Southwark community group is awarded almost £10,000 funding to combat climate change

A Southwark community group has been awarded almost £10,000 in funding to help them take action to combat climate change.

The Civil Society Consulting CIC is using its funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to set up a national Community and Faith Leaders Network focused on climate action learning.

The Network will host webinars for community and faith 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.

The funding announcement follows new research from The National Lottery Community Fund showing that 58 per cent of people in London are worried about how climate change will affect their local community.

When asked who is responsible for tackling climate change, nearly eight in ten people in London said local communities.

Mark Ereira-Guyer, Founder Director at Civil Society Consulting CIC said: “The time is now to see what we can all do as climate action organisers and leaders in the communities in which we live – to generate an emboldened eco-centric heart to our faith and community activities, services and projects.

“Thanks to the National Lottery, we will be able to inspire and educate our network to be part of the change.”

Nick Gardner, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “As COP26 begins and global climate change negotiations are under the world’s spotlight, it is encouraging to see that communities are also taking action locally.

“Our research clearly shows that communities are not only concerned about the climate emergency, but that they want to play their part in tackling it.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to support local climate action, funding innovative projects that are part of the drive towards net zero and that enable people and communities across the UK to prosper and thrive.”