West Granton-based social enterprise MY Adventure is to receive almost £98,000 from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund. MY Adventure is one of eight Edinburgh-based projects to receive a share of the £9.9 million fund which supports local action to tackle climate change.
MY Adventure, the social enterprise trading arm of Muirhouse Youth Development Group, delivers high quality adventurous activities, outdoor learning, personal and social development programmes, bespoke courses and outdoor qualifications. All profits are reinvested into community projects.
All told, more than one hundred organisations across Scotland are to benefit from the latest round of grants, each receiving a share of a pot of almost £10 million. Other successful applicants from the capital inude ELREC’s Communities for Conservation project (over £108,000) and Leith-based Edinburgh Tool Library (almost £30,000).
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement at R:evolve Recycle – a clothing swap shop with the aim of reducing textile waste. The organisation is a current recipient of the fund and has now been awarded a further £143,416.
The First Minister said: “Scotland is making huge progress in delivering our climate change ambitions, but there is still much to achieve and the role of behaviour change and community action is crucial. The Climate Challenge Fund supports community projects that inspire people to care about the problem of climate change, consider what it might mean to them in terms of their everyday lives and enable them to take action.
“R:evolve Recycle is an excellent example of this approach. They work with people spanning the whole community – from school children to elderly community residents.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland said: “Scotland’s ambitions for a circular economy, where we make things last for longer, go hand-in-hand with its world-leading commitments to tackling climate change. Thanks to extra investment from the European Regional Development Fund we’re now able to help more communities across Scotland take action locally to benefit Scotland’s environment.
“We look forward to working with the successful organisations to make a real difference to their communities.”
Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “Climate change impacts all of us and we need collective action to tackle it. We were delighted to have supported so many communities from across Scotland in applying for the Climate Challenge Fund.
“We have managed the Climate Challenge Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government since it was established in 2008 and are committed to empowering many more communities across Scotland to take action on climate change. Our vision is to make Scotland clean, green and more sustainable.”
The Climate Challenge Fund is £9.97 million in 2017-18 and is made up by a combination of £9.09 million from the Scottish Government and £0.88 million from the European Regional Development Fund. Since the Fund launched in 2008, 986 awards have been made totaling £85.8 million.
The following Edinburgh-based projects will receive CCF grants:
Communities for Conservation is a project run by Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council to empower ethnic minority communities in Edinburgh and Livingston in initiatives related to energy saving, cycling and food growing. Project activities include home energy advice visits to help householders reduce energy use, carbon emissions and move out of fuel poverty. The project will also offer bikeability classes, food growing workshops and events to mainstream the topic of climate change. £108,687
The Welcoming Association will run the Welcoming A Greener Future project to help the Syrian refugee community in Edinburgh to reduce carbon emissions by developing skills and understanding in relation to home energy efficiency and the reuse and recycling of household items. Project activities will include provision of home energy efficiency advice, a reuse programme for clothes, furniture and home electrical items, plus support to develop a wider understanding of climate change. £88,245
WHALE Arts will continue the growth of community-led carbon reduction in Wester Hailes through the Westburn CAN project. The project will creatively engage local people in food growing, waste reduction and increasing understanding of carbon emissions. £74,198
SCOREscotland’s Green Futures Project will help meet demand by diverse communities in West and South West Edinburgh for activities including cycle training, home food growing and opportunities for young people to learn about climate change in a fun way. Further project activities will help people to improve home energy efficiency, increase understanding of carbon emissions and extend awareness of climate change. £139,575
The SHRUB Swap & Reuse Hub is an exciting low carbon project led by the student community through Swap and Reuse Hub Cooperative (Edinburgh). The project will increase awareness of sustainability issues and create solutions that will help the community to make big savings in carbon emissions. Based at the SHRUB Coop, on Guthrie Street this social hub will provide inspiration for low carbon lifestyles with a SwapShop, regular upcycling workshops, a food sharing network, bike maintenance workshops and educational events with many volunteering opportunities all aimed towards building a low carbon circular economy in the heart of the city. £107,759 (includes maximum funding of £12,358 from the European Regional Development Fund).
MY Adventure’s Chain Reaction Project will increase access to cycling and active travel in areas of deprivation across the City of Edinburgh. The project will engage with other community organisations to support a behavioural change leading to a healthier low carbon lifestyle through a sustainable investment in cycling. £97,443
Our Low Carbon Community is a project run by Transition Heriot-Watt to reduce the environmental impact of everyday actions at Heriot-Watt University. The project includes a range of low carbon activities such as the collection and redistribution of items no longer needed by students at the end of term and support for students and staff to reduce energy use and travel more sustainably. £120,125
The Edinburgh Tool Library will make tool lending accessible to more of Edinburgh by expanding their Edinburgh Tool Network. The project will partner with council-run libraries to bring a variety of tools closer to many more people. £29,796 (includes maximum funding of £10,718 from the European Regional Development Fund).
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