By Isle of Wight Observer
Isle of Wight Biosphere and Together 4 CIC have been awarded £60,000 to inspire community action on climate change, protect nature, and address key social priorities across the Island.
The funding comes from Centrica’s Energy For Tomorrow fund, and involves several partner groups, including the IW Youth Trust, Green Isle of Wight, and Grow Gurnard. The project will focus on three areas: youth opportunity and well-being, local food, and warmer homes. Together, these strands aim to build the support needed to create a critical mass of community-led action, showcasing the Island as a place of positive change, and encouraging individuals and groups to take the initiative.
Seven pilot parishes will be engaged to develop local projects and encourage wider involvement with climate-related initiatives. The funding will also help create energy champions, deliver events for young Islanders to support place-based projects that improve opportunities and well-being, and back work to bring retrofit improvements to homes vulnerable to heat loss. In addition, a solar-powered borehole will be installed to bring water to the community farm at Grow Gurnard as part of a separate infrastructure project.
A co-ordinator is now being appointed to lead the scheme.
Mal Butler