New Community Climate Fund funding to combat climate change

Horsham District Council is delighted to announce that new funding is available to help a broad range of local community groups to work on projects to reduce carbon levels and improve the Horsham District environment.

The news comes just as temperatures around West Sussex have seen one of the hottest on record today. A yellow weather warning is in place for severe thunderstorms in the coming days.

The Council launched the Horsham District Community Climate Fund in July 2020 to help voluntary and community groups, as well as Parish and Neighbourhood Councils, to start work on projects which will reduce energy and water consumption, minimise waste and generally improve biodiversity for the good of the District.

Successful recipients so far include:

2nd Horsham Scouts, who with just a few hundred pounds from the community grant fund have refurbished their scout hut; replacing their lighting with more energy efficient bulbs, installing timers for their heating system, fitting water buts and hot composters.

Group Scout Leader Oliver Smith said: “The Fund will help us save water, reduce energy use and recycle more waste by composting.”

Southwater Village Hall which is benefitting from replacing its gas boiler and 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.

James Tiller, Chairman of Southwater Village Hall said: “When the time came to retire the old gas boiler at the Hall, we saw an opportunity to overhaul the heating and hot water system.

“With help from the Horsham District Council’s Community Climate Fund, we installed an air source heat pump system that provides us, and the environment, with something cleaner, greener and safer and helps us future-proof our energy needs.”

A new grant funding tranche will be available from 5 July 2021. Applications for this tranche will close on 13 August 2021, with the judging panel meeting later in August to consider the applications.

There are three levels of funding available:-

• up to £1,000
• up to £2,500 (which requires more information from the applicant)
• up to £5,000 (which requires match funding from the applicant).

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 take action.

Commenting on the Fund Horsham District Council’s Cabinet Member of the Environment, Recycling and Waste Cllr Philip Circus said:

I am delighted that these organisations have benefitted from the funding they have received and they can now make a start on their valuable contributions to building a greener Horsham District.

That we are able to make these vital funds available to spread awareness and embed action on climate change at a local level is a really key priority for us as a council.

We have committed to work together to tackle climate change as an organisation and this funding gives everyone the opportunity to make a difference to improve our local environment and inspire others to take action.

I am also really pleased that we have a further tranche of money available from July 2021 and we look forward to receiving your applications.

There are certain criteria that must be met to receive funding. Applications need to be submitted by 13 August 2021.

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