- Area:
- South East England
- Programme:
- Communities Living Sustainably
- Release date:
- 3 9 2012
A bio-fuel initiative run from a prison and a ‘Green Doctors’ scheme are among ideas being rolled out in Sheppey as part of a multi million pound Big Lottery Fund (BIG) announcement today.
The Sustainable Sheppey project, led by Swale Borough Council, receives more than £900k from BIG’s Communities Living Sustainably programme – which is awarding £12m to 12 projects across England today.
The initiative aims to inspire people to adapt the way they live to reap financial, health and environmental benefits.
Sustainable Sheppey, run by voluntary, public and private sector partners, receives £946,275 to support the local community to make greener choices, use their resources more effectively and develop new skills. All 35,000 people living on the island are expected to benefit.
One part of the project is taking waste cooking oil from HMP Standford Hill and turning it into bio diesel. This will be used initially within the prison estate, with plans to roll it out further so other groups in the community can use the fuel. The project will also offer training and qualifications to inmates coming to the end of their terms, helping them secure employment and move towards a more positive future. It will also reduce the amount of fat going down the drains.
A sustainable homes initiative will further develop a Groundwork ‘Green Doctors’ programme – the doctors visit people’s homes to advise on how to make homes more energy efficient. The project will also support the training of new Junior Green Doctors via an apprenticeship scheme giving graduates further employment skills.
Councillor Andrew Bowles, Leader of Swale Borough Council, said: “I am delighted that the hard work we have undertaken along with our partners in developing this exciting bid has paid off.The projects proposed, and now funded, will make a real difference to the lives of the people of Sheppey enabling them to live more sustainable lives, save money and be better prepared for the impacts of climate change.”
Other ideas to be rolled out in through Sustainable Sheppey include further developing renewable energy sources, identifying people most at risk of climate change in this low lying coastal area, employability and skills training in environmental awareness and a schools’ initiative to teach greener living and investigate how people can protect against flood risks.
And a community food initiative will take waste ground and turn them into allotments for the community to use. Volunteers will work with the community to run an education programme in how to grow food sources and maintain the allotments. And a community chef will then show people how to use the food they grow in a healthy way.
Sacha Rose-Smith, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the South East, said: “The Sustainable Sheppey project gets to the very heart of the ambition of Communities Living Sustainably, which is about encouraging the development of creative ideas to make sustainable living simple, easy and feel like second nature – as well as enabling the most vulnerable to reduce their costs and live healthier, happier lives.
“With adverse weather affecting crops globally - which is likely to cause an increase in food prices in UK supermarkets*- and with fuel bills predicted to rise this winter, Sustainable Sheppey shows what's possible when local communities are encouraged to take small steps, use their own resources and make the most of opportunities on their door step to make sustainable living real whilst helping people cope with these added pressures during the recession.”
Communities Living Sustainably is part of the Big Lottery Fund’s £50m Sustainable and Resilient Communities strategy, which aims to encourage behaviour change among individuals and communities so they can cope better with the environmental, economic and social impacts of a changing climate. Vulnerable people, including those on low-incomes or older people, are less likely to cope with the negative effects of climate change such as floods, heat waves or severe cold weather.
Supporting groups awarded funding today is a partnership led by Groundwork UK and including BRE, Federation of City Farms, Energy Savings Trust and nef. It will offer advice and guidance and also establish a learning support network to capture and share learning with other communities and inform the future development of investments of BIG’s Sustainable and Resilient Communities strategy. (www.communitieslivingsustainably.org.uk)
Further Information
Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500 572
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Ask BIG a question here: https://ask.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Follow BIG on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BigLotteryFund #BIGlf
Find BIG on facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £4.4bn.
- The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £28 billion has now been raised and more than 383,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
- * British Retail Consortium http://www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=2269
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