More than 30 organisations including community groups, parish councils and schools are to benefit from funding to support sustainability and carbon reduction projects across the district.
Folkestone & Hythe District’s Council’s Green Grant scheme – announced earlier this year – is supporting schemes including electrical recycling, tree planting, developing sensory gardens, restoring ponds, growing mushrooms on spent coffee grounds and installing solar panels.
The 38 projects were chosen by a panel of councillors from a list of almost 60 applications:
- 18 organisations, including six schools, received micro grants of amounts up to £1,000 for a range of environmental improvement projects
- 5 groups received grants of up to £10,000 for rewilding, tree planting and creating wildflower meadows
- 8 grants were agreed to improve the heating and insulation of community buildings and installation of solar panels and battery storage
- A grant was also agreed for a community repair and skills hub at the Romney Marsh Community Hub.
Cllr Stephen Scoffham, Cabinet Member for Climate and Biodiversity, said: “The Green Grants scheme is a marvellous way to promote sustainability and carbon reduction. It is helping people of all ages to develop projects which they believe really matter.
“We were amazed and delighted to receive so many applications from right across the district. Everyone benefits when the council and community work together like this.”
A full list of the organisations receiving grants can be found on the council’s website.
A Volunteer and Skills Fair is being held on Wednesday 1 October between 11.30am and 2pm in The Green Room at The Grand on The Leas in Folkestone.
Organised by the Sustainable Futures Forum, the event aims to connect professionals and volunteers with local sustainability and community projects such as those receiving the green grants.