The council is looking for grant applications from community groups and local voluntary organisations in Chesterfield and surrounding areas who have climate focused projects to deliver.

A total of £59,965 has been awarded to 16 local groups via Chesterfield Borough Council’s new Community Grants Funding scheme so far, and applications for the second round of funding are now reopen.

Transition Chesterfield is a local organisation to have benefited from the first round of funding, receiving £2,500 to run a ‘Eco Hub’ project in Chesterfield town centre.

The pilot project will run for 12-months and work with residents to:

• improve their awareness of ‘Transition Chesterfield’ and the aims and objectives of the community group
• improve their awareness of climate action and the protection of the environment
• improve their understanding of net zero and a more sustainable Chesterfield
• access further learning and volunteer opportunities

The project’s venue will be a central location in Chesterfield, with the details of this being announced soon.

Kathy Farr, a volunteer with Transition Chesterfield, said "We're excited to win this funding, which will enable us to be a contact point one day a week on climate change and related issues. Our Hub project will encourage interest and participation amongst residents to reduce their carbon footprint. It's also a great opportunity for people to volunteer to help our environment and meet new people."

Councillor Martin Stone, cabinet member for climate change, planning, and environment, said: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges humanity faces worldwide, and it needs us all to consider how we can make individual changes to our routines as well as how we can will make substantial changes in the borough of Chesterfield.

“Community groups can play a huge part in helping to educate and inform our communities so we would love to hear about any local project ideas that could benefit from the available grant funding.

“Chesterfield Borough Council has more than £118,000 available to eligible local groups in this financial year (2023/24) so we are encouraging as many people as possible to find out more about the scheme and submit an application.”

The funding allocated through the new grant scheme will support local groups to deliver projects that will build resilient, healthy, and safe neighbourhoods, as well as initiatives which will help reduce the borough’s impact on the climate and wider environment by promoting greener choices.

Funding can also be used by community projects to develop volunteering opportunities, help people prepare to get in to work, and to support organisations to expand their reach into different areas of the borough.

Grants range from £500 to £6,000, depending on what you require the funding to deliver, and the deadline for applications is Friday 27 October.

Full details on funding and how to apply.