More funding now available for climate friendly community projects

Published: 19 Jul 2022

A graphic indicating important elements of the Community Climate Fund, including energy saving, water reduction, cycling, recycling and growing your own

Do you have any climate friendly project ideas? Apply now for up to £5000 to make them happen.

Applications are open until 12 August 2022 for communities needing funding for projects that help to tackle climate change through the Council's Community Climate Fund.

We have had an amazing response since the scheme launched in July 2020 from lots of voluntary and community groups, as well as Parish and Neighbourhood Councils. They have successfully received funds and are now making them work hard on really effective eco-projects to reduce carbon levels and create an environment that works better for everyone.

Some of the projects currently taking place include:

Beeding and Bramber Village Hall have used their funds to install low energy lighting which has reduced their energy consumption by some 62% a year. They have also introduced solar panels reducing their emissions by 1324 kgCO2 a year.

Horsham Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council used their funds to encourage increased use of bicycles as a means of personal transport. They will use the awarded funds to improve basic bike maintenance skills for local residents and encourage them to generally use their bikes more as a climate friendly alternative to cars.

Chair of the Neighbourhood Council Morag Warrack said: “I'm so delighted that we can now get more people into cycling and help cyclists feel confident to get out and about on the road. This will encourage locals to cycle into town and commute to work on their bikes as Horsham can be easily cycled from the Trafalgar area.   We're also aiming to reduce the speed limit in the area to prioritise cycling and walking. The cleaner air will be of benefit to all of us in the long run.”

Last year the 2nd Horsham Scouts received a Community Climate Fund Award. One year on and here’s what Caroline McCurrach: Assistant Group Scout Leader has to say:

We are delighted with this funding which has allowed us to save energy and reduce our bills with new LED lighting, as well as save water with our new water butts. We are now looking forward to making good use of our garden and kitchen waste in our new hot composter which will then go on our boarders and veg bed so that nothing is wasted.”

You can read our full list of funding recipients here.

Future rounds of funding are shown below:

  • Grant opens 3 October 2022 - Closes 11 November 2022
  • Grant opens 2 January 2023 - Closes 10 February 2023

Find out more about our Community Climate Fund