Meet our community climate game changers

Edition: Summer 2021

Our community is on a mission to tackle climate change. Let’s take a look at what they are doing.

Members of Greening Steyning dress up in colourful costumes to raise awareness of climate issues. There are people dressed as bumble bees, flowers and a beekeeper

Back in July 2020 the Council introduced its Community Climate Fund inviting voluntary and community groups, as well as Parish and Neighbourhood Councils, to apply for funds to work on projects that can reduce carbon levels and create an environment that works better for everyone.

We’ve had a great response from a broad variety of groups who have successfully received funds and are now putting them to work on achievable, imaginative and interesting eco-projects. Here we share just a few of them.

Greening Steyning

Greening Steyning was one of the first environment groups to receive funding. They will be taking action on a number of environmental issues; from encouraging residents to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, to starting a Repair Café and carrying out a wildlife survey to help now to understand how to protect and enhance species and habitats in the area.

Revd Dr Richard Coldicott, Vicar of St. Mark’s, Parish of Holbrook and Karen Park, St. Mark's Eco Church Champion outside St. Mark's Church

St Mark's Church Holbrook

St Mark’s Church, Holbrook received funding to carry out tree and bulb planting, food recycling, rainwater collection and ongoing wildlife and local community surveys to review progress.
We spoke to Revd. Dr Richard Coldicott about the work.

At St. Mark’s we are passionate about looking after the beautiful world God created.
We are thrilled to have been awarded a £1,000 Community Climate Fund grant by the Council, and we hope our Holbrook Community Orchard project will both bless local people and greatly enhance the biodiversity in our area.

Revd. Dr Richard Coldicott, Vicar of St. Mark's Church, Holbrook

2nd Horsham Scouts

2nd Horsham Scouts are showing us that big change starts small. With just a few hundred pounds from the Community Climate Fund they have refurbished their facilities, replacing their lighting with more energy efficient bulbs and installing timers for their heating system, and they have fitted water buts and hot composters at their scout hut.

Southwater Village Hall

Southwater Village Hall is replacing its gas boiler and piecemeal inefficient heating system with a new air source heat pump. This will provide heating via radiators throughout the building and a hot water cylinder in the roof, reducing the amount of carbon that is generated by 87%. The grant from the Council will part fund this work.

Apply for Community Climate Grant Fund funding

The next rounds of funding are:

Grant opens 5 July 2021 Closes 13 August 2021
Grant opens 4 October 2021 Closes 12 November 2021
Grant opens 3 January 2022 Closes 11 February 2022

The funds must be used for brand new projects, which will last beyond the funding provided by the Council and include a commitment to inform the wider community about the project and encourage others to act.

For more information please call 01403 215358, email community.development@horsham.gov.uk or visit the Community Climate Fund webpage.