A new grants scheme that will help local groups and communities develop green projects is being launched by Bristol City Council to coincide with World Environment Day tomorrow.
The Bristol Green Capital Community Challenge Fund has £75,000 to award to organisations each year whose projects will contribute towards Bristol’s goal of becoming a low carbon city with a high quality of life.
The kind of projects that would meet the challenge fund criteria include:
- Helping the local community to improve the energy efficiency of their homes;
- Starting a project to increase food growing in the local community;
- Working with a school to involve children in food growing or walking to school;
- Setting up a local renewable energy project;
- Creating a new community owned business.
The grants will be awarded twice a year, in July and January. Groups can apply for as little as £1,000 to up to and beyond £10,000. The application process will be kept as simple as possible, so that organisations applying for smaller grants are able to submit existing documents rather than having to fill in lengthy application forms.
A panel made up of Green Capital Momentum Group members, the relevant executive member and others would review applications to make sure they meet Green Capital objectives.
Council Leader Barbara Janke said the initiative would help Bristol build on its green credentials and help make the city a healthier place to live.
“Bristol already has a reputation as a green capital thanks to the quality of our open spaces, the commitment from residents to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and the growth of the green technology sector in our region,” she said.
“This new challenge fund will encourage and enable local charities, voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations to go ahead with community projects; helping to improve community wellbeing and integration, making Bristol a safer and healthier place to live and work and ensuring we have a more sustainable future.”
To find out more about the Green Capital Community Challenge Fund or to apply for a grant, go to www.bristol.gov.uk/climatechange