Sustainability at The Carpenter’s Arms

Sustainability is not our core business, but we recognise its importance, not only for the charity itself, but for the long-term impact on the wider community, including the men we support and their families. At The Carpenter’s Arms, sustainability is approached as a practical, long-term commitment rather than a standalone initiative. Our aim is to embed responsible practices into daily operations, enabling residents to develop habits and skills they can carry forward beyond the programme.

We’ve listed a few key ways in which we’re making a difference:

From farm to fork at Malone Meadows

• Malone Meadows continues to develop as a working space that plays a visible role in daily life at Six Hills. While the project is still evolving, it is already home to a flock of 45 chickens, cared for by residents with the support of staff.
• The eggs produced are used directly within our service, providing a regular supply of fresh, nutritious food and reducing reliance on bought-in produce.
• There’s an added benefit of Phase 2 residents getting involved in the day-to-day care of the chickens and the upkeep of the site. This provides them with structure, routine, and accountability through hands-on involvement rather than theory.

Dialling down the temperature 

Washing temperatures have been reduced from 40°C to 30°C and then to 20°C. According to Which?, washing at lower temperatures can reduce energy use by up to 62%, this change is delivering energy savings of around 40% while reinforcing sustainable habits residents can continue once they move on, supporting both independent living and responsible resource use.

These combined changes have delivered operational benefits. Reduced food purchasing through the use of home-produced eggs, alongside lower energy use, allows savings to be reinvested into resident support, including therapy, activities, and practical assistance.

Malone Meadows has attracted strong interest from the local community, with individuals and businesses engaging in a visible, locally rooted initiative. As part of this wider engagement, our CEO Richard Spence was recently invited to speak with the High Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Jeremy Sharman, and his Rehabilitation Housing Committee to share the progression of work at The Carpenter’s Arms and future green initiatives.

Reducing the impact of transport

Alongside Malone Meadows, The Carpenter’s Arms has made significant progress in reducing the impact of its transport. Over the past two years, we have transitioned our fleet to include six electric cars, one electric van, and one electric bike.

Transport plays a vital role in our service, enabling residents to attend medical appointments, collect prescriptions, maintain contact with support networks, access employment, and take part in group activities. Our vehicles collectively cover approximately 134,000 miles each year. The move to electric vehicles has resulted in an estimated reduction of 49.89 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, equating to a 77% reduction compared to conventional vehicles.

The introduction of an electric bike has provided additional benefits for staff members without access to personal transport, improving flexibility and work-life balance. Several staff have completed CBT training as part of this initiative, reinforcing a team-led approach.

Future plans

• The introduction of raised beds and fruit trees alongside expanded growing areas, hydroponics, and water harvesting. Hydroponics will be used to sustain a nursery that grows simple, high-use produce such as salad leaves, small vegetables and tomatoes. This will be resident-led and resident-operated, creating opportunities for skill development while supplying fresh produce directly into the service.
• The installation of solar panels to support on-site energy generation.
• Longer-term development talks of a treated well system to provide a safe, sustainable water supply for Malone Meadows and our Phase 2 accommodation, reducing reliance on external water sources.
• The introduction of beehives and additional livestock. Where produce can be used within the service, this will further reduce reliance on bought-in goods, in the same way that home-produced eggs already do.

Together, these developments reflect an approach that balances environmental responsibility with real-world impact. By focusing on practical systems that work day- to-day, we are building sustainability into the fabric of our service in meaningful ways that we can measure, and which bring real benefit to residents both now and in the future.

If you would like to help in any way, please contact Richard Spence, Chief Executive Officer at The Carpenter’s Arms, T: 01509 550246 or drop us an email via the form on our Contact page.