Community-led climate action can lead the way
Power of the Collective
Throughout the UK, thousands of community groups have already developed practical and inspiring examples of how to tackle climate change and combat the ecological emergency.
From food waste cafes to repair shops and ambitious community energy schemes, there are inspiring projects making sustainable behaviour part of everyone’s everyday life.
Community groups are based in the area where they live. They connect at a grassroots level and can deliver the best-suited and most innovative ideas for their areas.
In coming together around climate action activity, research shows there is a range of additional benefits for the wider community. These are often referred to as co-benefits and include:
- improved community cohesion a cleaner
- more pleasant local environment
- improved physical and mental health for local people
- reduced isolation and loneliness
- helping people save money
- new employment opportunities
- stimulating the local economy.
Getting started for communities is not always easy. That’s one of the reasons The National Lottery Community Fund has partnered with Ashden, a climate change charity, to share information on key areas where successful local activity is already taking place.
“We want National Lottery funding to support projects across the UK doing great things within their communities to help tackle the climate and ecological emergency,”
says Nick Gardner, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund.
“We know that in taking coordinated climate action, the wider community can benefit in a whole range of ways. What’s key for us is to share the knowledge and to inspire and engage others by making sure good practice is accessible to all to learn from and build on.
We asked Ashden to support us so we can ensure we, as the UK’s largest funder of community activity, share great climate action information and know-how to motivate communities wherever they are and however they can make a difference.”
These stories focus on the Fund’s current Climate Action funding priorities which fall into five broad areas:
- energy
- transport
- natural environment
- food
- waste and consumption.
Harriet Lamb, CEO of Ashden said:
“In working with The National Lottery Community Fund to highlight community climate action projects, we wanted to tell their stories and highlight the difference they are making at a local level. We also know however community-led climate and environmental action has the potential to enable real, innovative and systemic change and is a critical part of enabling a rapid shift to a net-zero carbon society.
“We have also seen the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the vital importance of communities in responding to a crisis. We have been watching closely for lessons to learn in this respect."