Grants for community climate engagement in Mayo
FIVE Mayo-based groups have been awarded grants for community climate engagement projects.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Circular Economy Alan Dillon have today announced the awarding of €500,000 under the Climate Actions Work Engagement Fund for 96 community groups and organisations across the country.
It is estimated that 30,000 people will benefit from the activities generated through this fund with the support of over 2,000 volunteers.
In Mayo, recipients include Balla Community Resource Development (€2,500), to complete a town and village renewal report which will lead to addressing issues that arise, focusing on an assessment of energy needs as a community through the SEAI.
CALL (Climate Action Louisburgh Locality) have been awarded €10,000 for the Clew Bay Collective: CALL and One Westport working together to engage Clew Bay.
In Westport, the Edible Landscape Project is to receive €2,500 to integrate social media for the project to communicate their work building food system resilience with school and community groups to a much larger audience.
Killala Sustainable Energy Community is receiving a grant of €5,000 for their work, in collaboration with Killala Community Council, to showcase the new solar array at the community centre, sharing online videos of household energy projects, and to engage with schools on energy topics to foster awareness of local energy.
A nationwide project based in Westport, Leave No Trace Ireland was awarded €10,000 to expand its Love This Place campaign, raising climate awareness by promoting sustainable outdoor behaviours and environmental stewardship, connecting personal actions to climate resilience.
The funding will support groups or organisations working to bring people together and share information on climate action. The fund is focused on climate engagement, awareness and communications - helping communities to reach new audiences in their locality. It will also provide opportunities for community groups to promote their work and spread the message of community-led climate action.
Said Minister Dillon: “Climate change affects different communities in different ways. The impacts we feel in the west of Ireland are different to those in Dublin or the midlands.
“This fund helps to shine a light on specific local responses to climate change. From developing engaging social media content to supporting local environmental collectives, this funding will provide valuable assistance to promote the work of community groups, many of whom are working tirelessly on a voluntary basis. I commend their work and welcome this opportunity to showcase and celebrate it.”