Discover how 'It started' from inspiring environment projects
Find out how it started for these brilliant environmental projects
It started with a need for support – Jen’s story
Small steps - like volunteering - can create ripple effects for individuals, communities and the planet. Sometimes, the hardest part is just taking the first one.
It started with reclaiming the river – Simon’s story
When Simon Myers moved to London at 17, he didn’t expect to fall for a river. Slowly, the River Lea became a constant in his life. A place full of stories, wildlife and history.
It started with a hot meal – Nirmal’s story
Community climate action can happen in the most unexpected places. What started as taking part soon grew into something more for Nirmal.
It started with a shed and a cuppa – Nobby and Jim’s story
Community climate action doesn’t always look like big infrastructure or complex technology. Sometimes, it starts in a shed, with a broken chair, a kettle on and a conversation.
It started with curiosity – Seren’s story
With Climate Action Fund support, projects like GwyrddNi can respond to what communities want and need.
It started with a friendly face – Nmoye’s story
Through Support and Action Women’s Network, Nmoye helps build inclusion, confidence and belonging. She shows other women what’s possible when communities support one another.
It started with a new way of learning – Gwynfor’s story
Projects like Welcome to Our Woods don’t just support individuals, they create benefits that ripple into the wider community.
It started with a seed of hope – Helen’s story
For Helen, growing food became a way to regain confidence and look forward again, during and after cancer treatment. She found more than just a hobby: she found a seed of hope.
It started with a Walk and Talk – Mohammed’s story
With support from the Climate Action Fund, projects like Hamiltonhill Claypits Local Nature Reserve show what can happen when communities lead the way.
It started with caring for home – Lockleaze’s story
For Harry and Harvey, caring for a Bristol estate's green spaces became a mission. They're not just planting wildflowers, they're growing a community.
It started with a good group of lads – Callum’s story
Callum’s story shows how supporting your own mental wellbeing and caring for the planet can go hand in hand.
It started with a voice and a call for change – Emma’s story
Being a Disabled person gave Emma a unique perspective on her city. Guided by “nothing about us, without us”, she helped around 150 Disabled people design a more inclusive future.
It started with a look around – Margaret and David’s story
Margaret and David discovered the value of their local green space through volunteering. Now they know that nurturing nature is good for people and the planet.
It started by letting nature lead – Gemma and Julie’s story
Gemma and Julie wanted people to understand the climate crisis with their hearts, not just their minds. To do it, they showed them nature in a whole new way.
It started with a recovery plan – Scott’s story
Having grown up in a struggling area, Scott Milligan sought change and helped turn around Hamiltonhill Claypits to benefit the whole community.
It started with a new discovery – Faith’s story
Faith was desperate for some hands-on ecological action. Thankfully, she realised she didn't need to leave the city to get stuck in the mud.
It started with a desire to do something different
Jaz stepped off the beaten path and learned that education doesn’t always happen in the classroom – it happens in nature, too.