Middlesbrough Environment City awarded £1.6 million in funding from National Lottery Community Fund

The National Lottery Community Fund announced £14 million worth of funding today, aimed at tackling the climate crisis. These grants have been announced as part of the National Lottery-funded Climate Action Fund, which is a ten-year, £100 million fund designed to reduce the carbon footprint of communities and to support community-led movements as part of a community-led, group effort in combatting climate change.

Thus, it is with great excitement that we can announce that Climate Action Middlesbrough, led by Middlesbrough Environment City with partners including Actes, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, Hemlington Linx, The Other Perspective, Middlesbrough Council, Thirteen housing group and Warren’s has been awarded almost £1.6 million in National Lottery funding!

This funding will allow us to work proactive across a multitude of areas, such as sustainable food, transport, domestic energy use, waste and the natural environment, with the aim of raising greater awareness of sustainable living and to help reduce Middlesbrough’s carbon footprint. The Climate Action Middlesbrough project will focus on empowering communities (Particularly young people), to address climate change locally through involvement in decision-making and educational activities, as well as climate action projects in their own communities.

Mark Fishpool, Director of Middlesbrough Environment City, said: “This is fantastic news. With the shared enthusiasm and commitment of partners including Middlesbrough Council and Thirteen Housing Group, this is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage local communities and young people in taking action to address climate change and create a sustainable future for our town.”

Since April 2013, the Climate Action Fund, part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Environment Strategy, has awarded more than £340 million to environmental projects, through 4,796 grants. This fund is focussed on activities that not only improve the environment, but enhance the lives of people and communities. We are all excited to be part of this programme, and we cannot wait to expand our work with our local communities to enhance the lives of Middlesbrough’s residents whilst simultaneously tackling climate change!