Community groups across South Cambridgeshire are continuing to drive climate action, with the District Council's Zero Carbon Communities Grant scheme having now awarded more than £1 million to local projects over eight grant cycles. The Zero Carbon Communities (ZCC) grants support community-led initiatives that help reduce carbon emissions, enhance biodiversity and encourage local action on climate change.
Now in its eighth round, the scheme has awarded more than £171,450 this year to 14 local groups across the district, from a total of 35 applications. Since the ZCC grant was established in 2019, it has provided a total of £1,026,608 to community groups working to tackle the climate and nature emergency on a local level.
This year's highest grant award went to Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC, which received £19,457 to establish a South Cambridgeshire Sustainable Food Partnership. This initiative will bring together organisations and communities to develop a climate-focused food action plan, promoting healthier and more sustainable food systems while encouraging long-term behaviour change.
“"Cambridge Sustainable food is delighted to have been awarded this funding, as it will allow us to increase the impact and longevity of our work in South Cambridgeshire. Strong cross-sectoral partnerships are vital to addressing the long-term systemic causes of food and climate issues. In allowing us to build and mobilise an effective network around practical action, this project will improve the local food system in South Cambs for both residents and for the environment - it will inspire immediate behaviour change, whilst also providing a strong partnership and strategic framework for future work on this critical environmental issue."
Additional projects receiving funding include the Orchard Park Community Council (£18,000) for energy-efficiency upgrades to its community centre, and The Liberation Cycle (£18,000), a Steeple Morden-based charity that refurbishes bicycles for those experiencing transport poverty.
Cambourne Town Council received £15,550 to install solar panels and battery storage at the Greenbank community building. Wysing Arts Centre, near Bourn, was awarded £15,000 to improve the energy efficiency of its artist studios and learning spaces. Cambridge Carbon Footprint received two grants totalling £30,000 for its Repair Café network and Open Eco Homes programme.
Further funding was allocated to Harston Village Hall Trust (£12,500) for solar panels and battery storage, Cambridge Past, Present and Future (£11,900) to create new wetland habitat at Coton Reserve, and Comberton Village Institute Trust (£9,338) for solar panels at its village hall.
Smaller grants include £6,000 for Cam Valley Forum (CVF) to produce an educational film on water conservation, £5,540.17 for Horningsea Parish Council to restore community hedgerow, and £5,171.83 for Cambridge Retrofit Hub Charitable Community Benefit Society Ltd to support retrofit plans for village halls.
Swavesey Squash Club received £5,000 for a solar panel system at its community sports facility. Rosie Cooper, Director at Wysing Arts Centre, expressed delight at the funding, highlighting its importance for critical repairs to their artist studio buildings and the future security of their experimental eco-build, the Strawbale Studio.
Cllr Laurence Damary-Homan, Lead Cabinet Member for Environment at South Cambridgeshire District Council, marked the £1 million milestone as significant, stating the scheme empowers communities to deliver practical projects that tackle climate change and support nature.
The latest round of ZCC grants were recommended at a meeting of the Council’s Grant Advisory Committee on Thursday 24 September, with awards confirmed by the Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities, Cllr Dr. Lisa Redrup.
