Wow! We had a room fit to bursting on 9^th May, with over 40 people present, sharing ideas, getting to know each other and giving us very valuable feedback on what's useful, what's needed, what support and resources people need, and ideas for future events. If you like what you see, and would like to get involved, contact us and come to our next event.

If you'd like to comment, please do so below, or join the forum. You'll need to register with the website to do this - full details can be found in the Rough Guide to ClimateX.org.

Some responses from satisfied participants:

Just a line to let you know that I found last night's meeting, stimulating, inspiring and enjoyable.  It was very helpful and interesting to network with others.  There were two others from my workplace at the meeting and we are hoping that we may be able to get something organised here and to use some of the tools you provided. (Ruth Davis)

Info  needed by people to communicate climate change

• A leaflet or article on what to do in supermarkets on simple level - fair trade? Organic? Produce from abroad or local - even if grown in heated greenhouses
• Not too politicised  / bolshy info about campaigning and how to get to the next level - such as knowing how to target own City Council / District Council/ MPs
• More joined up thinking on policy issues  and how to effectively campaign on them - cycling should be a joy instead of hazardous!
• Fact sheets to share contacts and local resources - how to get started, improving house, people for quotes - impartial / carbon neutral advice
• Carbon literacy of common dilemmas, and FAQs of common questions - eg should you replace incandescent lightbulbs immediately, or should you wait till they've blown, then replace with low energy ones? How do I respond to questions based on faulty science?. (ed's answer: We can set this up on the website - but  please let us know the dilemmas and questions you're either faced with, or get asked constantly.)
• Need readily available info about recycling - to counteract the myths, to  encourage people who think that it's a waste of time, and clearer info about recycling plastics.
• Fact sheets - would be useful for LOCAL resources to: get quotes on draft-proofing windows, insulating, car sharing, renewable energy, who to approach, where to start. (Ed's note - send us your suggestions and recommendations!).
• Show people and help them to act and understand on how inefficient electricity usage contributes to Climate change.
• Make it easy to be green - instructions, help, example, directory, comparisons

Feedback about our toolkit

• Loved lightbulb library  - how do we get lightbulbs more easily available?
• Always ask in shops that sell lightbulbs why they haven't got more / low energy.
• A comment about the library being a bit awkward to carry
• Lending out books and DVDs v. good
• Lending of presentations useful
• Website good with links to other groups
• Pants good - funny!
• Make Earth from the Air posters easy to carry - no frames. (Ed's note - let us know if you'd like to borrow them - if you do, we can order another set)
• Comics are great for children (and adults) Get your Excellent Funny Weather comics from COIN, or see the Funny Weather website.

Resources needed

• Handyperson to give advice about energy efficiency - impartial advice (Ed's note - see Thames Valley Energy Centre and TV Energy for starters) and where to get advice about green energy (need to put a how to section up)
• Childrens library of info / tools about climate change (Ed's note: check out our links section)
• Database of local groups and local handy persons (ed's note - this is already online here. Have a look and give us feedback on how it needs to change / additions to it).
• Swap shop idea of experiences on the website - who's got what info /resources / contacts / experiences (ed's note: website just getting going - providing you with mechanisms to swap info and  experiences - great tool that people can use, so please do use it!).
• Raise awareness of cheap train ticket, bus services - where to get them etc - set travel targets each year (Ed's note: please send us your recommendations).

What ClimateX should be focussing on

• Still feels like white middle class people involved in the issues - more inclusivity needed (Ed's note: we need you to help us with this - do you have links to groups? Would you be interested in helping run an event or film screening?)
• Acting as conduit of info - what groups up to- eg get best tips from North Leigh, Wolvercote etc and pass on to other groups involved in similar activities. (Please send in your news - or write a blog / contribute to the forums ).
• Personal pledges section on the website
• Support for other villages doing parish planning (Ed'snote - try Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, one of our partners).
• Like the variable approach of ClimateXchange.

Ideas for events

• Climate ‘speed dating' (Carbon dating?!) event - experts  / how to eco renovate home, transport, solar/  wind, climate science etc - sat around room, name tags etc
• Inconvenient Truth great - Public showing in large place - pledge to bring a certain # of people who hadn't seen it - and when people leave people also pledge to bring people
• Climate change gardeners question time - Who's got contacts to gardening organisations /allotment holders Would this be useful? If so we can get a panel together
• Hold events in different places - Blackbird leys, Rose hill , to attract different communities
• Public screenings of films - in Community centres etc
• FAQs / carbon literacy role plays (Drama groups) to role play communicating climate change, events to
• Speaker training -  come to the next COIN CLimate change speaker training on June 19th
• Interactive tools / models to show
• Tips on campaigning
• People have too much info? Need capacity to have moderated solutions - / intelligent librarian

Other Ideas..any answers?

• Dashboards for houses  - to tell us what we're using and how fast we're using it
• Pointed out that public transport and alternatives to car need to made much more available, attractive and accessible
• Doing carbon footprints is a useful exercise to see how your car use is impacting
• Somewhere to direct comments, for example:frustration that recycling plastic is so complicated.
• Climate change and G8 event
• Run campaigns - walk to school - walking bus, recycling in schools etc
• Book recommendation: Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer
• Stickers / posters - turn lights off (see the Carbon trust's energy saving posters)
• Need to communicate the positives of living a low carbon lifestyle (tell us your experiences, or see the low carbon pioneers - link on right)

To see the poetry that was read out, see the Conjuring Creative Climates article.