Deadline: 31-Mar-23
Applications are now open for the Climate Action Challenge Fund to support the development of community-led responses to key climate change priorities – delivering practical solutions as well as activities that begin to embed behavioural change in Essex residents through making environmental action easy, accessible and attractive.
Key Priorities
- Land Use and Green Infrastructure: Improving use of green space and other green features, urban and rural, which can deliver quality of life and environmental benefits for communities.
- Energy: Widening access to/and uptake of renewable energies
- Built Environment: Implementing Initiatives/measures to meet net zero standards in builidings and the urban landscape
- Transport: Increasing active and sustainable travel provision within the county; reducing reliance on the car; and creating new cycling and walking opportunities
- Waste: making it easier for people to recycle, repair and re-use, and help people make good choices
- Community Engagement: Creating easy to engage with forums/methods to raise awareness around key climate challenges and suport changing behaviours at a local level
Funding Information
- The Local climate action small grants fund: Grants up to £5,000. Aimed at small, localised community/unconstituted groups.
- The Local climate action large grants fund: Grants of up to £20,000. Aimed at schools and constituted voluntary and Community Sector organisations with an income of over £100,000.
- Grants awarded must be spent within 12 months of award.
Outputs
- All applications must demonstrate how their activities address one of more of the key priorities of this fund as well as how activity can support behavioural changes in participants.
- They are also interested in understanding secondary benefits of your project. You will be invited to tell them about the additional outcomes that you anticipate your project will deliver. This may include (but not limited to):
- Increased physical activity
- Increased community cohesion
- Improved connection with nature
- Reduced cost of utilities
- Increased growing and eating of fresh food
- Improved air quality
- Improved biodiversity
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are welcome from:
- Voluntary and Community Sector organisations – constituted and unconstituted (i.e. community groups; registered charities; CICs/Social Enterprises)
- Schools (Early Years, Primary and Secondary, Sixth Form Colleges and holiday provision)
- Parish Councils
For more information, visit https://www.essex.gov.uk/leisure-culture-local-heritage/culture-and-communities