6 Ideas for Your Funding Application – Making a Difference in the North East
NESCAN Hub is offering Seed Funding, where groups can apply for grants of up to £1000. Seed Funding can be the boost you need to get your project off the ground. In this blog post, we have highlighted six impactful community climate action project ideas that can make a difference in the North East. We also share insights from some of the incredible ideas that have come through funding applications and provide practical tips to help you navigate the application process. Let’s dive in!
Community Garden Supplies – cultivating skills, capacity, and community:
A community garden is not just a green space; it can be a hub for learning, collaboration, and sustainable living. Applying for funding to acquire tools or publicity materials, for example, can empower groups, organisations, and communities to establish and maintain thriving community gardens. Our team has reviewed numerous funding applications and commends the projects that aim to build skills and capacity while fostering a sense of community among participants.
Practical Tip: Ensure your funding proposal includes a plan for how the community garden will enhance skills, promote education, improve wellbeing, and provide a welcoming space for residents to connect with nature.
Bits and Bobs for Retrofitting, Advertising, and Training:
Retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, creating impactful marketing campaigns, and providing training programmes are all projects that can contribute to a sustainable future. By seeking funding for essential resources such as materials, tools, publicity, education, and training, you can lead the way in promoting environmental consciousness and empowering individuals and organisations to adopt sustainable practices.
Practical Tip: Clearly outline the specific resources and activities that the funding will support, emphasising their environmental impact and the potential for long-term sustainability.
Active Travel – signage and publicity for sustainable transport and mobility:
Encouraging active travel, such as walking and cycling, not only promotes healthier lifestyles but also reduces carbon emissions. By seeking funding for projects to support active travel, for example, signage, tools, equipment, and publicity materials, you can raise awareness about the benefits of active travel and encourage more individuals to embrace sustainable modes of transportation.
Practical Tip: Highlight the anticipated increase in active travel and its positive effects on community health, air quality, and traffic congestion to make a compelling case for funding support.
Swap Shops, Food Pantries – nourishing communities:
Food pantries play a vital role in addressing food insecurity and supporting vulnerable populations. Seeking funding for food supplies, storage equipment, and distribution systems, etc., can help ensure everyone has access to nutritious meals. Our team looks for the significance of projects that also prioritise inclusivity and work towards reducing food waste.
Practical Tip: Describe the local impact of your food pantry project, including the number of individuals it aims to support, partnerships with local food producers, how it will help to reduce food waste, and plans for engaging volunteers in its operation.
Adaptation – embracing sustainability through reusing and recycling:
Incorporating sustainable practices into everyday life is crucial for building a resilient future. Funding applications that focus on initiatives to promote reuse, recycling, and upcycling demonstrate a commitment to minimise waste and preserve resources. We encourage applicants to showcase creative and innovative solutions that encourage sustainable behaviours.
Practical Tip: Outline the specific strategies and mechanisms your project will employ to promote reuse, recycling, and upcycling, and emphasise the environmental benefits and long-term sustainability of these practices.
Awareness Raising – building skills and capacity for sustainable change:
Raising awareness about environmental issues and fostering a culture of sustainability is a transformative endeavour. By seeking funding for educational materials, workshops, and community engagement initiatives, you can empower individuals and organisations to become advocates for positive change.
Practical Tip: Clearly articulate the goals and objectives of your awareness-raising project, emphasising how it will enhance skills, build capacity, and create a ripple effect of sustainable practices
Visit our Seed Funding webpage for full details.
We’d love to hear about your ideas. Why not discuss them with our funding advisor by sending an email to funding@nescan.org.