Transition Chesterfield has benefited from Chesterfield Borough Council’s community grant funding, enabling them to open an Eco Hub in the town.
Based on Low Pavement in Chesterfield, the Eco Hub is a pilot project that will 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
Transition Chesterfield was one of the local organisations to benefit from the first round of funding, receiving £2,500 to open the new hub in the town centre.
The Eco Hub is initially open every Friday from 10am to 12.30pm until May 2024 and may open at other times if successful in recruiting enough volunteers.
The Hub at Low Pavement itself is open most days though for other community-based activities.
A total of £59,965 has been awarded to 16 local groups via the council’s new Community Grants Funding scheme so far, and applications for the second round of funding are now open.
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.
Karl Deakin, a volunteer with Transition Chesterfield, said: "We're excited to win this funding which gives us a much-needed base for our activities. 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 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, and the deadline for applications for phase two is Friday 27 October.
Event at the Eco Hub
An event took place on Friday 29 September at Transition Chesterfield’s new Eco Hub, visitors went along to the Hub, 61 Low Pavement, off New Square, to get free home energy advice as the colder temperatures approach us.
The event provided suggestions of how residents can try to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint this winter. The Independent energy charity Marches Energy Agency was also on hand as well to answer questions visitors may have had.
Find out more about the Community Grant Scheme
Further information about the Community Grant Scheme, including details of how to apply can be found on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/community-grants-fund.
Funding for Chesterfield Borough Council’s Community Grants Scheme has been successfully secured from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), together with money raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Portion (CIL).
The community grants are just one initiative which is benefiting from funding through the UKSPF, after the council was successful in securing £2.6m from the Government. It will fund initiatives up to April 2025, which are designed to improve life for local people and support local businesses.
