In this episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka has a conversation with Ned Gatenby, the Community Client Fund Senior Lead for Business in the Community (BITC). During this episode, Ned discusses the importance of community action and engagement for better climate resilience. This conversation also stresses the need for accessible funding,  less jargon and an extroverted approach to enhance community engagement and involvement.

Key Topics Covered:

• Community engagement: What does good community engagement look like, why is it important and what are the factors that can enhance community engagement?
  

• Prioritising community needs: The challenges that surround prioritising community needs and the factors that contribute to a lack of knowledge and resources amongst different communities.
  

• Effective strategies: The best, most effective community engagement strategies, such as the use of accessible language, trust building and centering community voices.

  
  

• Funding: The challenges that come with navigating different funding streams and the need for a more integrated, inclusive and holistic approach. 

  
  

• Accessibility: How making environmental issues and climate action feel more accessible and approachable for every-day communities can bring change and make a difference to our climate changing world.

  
  

Guest Speaker:

Ned Gatenby - Community Climate Fund Senior Lead at Business in the Community (BITC), joining in June 2024. Ned is responsible for their Community Climate Fund, which provides funding for community-oriented organizations to improve community-level resilience against environmental and economic shocks associated with climate change.

Useful Information and Links: 

Business in the Community

https://www.bitc.org.uk/

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit: www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/

In this episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka sits down with James Hitching, an experienced expert in flood risk management, to discuss the vital role Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) play in supporting more climate resilience communities. During this episode, James and Meshi explore how SuDS can help to mitigate flood risks, enhance local biodiversity, address and resolve poor water quality and also serve as essential tools for neighbourhoods and schools.

Key Topics Covered:

• What are SuDS and its Benefits?: A look at SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) techniques such as permeable paving, green roofs, ponds and swales and how they help to manage water naturally. 

• The Role of Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFA’s): James highlights the critical work LLFA’s do to help ensure projects meet both environmental and flood resilience standards.

• The Challenges of SuDS: A deeper dive into common concerns surrounding SuDS projects and how these challenges emphasise the need for further public education to ensure communities are aware of the positive impact of SuDS.

• Accessibility and Scalability: An in depth look at nature based solutions as a way to incorporate DIY friendly SuDS features amongst the general public, making sure that climate resilience is achievable for communities at every level.

  
  

Guest Speaker:

James Hitching - Director and Flood Risk Consultant of LLFA Solutions Ltd with over 18 years in the field. James is a leading advocate for SuDS in the UK and has been instrumental in implementing the Flood and Water Management act.

Useful Information and Links: 

CIRIA SuDS Manual

https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/docs/planning/ciria-c753-the-suds-manual.pdf

UK SuDS Website

https://www.uksuds.com/

Managing flood risk: roles and responsibilities | Local Government Association

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit: www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/

In this very special episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka sits down with students from North Durham Academy to discuss the innovative sustainable house prototype they worked together to build. The students Jade, Evie, Tilly and Elma discuss the process and inspiration behind their design, as well as their future career aspirations in the arts, STEM and education. 

Key Points Covered:

• The Sustainable House Prototype: The students share the story behind the creation of their prototype, including what inspired the design, how it was built and the intricate details that made it innovative. 

• Passions and Contributions: How each student's unique and individual passions and skillsets contributed towards the final design.

• Inspiring and Engaging All Generations: The students’ ideas for how we can engage the younger generations to be more climate conscious, but also how and why we should aim to inspire older generations too.

• Scaling Up: A discussion surrounding the potential to scale up their sustainable house prototype and how the students' interests in STEM can contribute to this.

• 20 Years of Experience: Questions directed to the host, Meshi Taka, on her 20 year career as an engineer, offering advice to the students on how they could pursue a career in the field.

  
  

Guest Speakers:

Students from North Durham Academy: Jade, Evie, Tilly and Elma. 

Useful Information and Links: 

Find out more about careers in STEM

https://www.stem.org.uk/

Future Business Magnates | Business Durham

First-ever Ikigai arts festival inspires positive change through creativity and sustainability - MiS Magazine | Daily exploration of Creativity & Innovation

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit:www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok -https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation

Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/

In this episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka is joined by Sophie Dawson, a Technical Coordinator for Project Groundwater Northumbria, to discuss key insights from a  quiz conducted at the Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival. The purpose of this quiz was to engage people on topics related to groundwater, flooding and mining. This episode helps to emphasise the importance of raising awareness about groundwater, flood risks and the wider scale impacts flooding can have. 

Key Points Covered:

• Awareness: Raising awareness and aiming to normalise the conversation around flood resilience, the environment and the impact climate change can have on communities.

• Learning About Groundwater: Discussions surrounding the importance of groundwater as a water resource, as well as the impacts and potential dangers of groundwater flooding.

• Quiz Results: A deep dive into the results of the quiz conducted at Northumbrian Waters Innovation Festival, which focused on groundwater and flood risk knowledge.

• The Goals of PGN: A look at the goals of Project Groundwater Northumbria, both currently and in the future, including developing mapping, forecasting and warning systems for groundwater flood risk.

• Community Engagement: Highlighting the importance of community engagement and knowledge sharing as part of the project, including via social media, school resources, partnerships and this podcast.

Guest Speakers:

Sophie Dawson: A Technical Coordinator on Project Groundwater Northumbria (PGN) and creator of the quiz which ran at Northumbrian Waters Innovation Festival

Useful Information and Links: 

Flood map for planning - GOV.UK

Check the long term flood risk for an area in England - GOV.UK

Flood Re - A flood re-insurance scheme

BeFloodReady – Property Flood Resilience (PFR) | Helping Reduce Flood Risk

In this special episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka is joined by Lynn Thompson, (PGN STE(A)M Lead), to discuss insights from the Northumbrian Water’s Innovation Festival, where they engaged with attendees about their experiences and knowledge of flooding. In this episode, we cover various personal stories and expert opinions on the impacts of flooding, the importance of emergency planning and stories of community resilience.

Key Topics Covered:

Community and conversations: The importance of community engagement and support during flooding events, and the significance of fostering conversations about flooding to enhance resilience and strengthen connections.

Impacts of flooding: The mental, physical and financial impacts of repeat flooding on residents, including true stories from Innovation Festival attendees.

Emergency planning: Emphasis on the need for comprehensive emergency planning and preparedness, even for people who don’t believe they are at risk of flooding.

Complex challenges: The complex challenges of flooding, beyond just the immediate damage. Including disruptions to services, transportation and access to critical facilities.

Nature-based solutions: The role of nature-based solutions and sustainable drainage systems and how they work to reduce the impact of flooding.

Impact on emergency services: The emotional toll flooding can have on emergency responders and recovery workers who witness the devastation caused by flooding.

Research and support: The growing need for more research and support around the mental impacts of flooding, both for residents and those responding to incidents.

Guest Speaker:

Lynn Chapman: As the STE(A)M Lead for Project Groundwater Northumbria, Lynn brings expertise and insights into flood management dynamics.

Useful Information and Links:

The English National Study of Flooding and Health - Summary of the evidence generated to date

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e6bb75fd3bf7f2695546ba8/Summary_of_findings_NSFH_January_2020_Final_for_DsPH__3_.pdf

Flood map for planning -

GOV.UKhttps://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/Check the long term flood risk for an area in England -

GOV.UKhttps://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-riskFlood Re -

A flood re-insurance scheme

https://www.floodre.co.uk/BeFloodReady – Property Flood Resilience (PFR) | Helping Reduce Flood Riskhttps://www.befloodready.uk/

In this episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka delves into a thought provoking conversation with leading experts. As communities around the world continue to face the effects of climate change, this discussion centres on the importance of understanding what is happening below ground in order to create a more climate resilient future above ground. Guests Tim Kearsley, Holger Kessler and Rhiannon Marchi-Smith discuss issues such as groundwater flood risks, new methods for managing groundwater and how new and upcoming technology can make data more accessible and easier to understand.

Key Topics Covered:

What is Groundwater Flood Risk?: A deeper dive into how groundwater works and how it can affect our ability to deal with floods.

Subsurface Systems: How creating more advanced, modern systems for managing water underground can help all communities adapt to climate change.

Exciting Digital Innovations: The use of new tools and technologies such as NUAR (the National Underground Asset Register) and the work they do to make data easier to access and improve cooperation among different groups.

The Benefits of Nature Based Solutions: An investigation into how natural methods such as geothermal energy can help create more sustainable urban spaces.

The Value of a Collaborative Approach: Why working together across different organisations is important in order to improve data sharing processes and better manage underground resources.

Guest Speakers

Tim Kearsley PhD MSci FGS - Head of Research and Modelling at the British Geological Survey (BGS)

Holger Kessler - Stakeholder Manager at Akins Realis

Rhiannon Marchi-Smith - Lead Hydrogeologist and Technological Coordinator at PGN (Project Groundwater Northumbria)

Useful Information and Links: 

https://brand.atkinsrealis.com/point/en/atkinsrealis/

https://www.bgs.ac.uk/

https://www.ukgeos.ac.uk/glasgow-observatory

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-underground-asset-register-nuar

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-the-subsurface-report

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit:

www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/

In this episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka sits down with Dr. Olli Jones, the Associate Director of Sustainability and Innovation at Cundall. Their conversation explores both the challenges and opportunities that come with exploring and implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with an emphasis on the importance of community action and long term planning in order to achieve those goals.

Key Topics Covered:

What are Sustainable Development Goals?: A breakdown of SDGs and their significance in addressing climate change.

Progress: The frustration surrounding the lack of progress and action towards achieving SDG’s, despite declarations and commitments.

Climate Emergency: What is a climate emergency and why do we need bold, immediate actions to address its impacts?

Government: A discussion surrounding the need for stronger climate leadership within the government and why both accountability and long-term planning is integral to driving progress.

Community: The need to leverage community action and engagement in order to hold decision makers accountable and drive change.

Opportunities for Change: An exploration of current and future opportunities for economic development, to achieve a more climate resilient future.

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Olli Jones - Associate Director of Sustainability and Innovation at Cundall, leading a team of over 180 people to deliver sustainable consulting on engineering projects. 

Useful Information and Links: 

Cundall

https://www.cundall.com/ 

Learn more about SDGs

https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Learn about the UN Report 

The UN report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an annual assessment that provides an overview of progress made toward achieving the 17 goals established by the United Nations in 2015. These goals aim to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice by 2030.

The report typically includes:

Progress Updates: Information on how countries and regions are performing in relation to the SDGs, highlighting successes and areas needing improvement.

Data and Statistics: Key indicators and data that illustrate the current state of global development and the effectiveness of policies aimed at achieving the SDGs.

Challenges and Gaps: Identification of obstacles that hinder progress, including issues like financing, governance, and the impacts of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommendations: Suggestions for actions that governments, organizations, and individuals can take to accelerate progress toward the SDGs.

Case Studies: Examples of best practices and innovative solutions from various countries and communities that have successfully advanced the SDGs.

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2024/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2024.pdf

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit: www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/

In this episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka reconnects with Carl Hodgson from Newcastle City Council, previously co-host of Season 1 and now Project Manager of Blue Green Newcastle. Carl discusses the Blue Green Newcastle (BGN) project, an initiative that combines flood management with blue and green infrastructure to build a more resilient and sustainable urban landscape in Newcastle upon Tyne. He shares BGN’s vision for a city where water management (blue) and natural spaces (green) come together to improve public spaces, support biodiversity and engage the local community.

Key Topics Covered:

Guest Speaker: 

Carl Hodgson MCIWEM C.WEM  is Technical Co-ordinator at BGN. Carl has over 20 years of experience in local government, and a wealth of experience in flood risk management, drainage and sustainable transport.

Useful Information and Links:

https://new.newcastle.gov.uk/planning-building-development/flood-management/blue-green-newcastle 

https://www.urbanisten.nl/work/benthemplein

https://www.dakparkrotterdam.nl/

https://www.brightvibes.com/rooftop-farm-dakakker-in-rotterdam/

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit: www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/

In this unique episode of The PGN Podcast, host Meshi Taka has a fascinating conversation with Anna Hastings, Project Manager for the Blue Heart Project. Anna shares the story behind the innovative LEGO Flood House, a LEGO model which aims to engage and teach communities, predominantly children, about flood resilience, through the creativity of LEGO.

Key Points Covered:

Guest Speaker:

Anna Hastings - Project Manager for the Blue Heart project, a fellow FCRIP (Flood and Coastal Resilience Programme) project. Working for East Sussex County Council, Anna’s role involves looking at new and innovative approaches for better understanding flood risk.

Useful Information and Links: 

Blue Heart Project

https://www.blueheart.org.uk/

Vote for the LEGO Flood House https://ideas.lego.com/projects/33147cdb-fb79-40eb-927a-d41022406cb8

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit: www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/

Season 2 of The PGN Podcast is coming soon. Join host Meshi Taka as she continues to dive into all things groundwater with all new (and familiar) guests on the podcast. From those building houses out of lego, to talking to young people about their innovative ideas for the future, explore the groundwater, flooding and its impacts like never before. 

If you enjoyed this podcast, please like, subscribe, and share with anyone who may find it useful.

To find out more about Project Groundwater Northumbria, please visit: www.pgn.org.uk

You can also find us on:

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@pgn_innovation

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/projectgroundwaternorthumbria/