£95,000 awarded to Bristol organisations taking climate and nature action

A total of 25 community groups and non-profit organisations have been awarded grants up to £5,000 for their environmental work.

The funding has come from Bristol City Council as part of the One City climate and ecological emergency strategies.

These programmes serve as a response to emergencies related to climate change, as well as aiming to reduce the carbon footprint and improve infrastructure in the city.

Organisations were encouraged to apply for the grants in support of the work they’re doing to either tackle climate change or make changes that benefit wildlife in Bristol.

Ambition Lawrence Weston, Bristol Somali Youth Voice, Horfield Methodist Church, Easton Community Children’s Centre, the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL) and The Filwood Residents Association are among those to have received funding.

WECIL’s Alison Browning said: “WECIL’s Climate Action Plan is due to be launched later this year, it focuses on three important areas: reducing WECIL’s carbon emissions, supporting the disabled peoples community to make small but impactful sustainability changes and highlighting ways climate action can be more inclusive and accessible.”

WECIL is an organisation dedicated to improving and supporting independent living while creating a more inclusive society.

Browning also highlighted how work on climate action is taking place against a backdrop of a cost of living crisis, adding: “For many disabled people, the use of essential equipment (hoists, powered beds, motorised chairs, breathing equipment) can’t be reduced.

“As an organisation run by and for disabled people, our workshops and other initiatives will bring the community together to share ideas and resources that can lead to realistic solutions for individuals, whilst collectively caring for the planet.

“As a team, we felt that the grant could help support some important actions listed in our plan for year one – these include money-saving workshops and swap shops designed specifically for the disabled community.”

Knowle West Community Garden has been created on a once overgrown site – photo: Charlie Watts

The Filwood Residents Association will use the £5,000 to continue their work on creating a new community garden in Knowle West.

Bristol24/7 Community Reporters Editor Charlie Watts is involved in the project. He said: “The money will go towards ensuring the space is a wildlife haven and for the benefit of local people’s health and wellbeing.

“The site in Belfast Walk was head-high in brambles before the residents association had it cleared, but it is now blossoming into one of the most beautiful places in Bristol.”

The Knowle West Community Garden is a green space, benefitting not only the wildlife in the city but also communities.

It will have allotment plots for local people to grow their own food and veg, as well as raised beds in the garden made out of recycled materials. The garden also has bike stands – funded by LifeCycle UK’s Take a Stand scheme – which encourage cycling as a sustainable mode of transport.

This piece of independent journalism is supported by Natwest and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership

Main photo: Charlie Watts

Read more: New initiative hopes to bring climate and community centre to Broadmead 

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