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October 23, 2013

Who got what from CCF

Good news for communities with plans to take local action on climate change. An extra £10.3m has been added to the pot which extends the life of the Climate Challenge Fund until March 2016. Also, for smaller bids (up to £30k) there’s a new streamlined process which will make decisions on a monthly basis.  £3.6m has just been awarded to 32 communities – one of which is Scotland’s soon-to-be Bike Town.


23/10/13

Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, announced on 3 October 2013 the award of over £3.6 million for 32 projects in the 15th round of grants from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund.

The projects offered grant are:

Edinbane Community Hall Association in Portree has been awarded a grant to run the Edinbane Hall Energy Efficiency project which will install insulation in the hall, providing the community of Edinbane with a modern, energy efficient building with lower carbon emissions. £58,936

21st Century Families in East Kilbride has been awarded a grant to run the Families on a Budget project which aims to help reduce fuel poverty through supporting families to manage their household budget as well as to change habits to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions. £105,600

East Lothian Roots and Fruits has been awarded a grant to run The Garden Plate project, on behalf of five primary schools (Prestonpans, St Gabriel’s, Sanderson’s, Wynd Cockenzie and Whitecraig). The project will help these schools reduce their carbon emissions by growing local food on school allotments and by taking measures to reduce their food waste at school. £64,208

Mull and Iona Community Trust’s Sustainable Homes project will help islanders access appropriate and affordable solutions for reducing energy bills and carbon emissions with the help of an energy advisor. The project will also work in conjunction with academic, commercial and housing partners to develop new solutions for “hard to treat” properties. £61,225

Lismore Public Hall on the Isle of Lismore, Argyll and Bute, has been awarded a grant to run the Lismore Hall Energy project which will insulate and draught-proof the building, reducing carbon emissions and transforming the hall into a comfortable and warm hub for island activities. The project also aims to raise awareness of climate change and cut community-wide transport carbon emissions through promotion of lower carbon travel alternatives. £25,266

Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association in Glasgow’s energy advice project will employ an Energy Advice Officer who will visit residents in their own homes to provide information, advice and assistance on energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures. The project aims to help households reduce their energy consumption, bills and associated carbon emissions. £57,762

The Island of Hoy Development Trust has been awarded a grant to run the Affordable Warmth and Service Support Scheme. The scheme will co-ordinate and signpost a qualified supply and installation chain of local contractors to install energy efficiency measures and upgrades across the local community. Through education, certified measurement (Green Deal Assessments) and qualified guidance, the project is targeting an overall reduction in carbon emissions. £110,225

I am Bikes Limited has been awarded a grant to encourage the people of Cumbernauld to get on their bikes for the first Cycle to the Moon Challenge, which will record the cumulative number of weekly journeys by bike in a business or school. Results will be uploaded onto www.cumbernauldmoonrace.co.uk weekly to create a competitive environment which aims to encourage people to cycle instead of using the car, thus reducing carbon emissions. I am Bikes also aims to help people switch from car to bike by offering bike maintenance sessions, workplace audits, cycle journey planning and helping schools and employers work towards Cycling Scotland’s ‘Cycling Friendly’ status. £242,300

Twechar Community Action in East Dunbartonshire’s Green Energy Aware Twechar Water Reduction project will explore how rain water harvesting and reduction of water consumption both in the home and other premises in the village can reduce carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty and support local food growing and adaptation initiatives. £87,454

Penicuik Community Development Trust has been awarded a grant to restore The Lost Garden of Penicuik (once an efficient fruit and vegetable garden) to full production as a sustainable local food source, thus reducing carbon emissions associated with food miles. This community-led project also aims to maximise the benefits of the garden as a place of therapeutic, social, educational and environmental value. £31,900

East Dunbartonshire’s Cycle Co-operative’s Good Moves Bishopbriggs project aims to reduce local carbon emissions through smarter (lower carbon) travel choices to school and work. The project aims to give direct support to 2,000 residents aged 3 to 83 and to influence a further 10,000 indirectly. £167,725

Burravoe Public Hall in Yell, Shetland, has been awarded a grant to run The Burravoe Public Hall Energy Saving Improvement project. The project will insulate the hall to make it a warm and comfortable community building with reduced energy use and carbon emissions. In addition, the project aims to inform the community how they can use the hall and their own homes in an energy efficient manner, decreasing energy use, bills and carbon emissions. £144,250

St Michael’s Parish Church of Scotland in Linlithgow has been awarded a grant to run the EMPOWERING St Michael’s and Linlithgow project which will replace inefficient lighting in the church with modern LED lighting technology. This will substantially reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions and serve as a catalyst to encourage all users and visitors to St Michael’s to take similar action at home. £73,300

Robert Gordon University Student Association in Aberdeen, has been awarded a grant to run the RGU: Union Carbon Footprint Initiative project. The project will drive initiatives that allow students to gain transferable skills through training in energy efficiency, bike maintenance and development of vegetable plots. The acquired skills will allow students to give back to the community while reducing local carbon emissions, helpling to tackle climate change. £208,777

The Gate Christian Fellowship’s Gate Church Carbon Saving project in Dundee aims to promote behaviour changes towards low carbon lifestyles, increase the uptake of low carbon transport and install energy efficiency measures in two buildings in the West End of Dundee; Grade A listed St Marks Church on Perth Road and the community centre on Greenfield Place. £198,016

Milnathort and Kinross Allotment Association has been awarded a grant to provide community members and organisations in Kinross-shire with an opportunity to grow their own fruit and veg to reduce food miles and carbon emissions. They will convert an unused field into 30 allotment plots of various sizes, a community garden with communal facilities such as storage buildings, a poly-tunnel and water supply. They will also install raised beds to make gardening more accessible for older and disabled individuals and hold a range of educational activities. £38,436

The Grampian Housing Association has been awarded a grant to reduce carbon emissions from their houses in targeted areas in Moray. The Community Energy Challenge Moray project will focus on behaviour change in respect of the energy use of their tenants and also those of Langstane Housing Association. This will result in tenants being more aware of climate change, energy efficiency and will tackle fuel poverty resulting in an increase in tenants’ wellbeing. £54,891

Fallin Community Enterprises Recyke-a-Bike’s Cycling into Sustainability project aims to reach all sectors of local communities in Stirling, Clackmannan and Falkirk and promote cycling as a healthy, environmentally friendly activity and a first choice in local travel. Bike Doctor events and training in both cycle skills and bike maintenance aim to help individuals, community groups, youth groups, schools, businesses and third sector organisations make journeys by bike instead of by car, thus reducing local carbon emissions. £172,883

Glasgow School of Arts Sustainability in Action Group’s Artists using Resources in the Community (ARC) project will help the local artist community tackle climate change in their studios, halls of residence, flats and kitchens. The project will see action to save energy, water and food, plus initiatives to increase recycling levels and re-use more artistic materials. Together, these measures aim to reduce the school community’s and local artists’ carbon emissions. £94,000

Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust in Argyll & Bute has been awarded a grant to run the The Greener ColGlen project which aims to reduce carbon emissions in the areas of food, waste and energy within their local communities. The project will grow food locally in two polytunnels, compost waste and use the local forest as a sustainable source of woodfuel. Further initiatives will include a website, blog, food waste workshops and a harvest festival to celebrate their first growing season. £172,357

SCOREscotland’s Green Futures project will work with members of black and ethnic minority communities in south west Edinburgh to raise their awareness of climate change and support them to take actions to reduce carbon emissions that also have a positive impact on their lives and those of their families, friends, community and neighbourhoods. The project also aims to reduce fuel poverty, facilitate safe travel by lower carbon transport alternatives such as public transport and provide new opportunities for volunteers. £188,401

A partnership between Islay and Jura Community Enterprises Ltd and Islay Energy Trust has been awarded a grant to deliver the Whisky Island Sustainability project. The project will incorporate an Island Lift Share Scheme and the promotion of active modes of travel to reduce car journeys and associated carbon emissions on ‘Islay Whisky Island’. Further reductions in carbon emissions will be achieved through installation of new technology LED lighting and extra insulation at Mactaggart Leisure Centre, which will also reduce energy use and bills at this community hub. £106,168

West Lothian Financial Inclusion Network’s Home Energy Advice project will provide a range of advice and support to vulnerable groups and those in fuel poverty. As well as reducing bills, energy usage and carbon emissions through these activities the project also aims to provide education on long-term measures for fuel efficiency. £61,425

West of Scotland Regional Equality Council (WSREC) has been awarded a grant to run the Cook, Sew, Grow project. The project will focus on working with the Polish, African and Middle Eastern communities in Glasgow to increase community understanding of climate change and how to reduce carbon emissions. WSREC will be offering a programme of information sharing, cooking, growing, sewing and cycling to encourage individuals from these communities and others to take the lower carbon route. £99,344

Shopmobility Aberdeen’s Public Transport Outreach project will encourage the use of lower carbon transport alternatives instead of the car whilst providing mobility solutions. Shopmobility Aberdeen will provide trained volunteer companions to assist people with mobility and sensory impairments in their travel by lower carbon transport alternatives such as public transport. £74,792

Tullibody Healthy Living Initiative, has been awarded a grant to run the Tullibody Garden project which will engage with local people who have expressed a wish to buy and grow local produce. The aim of the garden project is to provide fresh produce for sale locally and to encourage every resident to grow their own in order to reduce food miles, and thus, the community’s carbon emissions. £150,450

Gorbals Healthy Living Network’s Greener Cleaner Gorbals project will create local food growing spaces and offer food growing workshops to the community to encourage consumption of locally grown and seasonal produce. As well as reducing carbon emissions associated with food miles the project also aims to reduce carbon emissions associated with vegetable waste going to landfill by offering a collection service and then composting the material. £138,695

The Maxwell Town Information Centre has been awarded a grant to run The Maxwell Centre Community Garden and Environment project which will give the community the chance to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs locally, thus reducing food miles and packaging waste. The project will also address air pollution, conservation and the sustainability of food through learning and development opportunities. £152,272

Sandwick Social and Economic Development Company, Shetland, has been awarded a grant to run the Hoswick Visitor Centre Energy Preservation project which will install energy saving measures such as insulation in the visitor centre. These measures will reduce energy use, bills and carbon emissions and will also mean that users of the centre will be able to plan events during the winter months knowing that the centre will be warm. £53,600

RecyColl’s Moving Coll Towards Zero Waste project will support the community on the Isle of Coll in adopting behaviours and practices to reduce carbon emissions, utilise local resources more effectively and increase social cohesion. The group is also working towards providing a centre for learning, information sharing, practical recycling and reuse activities on the island. £111,449

Forward Coupar Angus Ltd’s Energy Savings for Coupar Angus (ESCA) project will open an Energy Advice Centre in the Perthshire town. The Centre will give advice and practical help to the community on how to cut fuel bills and carbon emissions through reducing energy consumption and accessing existing funding for measures such as home insulation, heating and micro-renewables. £198,450

Transition Edinburgh South has been awarded a grant to run the Gilmerton, Gracemount & Moredun Grow Stronger project. This community-led food initiative aims to tackle barriers to local food production and reduction of food waste (including associated carbon emissions) by using community asset based approaches. The project will be delivered through building community capacity and individual volunteer skills and will use an inclusive inter-generational approach to involve the whole community in tackling carbon emissions and climate change. £122,886