Communities take action on climate

Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, announced on 4 March 2013 the award of over £2.1 million for 13 projects in the 13th round of grants from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund.

The projects offered grant are:

Lanark Community Development Trust will renovate derelict buildings and disused open space in Castlebank Park, Lanark. The Castlebank Horticultural and Environmental Hub project will allow the community to learn about and participate in activities which will help reduce Lanark’s carbon footprint. These activities will include local food growing, composting and recycling. £195,326

Community Food Initiatives North East’s FareShare Goes Local! project, based in Aberdeen will build on contacts with local north east stores and growers to negotiate collection and distribution of their surplus produce which would normally go to landfill. The project will distribute the produce to low income, vulnerable, homeless and disabled community members. Carbon footprint of the community will decrease as the surplus local food supplies, previously destined for waste are distributed for local consumption. The project will also create opportunities for volunteering and work placements as well as raising awareness of the carbon footprint of food and climate change. £67,395

St Columba’s Church of Scotland in Stirling city centre will thermally upgrade its main hall to save energy and reduce its carbon footprint. The project will also provide advice on energy efficient behaviour to the 150 church users and 325 hall users who make use of the facilities, which will help to further reduce the carbon footprint of the local community. £152,276

Himalayan Centre Edinburgh Ltd’s Leith Community Climate Change project will support a community initiative to establish a low-carbon, sustainable centre for arts and culture, repurposing a disused B-listed building in Great Junction Street, Leith. Energy efficient measures will be installed when the building is renovated, while the second year of the project will see a Community Engagement Officer and five Climate Champions focusing on a community climate initiative. This initiative will work with local people to reduce the carbon footprint of their daily lives. £255,837

The Aden Community Allotments Association will create 42 allotments and a community garden in the grounds of Aden Country Park in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire. The project will provide the local community with the opportunity to grow their own food, compost and reduce waste, thus reducing their carbon footprint. It will also provide non-members with a chance to learn valuable skills associated with growing their own fruit and vegetables. £77,133

Ormiston Grows – the community led Ormiston Grows Green project will reduce carbon footprint within the village of Ormiston, East Lothian through raising awareness of the need to reduce food waste and car journeys as well as providing opportunities for the community to grow their own vegetables. The initiative will have additional positive impacts on health and wellbeing associated with gardening and active travel, while bringing the community together. It also aims to contribute to local economic regeneration. £281,290

Highland Perthshire aims to be the first cycle friendly community in Scotland through the Highland Perthshire Cycle Friendly Community Project. The project, run by Highland Perthshire Cycling in Aberfeldy, will lead the way in enabling the community to reduce car journeys and travel actively more often. The project will also create opportunities for the community to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to achieve this. £106,788

Peebles Community Action Network – the Back to Basics project aims to empower young people and families to build a sustainable Peebles. The project will expand community growing facilities and raise awareness of local growing, buying local seasonal food and reducing food waste. It will also support the efficient use of natural resources. These actions will reduce the carbon footprint of the community. £225,747

Greener Kirkcaldy’s Cosy-up Communities project will help 600 households in 6 neighbourhoods to save energy, money and reduce their carbon footprint while staying warm and comfortable in their homes. Pop-up advice shops, volunteer Energy Champions and a wide range of local organisations and community groups will help to get locals on board to understand their energy use, insulate their homes and make efficient use of their heating. £176,776

Wester Hailes Health Agency’s Edible Estates project will engage the residents of two large housing estates in the south west of Edinburgh to develop their local greenspace into an asset which supports sustainable lifestyles. The project will help to build the skills and capacity of residents of all ages to work together to regenerate degraded greenspaces throughout their estates. It will focus particularly upon the creation of ‘edible landscapes’ such as community orchards and food growing plots for local food production which will reduce the carbon footprint of the community. £290,519

Ardersier War Memorial Hall Association in the Highlands will fully insulate and draught proof their 1923 hall to reduce its energy use and carbon footprint and help to make it a desirable community asset fit for purpose. They will also provide advice on energy efficient behaviour to hall users, thus reducing carbon footprint further in the local community. £84,451

Priorsford Primary School’s Greener Food project in Peebles will reduce their carbon footprint by giving pupils, staff and parents the skills to allow them to grow their own food in a school garden and at home. It will also focus on decreasing food waste through a ‘zero waste lunchbox’ and increase awareness of the carbon footprint involved in food production. £7,682

Velocity Cafe and Bicycle Workshop will promote cycling to work and play as a travel choice and a contributory factor to a healthy, happy lifestyle when combined with eating local produce. The Eat Cycle Work Play Local! project will work with the community to reduce its carbon footprint by increasing consumption of local food, cutting food miles and make cycling to school and work in Inverness the norm, reducing car journeys.  The project will provide support to cyclists through cycling training and fix-your-own-bike sessions. It will also provide support to help cyclists find safer routes as well as working with employers to help create more comfortable working environments for cyclists. £242,628

http://www.scottishcommunitiescan.org.uk/