Climate Action Week Microgrant

Team Doncaster has made a firm commitment to tackling Climate Change by implementing a borough-wide strategy aiming to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2040. Everyone has a part to play in this strategy, and the role of communities in enabling change at an individual level is both recognised and supported. 

 Doncaster’s Climate Action campaign of 2023 coincided with the start of the COP28 climate negotiations, and a borough-wide training event for professionals in all parts of the borough. To complement this work, and working in partnership with the Sustainability Team and part funded by Synetiq, the Community Wealth Builder Team asked communities to consider how they may participate in this campaign, providing necessary skills and raising awareness throughout every area of Doncaster.  As part of this initiative a Microgrant of up to £250 was awarded to 15 voluntary, community and faith sector groups to deliver across the city.

 The groups didn’t fail to impress with their delivery with the offer of a wide range of activities many aimed at the younger generation.  Two really outstanding examples of this were the work that the Austerfield Study Centre and the National Literacy trust achieved from their grants. 

Austerfield Study Centre

 The grant gave a class from a local school Hatfield Woodhouse primary school the opportunity to participate in a full day workshop based on reducing, reusing, recycling, and repairing everyday objects that would otherwise be thrown away. The day included a story telling session (Somebody Swallowed Stanley by Sarah Roberts) which led into a discussion around the dangers of plastic waste and the benefits of reusing something. This was followed by a nature walk, collecting litter and talking about how the reserve is protected, developed, and maintained to support biodiversity.  Bottles collected on the litter pick were then repurposed to plant a bulb inside that the children could take home.  The day continued with the children learning other upcycling techniques as well as ending the day with helping to plant a new hedge.

 The National Literacy Trust

The National Literacy Trust worked with the children of Balby Primary School to make the great video below, we think it speaks volumes!

https://youtu.be/lQRqzyzX19s   https://youtu.be/7SIbKf4Sahc