£14m worth of grants to help local communities tackle climate change

The National Lottery Fund has announced today (August 17) that more than £14m worth of grants will be allocated to local community groups to help tackle climate change in the UK. 

These grants are the first of the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund, a ten-year £100m fund which will be used to reduce the carbon footprint of communities and support community-led environmental movements.

The aim of the fund is to support local projects, share learning and help communities be the catalysts for broader transformative change.

Middlesbrough Environment City Trust has been awarded almost £1.6m to improve the sustainability of food, transport, domestic energy use and waste.

The funding will focus on projects that empower young people to address climate change through educational workshops and individual action in their own communities.

The Women’s Environmental Network Trust has also been awarded £2.1m to run a range of community food projects to deliver a sustainable food system across Tower Hamlets in London.

The programme will set up community hubs across the borough to encourage food growing, set up community gardens, hold food co-ops, and also explore ways of reducing plastic waste.

John Rose, director and environment lead at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: ‘From 25 years of funding environmental projects across the UK, we know that local community action is at the heart of delivering solutions that not only minimise the impact on the environment but also offer additional benefits that people and communities can reap.

‘In the last few months we have been reminded that communities truly understand their places and spaces, and so often play a vital role in responding in a crisis, and we’re confident with people in the lead communities can tackle climate action and respond to the climate emergency.’

Mark Fishpool, director of Middlesbrough Environment City, added: ‘This new grant from the Climate Action Fund is fantastic news.

‘With the shared enthusiasm and commitment of partners including Middlesbrough Council and Thirteen Housing Group, this is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage local communities and young people in taking action to address climate change and create a sustainable future for our town.’