Today [Tuesday 2 November] - as the UK hosts the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow - 45 community groups across the UK have been awarded a share of almost 400,000 (382,800) in National Lottery funding, to help them take action on climate change.
The grants of between 1,000 and 10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, are helping to build on interest and excitement around COP26 by supporting a legacy of ongoing climate action projects in communities across the UK.
This funding announcement comes as new research* from The National Lottery Community Fund shows that over half of people (54%) in the UK are worried about the impact of climate on their local community. The survey of over 8,000 people shows that while almost nine in ten (88%) say the UK Government is responsible for tackling climate change, there is very high recognition for the role of individuals and communities too. Over eight in ten (82%) say individuals have a responsibility, while 79% say the same of local communities.
More importantly, the findings suggest that people want to take personal responsibility for mitigating the impact on their community - more than half (55%) say they are either currently taking part in community-led climate action or they plan to or will consider doing so in the future.
London based group, Civil Society Consulting, will use the 9,550 Together for Our Planet grant to set up a Community Leaders Network. They will focus on climate action learning, hosting webinars for community leaders, as well as providing training and mentoring to civil society and faith leaders from ethnically diverse backgrounds to encourage local community initiatives inspired by climate action.
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