Support for local climate action continues with sixth round of Zero Carbon Communities grants

The sixth round of South Cambridgeshire’s Zero Carbon Community (ZCC) grants have been announced, distributing £125,000 across 11 innovative projects.

The grant scheme supports projects which help reduce carbon emissions, lock up carbon, and foster community engagement on climate change.

This year’s ZCC grant initiatives include solar panels for community buildings, a strengthened repair café network to encourage waste reduction and a group aiming to help people adopt climate-friendly gardening practices at home.

Launched in 2019, ZCC grants have funded 82 projects with around £625,000 to date. Funding ranges from £2,000 to £15,000 per project.

Cllr Pippa Heylings, Chair of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Climate and Environment Advisory Committee, said: “These projects are a testament to the power of local action in the fight against climate change. By supporting these initiatives, we are not only reducing our carbon footprint but also building stronger, more resilient communities. This program exemplifies our commitment to creating a greener, cleaner South Cambridgeshire and lowering carbon emissions across the district as well as continued support for sustainability.”

The ZCC grants are open to parish councils and community groups across the district and provide financial support for schemes that demonstrate a sustainable and lasting impact. Projects receiving funding this time are:

• Solar Power for Community Buildings: Five grants were awarded to install solar panels on community buildings at Balsham Village Hall, Caxton Village Hall, Kingston Village Hall, Over Day Centre, and the Spicers Pavilion in Sawston. These installations will significantly reduce energy costs and carbon footprints, allowing these facilities to reinvest savings into community services. For example, Over Day Centre, which supports elderly residents, will benefit from reduced energy costs, enabling it to focus more resources on providing essential care.
• Energy Efficiency Improvements: Cambridge and District Citizens Advice received a grant to replace their lighting with energy-efficient LEDs, and Cottenham Community Centre will renovate and repurpose an underused space into an energy-efficient activities hall with enhanced insulation and heating controls.
• Community Engagement Initiatives: Four grants were awarded to projects aimed at increasing community engagement around climate change. Cambridge Carbon Footprint will expand their repair café network, promoting a culture of waste reduction and repair. Let’s Cook Project will continue their work in educating communities on reducing avoidable food waste, while Climate Change Gardening will establish a kit for events to encourage gardeners to adopt climate-friendly practices.

Clive Boase, chair of Climate Change Gardening, said: “The Climate Change Gardening trustees were both thrilled and honoured to receive this award from the Zero Carbon Communities Grant.

"This will enable us to develop more effective ways of engaging with the gardening community, to encourage them to adopt measures that will have a beneficial impact on climate change. In addition, we can now expand our programme of events and activities, facilitating more frequent contact with gardeners.”

Over Day Centre manager, Hayley Smith, said the funds will be used to install solar panels. “To be able to take advantage of what is, essentially, free energy will contribute massively to the running of the Day Centre.

"It will reduce what is a significant cost to us and how the Over Day Centre is perceived by the general public, in its investment in clean energy enabled by the Zero Carbon Communities Grant. We are all so grateful," she said.

The ZCC grant scheme is funded through the Council's renewables reserve (business rates from renewable energy projects) and builds on a long-standing commitment to supporting community-level action on sustainable energy.

The program will continue through 2025/26 and 2026/27, with two more rounds of funding planned before its conclusion.

• For more information on the Zero Carbon Community grant scheme, including how your community can get involved in future rounds, visit the South Cambridgeshire District Council ZCC webpage, or email zcc@scambs.gov.uk.

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