Over half a million pounds of National Lottery funding goes to tackle climate change in Gwynedd

Today The National Lottery Community Fund announced that over half a million pounds has been awarded to communities in Gwynedd to tackle climate change, thanks to National Lottery players.

Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig in Gwynedd has been awarded a grant of £562,315 from The National Lottery Community Fund Climate Action Fund to enable local communities to tackle the climate crisis.

The grant is one of nine awarded across the UK totalling £5.2 million as part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund, and are made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

They receive £562,315 of National Lottery money to lead a partnership of five community organisations across Gwynedd to address climate challenges. The partners involved include: Cyd Ynni, Partneriaeth Ogwen, Siop Griffiths, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, and YnNi Llŷn.

Over the next two years the partnership will create 20 citizen assemblies, deliver a breadth of community-led activities, and prioritise engagement around community needs to develop a movement of climate action and positive behaviours towards tackling and limiting climate change.

Citizen assemblies will develop community climate manifestos for each local community and will highlight their priorities in addressing climate change.

Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig 1 — Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig. Credit: Geraint Thomas, Panorama

Grant Peisley, Director at Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig, said: “We are so grateful to the National Lottery players for making our GwyrddNi project possible. The money will allow us to work more closely with five successful community initiatives in Gwynedd. The co-operation will lead to the creation of climate assemblys and the development of climate action plans, by people living in our towns and villages around Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula.

"The partners on this project have all shown success in delivering community-led environmental, energy and economic projects. This is evidence of the power of involving local people in local developments and will drive all our actions on the new GwyrddNi project."

Ceri Cunnington, of Cwmni Bro, said: “"Cwmni Bro and Y Dref Werdd genuinely look forward to working together across our communities in Gwynedd to tackle the real and global challenge of climate change, in operating locally but with an international vision."

Meleri Davies, of Partneriaeth Ogwen, said: “If we are serious about tackling climate change, everyone in our communities must feel that they have a voice and a part to play in this crucial battle. That's why we're delighted to be part of the GwyrddNi project which gives local people a real opportunity to lead the debate and action."

Gareth Harrison, of Cyd Ynni, said: "We are extremely grateful to the National Lottery for supporting our work – GwyrddNi will be an innovative scheme, building on the success of our community organisations. It shows that action within our communities is the best way to tackle the biggest challenge ahead of us, namely climate change."

Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig 2 — GwyrddNi partners. Credit: Geraint Thomas, Panorama

John Rose, Wales Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “People understand the impact that climate change is having on our communities. The Climate Action Fund is part of our commitment to support people and communities to take the lead in tackling climate where they live to take action against climate change.

“As the largest funder of community activity in the UK we know that communities are best placed to understand and act on tackling climate change. That’s why it’s fantastic to see Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig, and communities across Gwynedd, take the lead on protecting the environment thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.”

The Climate Action Fund is part of The Fund’s Environment Strategy which has seen significant National Lottery investment through community-led projects that are focussed on activities that not only improve the environment but use it to enhance the lives of people and communities.

National Lottery players raise £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since April 2013, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded more than £340 million to environmental projects, through 4,796 grants.

Communities can find out more about The National Lottery Community Fund’s environmental strategy, as well as resources for how they can make changes in their community by clicking here.

ENDS

Date published: 1 December, 2020
Region: Wales

Notes to Editors

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced more than £19.5 million in 23 grants going to communities across the UK to take action and tackle climate change.
14 grants were announced in August this year, and we are announcing another 9 projects in November – they are the first to be announced as part of the National Lottery funded Climate Action Fund, a ten-year £100 million fund that will reduce the carbon footprint of communities and demonstrate what is possible when people take the lead in tackling climate change. With National Lottery funding, they will work together, share their learning and be active participants in a broader movement of change within and beyond these communities.
The Climate Action Fund is part of the Fund’s Environment Strategy which has seen significant National Lottery investment through community-led projects that are focussed on activities that not only improve the environment but use it to enhance the lives of people and communities. Since April 2013, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded more than £340 million to environmental projects, through 4,796 grants.
Communities across the UK have come together and shown drive and inspiration in face of the new and difficult pressures posed by COVID-19. Communities are well placed to understand, act and deliver effective responses to the crisis quickly and appropriately, and we’re confident with people in the lead communities can tackle climate action and respond to the climate emergency.
National Lottery players raise £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig (DEG) is an award-winning social enterprise supporting community led action across north-west Wales. It aims to support communities as they transition towards zero carbon. DEG won the Enterprise and Action on Climate Change Award at the Renew Wales Awards in 2017 and numerous awards and commendations for sustainability. DEG works very closely with local communities to understand their needs, design, plan and review activities.
Cyd Ynni is a consortium of 5 community energy organisations in the slate valleys of north Gwynedd. The consortium won the Collaboration Award at the 2016 Community Energy Awards. Sharing information, resources and contacts, and helping each other in the development of new energy projects - this is the aim of Cyd Ynni.
Partneriaeth Ogwen is a social enterprise founded through innovative collaboration by three Community Councils. They are democratically representative and support the local community to find sustainable solutions to its social, economic and environmental challenges. The Partneriaeth’s Chief Officer was recently given the titles of Green Energy Pioneer at the Regen Community Energy Awards 2019 and Wales Sustainability Champion at the Welsh Sustainability Academy Awards.
Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog is a pioneering initiative in north Wales; a network of successful social enterprises which have come together to co-operate under the banner of one community company. Including a mix of organisations such as community energy groups, schools, adventure and tourism enterprises, amongst others. They employ over 150 people, with 53% of the £1.5m spent on wages kept locally. They have come together to offer sustainable opportunities in the area and have shared their innovative approach at events for the Wales Audit Office and Social Business Awards Wales.
Siop Griffiths is tourism business and bunkhouse-style accommodation, creating training placements and apprenticeships for young people in hospitality, catering and tourism. Their work is based on the findings of three large community consultations held in 2011, 2015 and 2017. Siop Griffiths are now leading on a sustainable community transport project and the environmental component of the Bro Lleu Strategy, a partnership covering the Nantlle valley including three community councils, place-based social enterprises, community energy organisations and housing association.
YnNi Llyn was one of the first, if not the first, community group in north Wales to generate their own renewable energy. They have spent the last three years developing an innovative local energy ecosystem project that brings together best practice from around the UK and EU into one place-based response to the climate emergency, ready for funding. Their work is founded on community energy audits conducted with local residents.

Climate Action Fund - round 1

The Climate Action Fund is a ten-year £100 million fund supporting communities across the UK to take action on climate change.