea might be the one that sparks a brainwave from someone else.
3. Find a fresh perspective. Try getting your group together in a different setting from your usual meeting place – a different perspective can help to encourage fresh thinking. Or if you’ve already identified a problem that you want to solve, then get together in a setting that helps you to focus on that problem.
You should also check out Doug Richard’s advice on how to come up with good ideas.
Remember that the deadline for entering the Big Green Challenge is Monday 3 March - so even if you’ve not yet finalised your ideas, it makes sense to start your application as soon as possible.
5 pointers for applicants
With the application deadline for the Big Green Challenge now only two weeks away, I thought I’d share my top five pointers to help you with your entry.
1. While entries to the Big Green Challenge must be from ‘groups of people’ and those groups must be not-for-profit, there are very few other restrictions. This means you can either set up a new group just to enter or enter as a group or not-for-profit organisation that already exists. Whoever you are, you should think about how you involve other people – you could link up with existing groups in your area or include people from your wider community to develop your idea.
2. We’re looking for fresh thinking on climate change but that doesn’t mean your idea has to be 100% brand new. You could be applying an old idea in a new way or have come up with a better way to encourage the take-up of existing measures. Think laterally about how to tackle the carbon emissions people produce in their everyday lives.
3. This is an ambitious project, and we want YOU to be ambitious about what you can achieve with your ideas. We think if people work together they can have a big impact, which is why we want to see how close you can get to a 60% cut in emissions. Do bear in mind that this is a target to aim towards and we’re interested in how close you can get to it. If you get through to the next stage we will also be able to advise you on how to measure this reduction.
4. The end goal of a share of the £1 million prize pot can seem far away, but remember that we’ll be providing support to the Big Green Challenge competitors in the next two stages of the competition so you won’t have to go it alone.
5. There’s lots of useful info in our FAQs and rules but if you have any questions at all on how to apply, we’re here to help. Call the helpline on 020 7438 2664 or email admin@biggreenchallenge.org.uk.
Dick Strawbridge
Tips on getting started
With applications now open, I wanted to share some pointers on how to get started and organise your community:
1. Recruit a core team – while it will help to work with a whole community, you are also going to need a few key people to drive the project forward and encourage others.
2. Elect a spokesperson – people are going want to know about what you are doing, so choose someone who is an able speaker and understands the project well. They should be able to inspire your community and engage with other people.
3. Identify skills – try and find people with the kind of skills you think you’ll need. In particular, take advantage of the wide range of skills people in your community will have to manage the project. From bookkeepers to electricians, all will have a role to play.
4. Identify like-minded people or not-for-profit organisations or others who may have a vested interest in your entry – from local voluntary groups to schools and community centres - tell them about your ideas and try to enlist their support. Remember, their help could make your project an ever bigger success.
5. Agree your ideas and what you want to say about them as a group – one person will need to complete the form on behalf of your group / organisation, but the Big Green Challenge is all about team effort and everyone should be involved in the process. Start filling in the form as soon as possible, don’t wait until the deadline on 29 February. Apply here now!
Good luck – I look forward to seeing your entries!
Sarah Beeny
Sarah’s Big Green Challenge top tips
1. Think creatively! I always try and come up with new ways of dealing with problems in my work. The best ideas are those which are innovative
2. Do you belong to any kind of group, club, society or association? Speak to the people you see regularly and encourage them to get involved
3. Take a look at what’s around you. Have you seen a good ‘green’ idea and thought you could make it better?
4.Think about the barriers to ‘going green’ - what is it that stops you from taking up existing ideas?
5. Even if you don’t already take part community activities, pester your friends, family and colleagues to join forces with you to come up with ideas
6. Have you got a friend or colleague who’s always dreaming up good ideas? Well join them to think about climate change and make an idea happen!
7. Remember the winning ideas, that groups can prove work, will be rewarded with cash
8. Visit the website of NESTA’s Big Green Challenge to register, find out more and get some inspiration: www.biggreenchallenge.org.uk
9. Try and think beyond the obvious - turning off lights and walking rather than driving are good ideas for saving energy, but something more is needed to achieve a 60% reduction in carbon emissions within your community.
10. Try and get other groups in your community to take part, and turn it into a local competition.
