Funding awarded to groups across county through Essex County Council’s Climate Action Challenge Fund.

Organisations and community groups across Essex have benefitted from a £500,000 Climate Action Challenge Fund, which has now been fully allocated.

The fund was launched in July 2021 in response to the Essex Climate Action Commission's Net Zero: Making Essex Carbon Neutral report. The report made recommendations on how organisations, businesses, local communities and residents can work together to make Essex a net zero county by 2050.

Essex County Council (ECC) responded to the report in November 2022 with its Climate Action Plan. The County Council also published its first annual report on climate action in Essex in November last year.

Cllr Peter Schwier, ECC's Climate Czar, said:

"We established the Climate Action Challenge Fund to inspire voluntary and community groups to develop projects which combat climate change.

It is fantastic that we have been able to have made so many climate-friendly projects possible in Essex, and we thank those who have shown interest and applied for the fund."

A total of 41 groups and organisations have benefitted from funding for a wide range of projects.

Last March, the community and environmental charity Groundwork East was awarded £19,506 to develop and run after-school Climate Crew Clubs with nine primary schools in Essex. The grant helped support the development of club content and fund a pilot programme for approximately 200 children.

In June, PACE Manningtree received £5,000 to develop an E-cargo bike scheme to transport goods sustainably in the local area. A bike can be booked online or by phone for a small fee.

October saw the launch of the spectacular Gaia touring artwork at Chelmsford Cathedral, made possible by a £20,000 grant from the fund.

In January, Great Clacton Church of England Junior School received £6,774.61 to restore a disused pond area, helping children to learn more about the natural environment and develop a love of nature.

Other projects saw the retrofitting of solar panels to community buildings - which will lower energy costs and carbon emissions in Essex.

As funds have now been fully allocated, new applications are not currently being considered.

Find out more about the successful applicants to the Climate Action Challenge Fund at: https://www.essexclimate.org.uk/climate-action-challenge-fund-recipients.