Words by Smiley Team
Over half a million pounds has been awarded to communities in Gwynedd to tackle climate change by The National Lottery Community Fund
Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig in Gwynedd has been awarded a grant of £562,315 from The National Lottery Community Fund Climate Action Fund to enable local communities to tackle the climate crisis.
The grant is one of nine awarded across the UK totalling £5.2 million as part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund, and are made possible thanks to National Lottery players.
They receive £562,315 of National Lottery money to lead a partnership of five community organisations across Gwynedd to address climate challenges. The partners involved include: Cyd Ynni, Partneriaeth Ogwen, Siop Griffiths, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog, and YnNi Llŷn.
Over the next two years the partnership will create 20 citizen assemblies, deliver a breadth of community-led activities, and prioritise engagement around community needs to develop a movement of climate action and positive behaviours towards tackling and limiting climate change.
Citizen assemblies will develop community climate manifestos for each local community and will highlight their priorities in addressing climate change.
“We are so grateful to the National Lottery players for making our GwyrddNi project possible. The money will allow us to work more closely with five successful community initiatives in Gwynedd." Grant Peisley, Director at Datblygiadau Egni Gwledig, said
"The co-operation will lead to the creation of climate assemblys and the development of climate action plans, by people living in our towns and villages around Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula.
"The partners on this project have all shown success in delivering community-led environmental, energy and economic projects. This is evidence of the power of involving local people in local developments and will drive all our actions on the new GwyrddNi project."
Meleri Davies, of Partneriaeth Ogwen, said: “If we are serious about tackling climate change, everyone in our communities must feel that they have a voice and a part to play in this crucial battle.
"That's why we're delighted to be part of the GwyrddNi project which gives local people a real opportunity to lead the debate and action."
The Climate Action Fund is part of The Fund’s Environment Strategy which has seen significant National Lottery investment through community-led projects that are focussed on activities that not only improve the environment but use it to enhance the lives of people and communities.
National Lottery players raise £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since April 2013, The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded more than £340 million to environmental projects, through 4,796 grants.
Communities can find out more about The National Lottery Community Fund’s environmental strategy, as well as resources for how they can make changes in their community by clicking here.
