Tackling climate change in Cornwall gets over £1.5 million boost

Today [17 August], Cornwall has received the good news that almost £1.3 million in National Lottery funding is going to Duchy College, part of The Cornwall College Group (TCCG), and £200,000 to the Bude Climate Partnership to work with communities across the city to take action and tackle climate change.

Duchy College will use its grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, to run The Farm Net Zero project, which aims to help the local farming community to move towards net-zero carbon emissions.

The project will create opportunities for farmers in Cornwall to learn about economically beneficial changes they can make to farming practice, through bespoke farm carbon footprint calculating, targeting soil health, peer-to-peer learning on effective action, and support networks for farmers and their surrounding communities.

Sarah Houghton, Assistant Principal Quality of Education – Land Based TCCG, says: “We are delighted to be given the opportunity to further support the reduction in carbon emissions in farming. Thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund, we will head The Farm Net Zero project, which ties in perfectly with the opening of our multi-million pound Future Farm research and education facility at Duchy Stoke Climsland. TCCG has a new highly experienced leadership team in place that emphasises quality outcomes for our learners, the businesses and the communities that we serve. Through our colleges, the Rural business School and our partnerships with key organisations across the country, we will help lead the way in securing a bright future for future generations, rural businesses and the environment.”

A development grant[1] awarded today – which is made possible thanks to National Lottery players – went to the Bude Climate Partnership to investigate, test and develop ways the town and its communities can become climate resilient.
Across the coastal town, there is growing interest in climate action, with by Bude-Stratton Town Council declaring a climate emergency in September last year. The partnership, led by the Bude Coastal Community Team, will share its findings with organisations and communities across Cornwall and other coastal and remote towns.

The 18-month project will focus on how climate change is affecting specific areas of the town’s infrastructure and communities, including tourism, agriculture, local transport, the lives of young people and older residents. Bude Climate Partnership will develop a series of initiatives, including videos, podcasts, toolkits for schools and the community, an online virtual community climate change hub, and a climate change conference to engage with different parts of the community.

Rob Uhlig, Chair of the town council’s Climate Change & Environment Committee and member of Bude Coastal Community Team (BCCT), says: “This grant from the Climate Action Fund is a fantastic result for Bude. It will make a big difference to our community’s ability to face the challenges of climate change. As a coastal community in a remote, peripheral location, Bude is particularly vulnerable to climate change. This National Lottery funding will help to ensure our economy, residents and businesses can find the best ways to protect our precious way of life and our beautiful coastline from its effects.

“Bude Climate Partnership is incredibly grateful for the support and guidance of Bude Coastal Community Team (BCCT) in securing this funding. Without BCCT’s invaluable advice and hard work, I have no doubt that we would not have been successful. BCCT really made all the difference and we’re very lucky to have it.”

These grants are two of the first fourteen grants to be announced as part of the National Lottery-funded Climate Action Fund, a ten-year £100 million fund that will reduce the carbon footprint of communities demonstrating what is possible when people take the lead in tackling climate change. All the projects across the UK will work together, share their learning and be active participants in a broader movement of change within and beyond these communities.

Nick Gardner, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re delighted that thanks to National Lottery players, people and communities across Cornwall will be taking action to reduce their carbon footprint and demonstrate what is possible when people take the lead in tackling climate change.

“From 25 years of funding environmental projects across the UK, we know that local community action is at the heart of delivering solutions that not only minimise the impact on the environment, but also offer additional benefits that people and communities can reap. In the last few months we have been reminded that communities truly understand their places and spaces, and so often play a vital role in responding in a crisis, and we’re confident with people in the lead communities can tackle climate action and responding to the climate emergency.”

The Climate Action Fund is part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Environment Strategy which has seen significant National Lottery investment through community-led projects that are focussed on activities that not only improve the environment but use it to enhance the lives of people and communities. Since April 2013, the Fund has awarded more than £340 million to environmental projects, through 4,796 grants.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk