The cash will help 35 groups develop new projects

Community organisations in Fife have received a total of £24,000 through Community Climate Grants this year.

The cash will help 35 groups develop new projects to build their capacity to respond to the climate emergency and organise events during Fife Climate Festival, which runs from Saturday 21 September – Saturday 5 October.

Events include an outdoor film screening on Leven Prom, awareness events and open days across the region.

The grants will also support projects including tree and bulb planting, a new community fridge and pantry in Kirkcaldy and a new Climate Action Youth Group in Newport, which will help young people deal with climate anxiety.

Community Climate Grants are a collaboration between Fife Climate Hub and Climate Action Fife. Two distinct grants are available. A Small Grants Fund of up to £500 supports events and activities and a Seed and Development Fund is available to kickstart new projects.

Both grants have now closed but applications to both the Small Grants Fund and the Seed and Development Fund will reopen in January 2025.

Michelle Selbie, development worker (community engagement), Greener Kirkcaldy, said: “Community Climate Grants are a powerful way to help community groups to take action in a way that works for them and the people in their local area.

“It’s a privilege to be able to support groups in bringing people together to share how they can tackle the climate crisis as a community. We hope lots of people will go along to the exciting events that groups are organising for Fife Climate Festival.”

Jan Davidson, board member of Fife Communities Climate Action Network, added: “We are delighted to support so much fantastic climate action across Fife through our grants. It’s always inspiring to hear about the range of activities being driven by grassroots organisations.

List of recipients and quotes from community groups:

Small Grants (up to £500)

Seafield Environmental Group CIC, Kirkcaldy High School  Green Spaces, Saline and Steelend Fabulous Food Pantry, Saline Environment Group, Bats Wood, Dunfermline Greenspace Forum, Curnie Clubs (FASS), Youth 1st (Youth Action Fife), Footprint East Neuk, Levenmouth Local Tourism Association, Cupar Development Trust, EATS Rosyth, Friends of Pittencrieff Park, Balmullo Social Committee, Milton and Coaltown of Balgonie Community Council, Transition University of St Andrews, Touch Community Garden, Forgan Art Centre, Calais Woods and Duloch Park, Fife Young Carers Befriending LEAD Scotland.

Seed and Development Grants (up to £1,000)

Fife Employment Access Trust (FEAT CIC), Seafield Environmental Group, Community in Cupar (CIC), Saline Environment Group, Friends of Largo Bay, Falkland Stewardship Trust, CLEAR Buckhaven and Methil, St Andrews Environmental Network, Glenrothes YMCA, Forgan Arts Centre, Fife Gingerbread, Leven Environment Group, Love and Harmony CIC, Balbirnie's Future Foundation, East Neuk Centre Trust.