£100,000 now available for community climate projects in Vale

What do sculpture making sessions in Abingdon, a car sharing club in Harwell and a community garden in Stanford in the Vale all have in common? The answer is they have all benefited from the Vale of White Horse’s Climate Action Fund which provides grants of up to £5,000 for climate-related community projects in the district.

The good news is the Climate Action Fund has opened again this week for applications from town and parish councils and local groups who have proposals which aim to tackle climate change.

This time there is £100,000 up for grabs – double the amount previously available for those applying for grants. The fund will be open for applications until 14 July.

Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader and Cabinet member for Climate Action and the Environment for Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “We have been delighted with the variety of projects and enthusiasm of local groups applying for funding.

“There have been many successful projects, but we want to encourage even more groups to come forward with innovative ideas on how they can help the fight against climate change.

“We decided that this time we would double the amount of money available so that twice as many community groups and organisations can apply for help getting their climate-friendly ideas off the ground.”

As well as more common projects such as tree planting and solar panel installation, the fund has supported projects such as a sustainable eating course, funded professional ecological advice to create a community woodland and a boardwalk at a nature site to allow visitors access without damaging important habitats.

Full details of the Climate Action Fund and how to apply are available on our Climate Action Fund page on our website.

Previous successful applicants have included:

LocationOrganisationDescription of project
Abingdon, Gozzards Ford and Marcham  The Bullpen Outreach EngagementSculpture making sessions with children and families, on the theme of Climate and the Earth
AbingdonOne Planet AbingdonTo implement ‘FreshWater Watch’, a global citizen science project focussing on water quality monitoring,
CumnorCumnor Conservation GroupDelivery of a habitat survey and resulting management plan, to support and understand the site, as well as increase local knowledge concerning the site, ecological methods in general and forming the basis of a public education drive
Great CoxwellGreener Great CoxwellA community energy project with funding for an infra-red camera, outreach materials, events support and training to help community understanding of how and why to save energy
HarwellSustainable HarwellBuilding a business case and conducting research to provide foundation for implementation of a community car sharing club
MarchamMarcham with Garford Parochial Church CouncilDeveloping the churchyard area, subject to an Environmental Management Plan, as a demonstration and teaching resource, modelling both care of creation and sustainability
North HinkseyHinksey Trail Regeneration CICBoardwalk regeneration at a nature site to allow visitors access without damaging habitats
ShrivenhamSustainable ShrivenhamEstablishing a volunteer repair shop and a plastic free community campaign  
Stanford in the ValeStanford in the Vale Parish CouncilRejuvenation of a community garden, transforming it into an area that promotes ecological restoration, allowing people to spend time in nature and appreciate the benefits of the natural world
WantageWantage Draught bustersOffering simple adaptations or repairs to people’s homes to reduce heat loss, without any charge to them. Aiming to target individuals and families who are in, or at risk of, fuel poverty

Permanent link to this article: https://kennington-pc.gov.uk/100000-now-available-for-community-climate-projects-in-vale/