Climate / Twelve projects shortlisted for climate action participatory funding
A VARIETY of climate-friendly projects from Unst to Fair Isle have been put forward for possible funding – with the public set to decide on where the money will go to.
A total of £60,000 will be up grabs in the upcoming Shetland Climate Action Ting, which will be held at Mareel in Lerwick on 14 March and is being organised by Highlands and Islands Climate Hub.
It been described as a ‘green participatory budgeting’ process, where the public votes for their favourite projects.
The total funding request of the 12 projects on the shortlist is just under £70,000, and groups were able to apply for a maximum of £7,500 each.
Although people will be able to vote at the event in Mareel, which will run from 2pm to 4.30pm, an online vote is now open too.
Wild Skies Shetland is seeking funding worth nearly £2,900 for a project which will introduce a new electric bike for community use and create an online guide designed for exploring the group’s Sky Trail by bike.
Shetland Youth Voice is proposing to install beach cleaning stations – which would provide litter-picking equipment – at selected beaches across Shetland, with total funding worth £7,440 requested.
Sandwick Community Council is seeking funding worth £6,250 for a project to map and survey the coastline around the village, to better understand the risks of costal erosion.
The Sandwick Social & Economic Development Company is also proposing a project focused on rewilding, tree planting, wildflower sowing and small scale peatland restoration, with funding worth £6,845 sought.
Meanwhile the Northmavine Community Development Company (NCDC) is keen to create a community garden for “sustainable growing, composting and community learning” on unused land in the Stucca area of Hillswick, with £2,576 requested.
NCDC is also shortlisted for a project to install a community Polycrub as well as raised beds in Sullom, with £7,500 requested.
The development company in Fair Isle is proposing to establish the island’s first community Polycrub, with funding worth £7,500 sought.
North Yell Development Council is also asking for £7,500 towards a project to create a community growing space.
The Bressay Outdoor Activity Group is also looking for £7,500 to install a Polycrub.
Staying in Bressay, the local development company is proposing a study on how small wind turbines have performed across Shetland, with £7,000 worth of funding requested.
The Bigton Collective is shortlisted for a project involving the Common Thread programme will run monthly “patch and mend” sessions, while it is also proposing a ‘score exchange’ where people can donate and borrow secondhand music books. Funding worth £6,995 has been requested.
The Scalloway Youth and Community Centre is requesting £7,500 towards a project to install a solar panel array, a battery storage system, and an air source heat pump to replace “inefficient 30-year-old systems with renewable and low carbon technologies”.
Community development officer for Shetland Andrea Sanchez Quiroz said: “The community groups have worked really hard to prepare their projects and this is the last step. I can’t wait to start distributing funds and to watch the successful projects spring into action.
“It’s amazing to be able to raise awareness of all the groups who applied too, not everyone will be successful on the day but I really hope everyone leaves feeling pleased with the results, the awareness they’ve brought to their project and the connections made.
“I am really looking forward to what will be a true celebration, bringing together groups from across Shetland in one place.
“I hope the event will encourage collaboration, inspire shared learning, and help us all explore how we can make our communities more sustainable and more resilient to our changing climate. To celebrate this ongoing work, I’ve arranged delicious refreshments and live music for those who come along.”
The event is being supported by the National Lottery Communities Fund, the Coastal Communities Fund from Shetland Islands Council and Zenobe.
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