Community environmental action

Community Environmental Action Fund - up to £1,000 available

We know that groups of individuals around the district are keen to act to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, prepare for changes to the climate and make their communities more sustainable. And we are keen to help by providing advice and training, signposting you to reputable resources and by giving 15 community groups support funding of up to £1,000 each from the sustainability focussed Community Environmental Action Fund (CEAF).

Following on from the successes of the C-Change Coastal pilot with Greener Fram (new window), Otley Green (new window) and Transition Woodbridge, the Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership (new window) has provided funding of up to £1,000 for 15 community groups who are willing, with the support of our Community Environmental Action Advisor, to follow in their footsteps.

You can see the progress of the 7 communities currently supported in the inspiration and ideas section below.

Community Environmental Action Advisor - Dan Wheals

Dan Wheals, Groundwork East of England's and the Council’s part-time Community Environmental Action Advisor, is passionate about the environment. He has experience of community engagement, food growing projects, permaculture and transition towns. With colleagues there is a collective knowledge of energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste minimisation, climate change, flooding, biodiversity and community resilience.

Watch the video ...

Dan's job is to assist Suffolk Coastal's communities in reducing their environmental footprint and prepare for changes to the environment. The aim is to support communities working together on issues important to them which make them more sustainable for the future.

The community groups listed below, who are currently being supported by the CEAF, will give you some ideas of what you can do. Please contact Dan if you want any more information.

• Greener Sax (new window)
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• Boyton Community Group - link to press release
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• Enterprise Badingham (new window)
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• Fullfledge Ecology School (new window)
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• Sandlings Safer Cycling Campaign (new window)
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• Kingsfleet Primary School, Felixstowe (new window)
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• Cookpole Energy Action (new window)

How to apply

You can download the CEAF application form and terms and conditions by following the links below. The terms and conditions outline what you have to do to in return for funding:

• CEAF application form (new window Word 290KB)
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• CEAF terms & conditions (new window PDF 150KB)

For more information or to discuss your community's ideas please call Dan on 01394 444218 or 07872 400196 or email dan.wheals@groundwork.org.uk. Please note that Dan works part-time (2 days a week) and if he is not available at your time of call he will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.

Community events

We are looking to run a number of events and training sessions across the district according to need. Please let Dan know of any training or events your community needs to help meet its green ambitions - these could include transition training, permaculture, renewable technologies and practical ‘how to’ sessions, for example installing insulation or fixing a bike.

Help us spread the word

Could you help us spread the word about the CEAF? We have created the postcard below which you can download and share (you can also use the share button at the top left of the page to email this webpage to your contacts or share it on Facebook, Twitter, etc). If you could distribute printed postcards for us please get in touch.

CEAF postcard printable version (new window PDF 60KB)

Greenprint Forum - action for a positive future

The Greenprint Forum is a quarterly forum set up to promote ideas, discussion and action to improve the environment in Suffolk Coastal. Membership of the forum is open to representatives from parish and town councils, environmental and community organisations and businesses across the district. Forum meeting dates for 2012 are 23 January, 26 March and 24 September - if you would like to attend forum meetings or find out more visit our Greenprint Forum page.

Progress report

Follow the link below to view the end of year progress report on the Suffolk Community Environmental Action Advisor Service:

• Progress Report March 2011 (new window PDF 996KB)

Who is behind this initiative?

The CEAF and part-time Community Environmental Action advisor post are provided in partnership with Suffolk Coastal District Council, Groundwork East of England, Suffolk Coastal Local Strategic Partnership, Environment Agency, and in Year 1 of the project by Suffolk Coasts and Heaths AONB and the Transforming Suffolk Fund administered by the Suffolk Foundation. The CEAF is supporting the aims fo the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership.