Environmental projects awarded grants from the £1 million fund

A further nine environmental projects have received over £400,000 from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Community Environment Fund.

The fund was set up by the WMCA using £1m of legacy money from the Commonwealth Games to support locally-led green projects that protect nature, reduce waste and make communities more resilient and prepared for the impacts of climate change.

The successful bids for the latest funding round are:

• Active Wellbeing Society, Birmingham – £99,544 to expand its Share Shack project with repair and skills workshops at its locations across the city, helping local people repair their own broken items such as electrical equipment and clothing, saving them from landfill .
• Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust – £99,605 for Dudley’s Path to Nature Recovery project to help connect more people in Dudley and Sandwell to nature by creating new walking routes and improving wildlife habitats through the Black Country Geo Park.
• Canal and River Trust – £100,000 to expand its Wild in Birmingham project to improve the natural environment with communities around sections of the waterway in Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
• The LEAF project (Link between environment and agriculture) – £25,000 to run farm visits and workshops for a further 1,200 children at inner city schools and youth groups in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Sandwell to improve their understanding of where food comes from and how it is produced, helping and become conscious consumers in the future.
• Birmingham TreePeople – £12,765 grant to train new volunteers to speed up the survey of the city’s 70,000 street trees to identify those in poor condition or at the end of their natural life so they can be replaced quickly.
• All Saints’ Action Network, Wolverhampton – £25,000 to open a repair cafe at the community center and wood recycling centre.
• Norton Hall Children and Family, Birmingham – £24,825 to create a new allotment on an unused balcony at the Dolphin Women’s Center in Ward End Park and to make improvements to the Forest School area.
• Woodgate Valley Urban Farm, Birmingham – £15,100 to provide new facilities and opportunities for more local people to get involved in its hands-on nature-based activities.
• Holyhead Road Allotments, Coventry – £18,707 to transform an area of ​​the site that has become waterlogged due to climate change using more sustainable practices such as habitat creation, water conservation, raised beds, alongside climate adaptation workshops for allotment holders and local gardeners.

The Community Environment Fund was made possible by the £70m Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund – the underspend from the 2022 Games which the UK Government has agreed to reinvest back into the West Midlands to ensure that the positive legacy it is felt by as many people as possible. possible throughout the region.

Richard Parker, West Midlands Mayor and WMCA Chair, said: “There are many community groups and regional organizations doing fantastic work to protect, improve and restore the natural environment and it’s great news that we can continue to support them with grants from the Fund our environmental community.

“Being able to access nature has such a positive impact on our health and well-being and it is becoming increasingly urgent that we take action to rethink waste by repairing and reusing products more and taking practical steps to help communities adapt to the effects of climate change.”

Beccy Crosby, Funding and Partnerships Manager for the Active Wellbeing Society, said: “The Share Shacks have been able to demonstrate how they improve individual and community wellbeing as well as contribute to environmental sustainability.

“By continuing and expanding repair sessions through WMCA funding, we are helping to reduce waste from landfill and supporting people to develop skills, build connections and save money by easing the pressure to buy new items that are not used in regularly or prohibitively expensive.”

Norman Dandy, Nature Recovery Director for Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, said: “The funding we have secured from the WMCA will enable us to support Dudley’s wildlife and support our local community to connect more strong with her.

“We will work with the district council and other local organizations to restore nature areas on the city’s hills, from Sedgley Beacon to Rowley Hills. Walking will be a central part of our work – it’s a fantastic way for people to connect with nature and discover new areas to visit on their doorstep.”

Carl Edwards, director of education and public engagement for LEAF, said: “This grant will enable us to provide experiential learning opportunities for children living in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Sandwell.

“As a result of this work, children will develop a better understanding of where their food comes from and how to live sustainably. They will return home with a new appreciation for food, a passion for the countryside and lots of ideas for simple actions they can take to protect our environment. For some children, it will be the first time they have ever visited a working farm – a real ‘wow’ moment!”

Nina Griffiths, Street Tree Study Manager for Birmingham TreePeople, said: “It’s great that we’ve been able to expand thanks to the Community Environment Grant.

“We’re trying to figure out why some of our street trees don’t grow very well, so we can make sure that in the future every tree we plant will flourish. We already have some enthusiastic volunteers on the program and we’d love more people to join us – you’ll learn about trees, meet other volunteers and help with street tree research.”

Community groups and regional organizations can still bid on the Community Environmental Fund. Heart of England Community Foundation manages the online portal and supports the application and assessment process.

Find out how to apply on the WMCA website.

Recipients of the first round of WMCA Community Environmental Fund grants were announced in March, details on the WMCA website.