Environment Wales Climate Change Grant Opens Today!

"Are you a third sector organisation or group looking too engage with climate change action for the first time?"

The third sector in its entirety has huge potential to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change, the following areas being particularly notable;

• achieving behavior change and organisational outlook
• communicating climate change messages on a grand scale
• tackling climate change in ways which have a positive affect on social justice
• developing and using innovative ways to address climate change

The Welsh Assembly Government, has established a new Climate Change Fund grant scheme and is working with WCVA and Environment Wales to enable groups to access the funds. We are looking to attract third sector organisations, which have yet to engage with climate change action. These small grants (from £200 to a maximum of £2000) will be used to help promote, educate and enable those up until now have not worked to combat climate change.

Your organisation can apply for funding for a range of different activities that help tackle climate change. For example these are the types of projects that could be considered for funding.

• Climate change awareness raising
• Encourage positive behaviour change amongst individuals/ communities
• Exploring and planning for the future impacts of climate change on your activities and those you represent
• Expanding your activities to help tackle climate change
• Establishing links with other organisations/groups that have an established climate change remit
• Learning from good practice / training
• Testing feasibility of new ideas or new ways of working

Application packs will be available upon request from the WCVA help desk from the 31st October. Packs will contain an application, guidance for potential applicants and a list of useful contacts that will hopefully be able to guide you to the best form of climate change action for your organisation. Applications can be submitted at any time but the closing date is 1 March 2010. Funds will be allocated on merit; however these funds are very limited so applicants are encouraged to apply quickly. Decisions on grant applications for under £1,000 may be assessed more quickly."

For further information, queries or advice on making an application, and for copies of the application forms and information pack, please contact WCVA helpdesk on 0800 2888 329 or email climatechangefund@environment-wales.org