Less carbon, more wildlife with WWCE’s Community Fund

By Jessica Thimbleby, Carbon Reduction Champion

In the seven years since Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy’s Community Fund was set up, over £70,000 has been awarded to local communities and voluntary groups who share its ambition of delivering less carbon and more wildlife for Wiltshire.

The WWCE Community Fund is volunteer-led and managed by representatives of both WWCE and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. It supports Wiltshire-based projects which seek to achieve one or more of the following objectives to: reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change, alleviate fuel poverty and conserve wildlife. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust also receives funding to administer the Community Fund grants and support sustainability within the Trust.

So far, 27 fantastic projects have been awarded grants! Organisations including Wiltshire Scrapstore, Seeds 4 Success and Sustainable Warminster have all benefitted from funding. Chippenham Cycle Network received a grant to remove barriers that prevent people cycling in Chippenham, which will help to reduce travel related emissions, the biggest source of carbon in Wiltshire. A grant was also awarded to Holbrook Primary School in Trowbridge to create an outdoor education space and wildlife garden; this is a wonderful example of a project that involves young people and benefits the wider community, another key consideration when awarding grants.

If you have a great project idea, the next deadline for applications is 29 January 2024, with further funding rounds in June and October. View guidance at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/community-fund.

We’d also love to hear from you if you are a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust or WWCE member interested in joining the panel!