WIREDGOV

As Glasgow hosts the COP26 climate summit, The National Lottery Community Fund today (2 NOVEMBER) announces the first grants from its Together for Our Planet fund helping Scottish communities to act on climate change.

A community electric bike scheme in Dumfries, a composting scheme in South Lanarkshire and a series of community workshops and events in the south side of Glasgow are amongst seven Scottish groups sharing in funding today.

It follows new research* from The National Lottery Community Fund showing that, nearly half of respondents in Scotland (44%) say the COVID-19 pandemic has made the importance of addressing climate change personally more important to them. Three in four (74%) say they are recycling more, over half (56%) are using energy-efficient appliances and lighting at home and over half (52%) have insulated their homes.

In Dumfries and Galloway, Keir Penpont and Tynron Development Trust (KPT) is aiming to reduce local transport emissions with an electric bike scheme.

Welcoming their £9,870 award, KPT Chair, Maureen Halkertt, said:

“Keir, Penpoint and Tynron communities are developing a sustainable transport initiative to reduce carbon emissions and car journeys, and promote active travel health and well-being. The realisation of our community E bike scheme will greatly assist in this ambition by giving access to all and changing behaviours in the long term.

“We can't thank the National Lottery enough for awarding us this Together For our Planet funding. It will allow us to engage an E-bike project co-ordinator and E-bike ambassadors in each of our three villages. We’ll also be able to promote and deliver various E-bike try-out sessions, cycling and operation workshops and fun E-bike events.”

The Hidden Gardens Trust in Glasgow’s south side receives £7,440 to deliver four community events and 30 workshops focussed on climate change and sustainability.

Pip Ryan, Joint Chief Executive, The Hidden Gardens, said:

“This National Lottery funding will help us work with local communities and inspire all of us to make changes in our lives to reduce climate change.

“Our volunteer gardeners love sharing with others how they make peat-free compost. It’s great for growing plants and at the same time preserves our planet’s precious carbon capturing peat reserves. This is just one of the hands-on demonstration workshops we will be delivering to local people to inspire action on climate change.

“But saving the planet isn’t just for November! It’s on our agenda all year round with environmental workshops and events over the coming year.”

An environmental community group in Forth will play their part in tackling the climate emergency by producing up to seven tonnes of compost each year, thanks to an award of £3,000. Forth and District Initiative will use the cash to install five composting bins at their Forth Eco Site in Hailtonegreen.

Marie Mcgurk, Forth and District Initiative, said:

“We are delighted with this award which will allow us to upgrade and extend our current compost bays. As a community run site which involves everyone in our decision making, we are carrying out a step-by-step building process with our bed holders. Our bed holders are learning how to make their own compost with green waste only. This means they will no longer have to drive and buy shop bought compost thus reducing fuel emissions and plastic waste.”

Nick Gardner, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:

“As COP26 begins and global climate change negotiations are under the world’s spotlight, it is encouraging to see that communities are also taking action locally. Our research clearly shows that communities are not only concerned about the climate emergency, but that they want to play their part in tackling it. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support local climate action, funding innovative projects that are part of the drive towards net zero and that enable people and communities across the UK to prosper and thrive.”

The Together for Our Planet programme is open for applications until 5pm on 18 November 2021. It is awarding funding to help build on interest and excitement for COP26 by supporting a legacy of ongoing climate action projects in communities across the UK.

Since 2016, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded £397 million through more than 6,000 grants which involve environmental action, including action on waste and consumption, energy, transport, food and the natural environment.

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK**. To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

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