Community responses to the climate and cost of living crises

Our climate partner Tess, from the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), reflects on the ways Big Local areas are tackling the climate and cost of living crises, with their support.

On a rainy Thursday last November, we met Big Local volunteers and workers from up and down the country for a two-day climate residential.

Together, we discussed inspiring examples of community climate action, expressed our anxieties about climate change and the cost of living, and explored ways that communities can further tackle these crises.

We were hosted by Sale West Big Local in Greater Manchester – a partnership who have the environment as one of their four key priorities.

Co-chair Ralph Rudden leads a tour of Sale West’s community green spaces at the Big Local climate residential.

As well as showcasing the green spaces surrounding the community centre, Sale West invited local school children to speak about the climate crisis at a school climate crisis conference they organised in the summer of 2022.

We had about 60 pupils come, and they all did presentations on projects close to their hearts. For example, two schools were terribly concerned about air pollution because they have very busy roads close to them … they’ve now set up a project to encourage people to walk to school.”

Freda, co-chair at Sale West Big Local

The climate conference is just one of the ways that Big Local areas are tackling the complex and daunting challenge of climate change in their communities. We’ve also been working with the following areas on a range of projects since becoming Local Trust’s climate partner in 2022.

Energy-efficient community spaces in Marsh and Micklefield

Jean Peasley, a partnership member from Marsh and Micklefield Big Local, got in touch with CSE to see what she could do to support her community to make positive climate changes.

We started by running a brainstorming workshop with the partnership. We looked at the key impacts of the climate crisis on their community and where they would like to focus their efforts – and the energy efficiency of their community buildings came out on top.

Like many community centres, Marsh and Micklefield’s is well used – for everything from movie nights to martial arts classes and celebration events – but is difficult to heat and, therefore, expensive.

So we supported the partnership to complete an energy audit and produce a report outlining where improvements could be made. Now they’re funding the replacement of single-pane windows and doors and looking into improving their wall insulation.

I see this as a real step forward in investing in our community buildings, not just for current and future residents, but also the environment.”
Jean Peasley, Marsh and Micklefield Big Local partnership member

If you’re considering a similar project, our community action plan on retrofitting community buildings can help you make your community space more affordable and energy efficient.

Youth climate ambassadors in Heart of Pitsea

Heart of Pitsea’s youth climate ambassadors meet once a week at the youth club, to focus on how they can make positive climate changes in their local area. They’ve been litter picking, planting herb gardens and doing up the garden in front of the community centre.

When Big Local worker Tracey approached us for support, she told us that the youth group wanted to increase their reach out to their community and do what they could to help with the cost of living crisis.

Heart of Pitsea Big Local workers Gill Buttwell (left) and Tracey Griffiths (right) at the Big Local climate residential.

We worked together with Heart of Pitsea Big Local to come up with a plan. Using our factsheets and advice, the young climate ambassadors have created helpful flyers featuring energy saving tips for their community. Collectively, they have distributed 5,000 flyers around their local neighbourhood, through letterboxes and on noticeboards.

Tracey shared the success of Heart of Pitsea’s youth climate ambassador project at a recent  Big Local youth engagement event, inspiring others to empower young people to take action on climate and cost of living challenges.

Flyers with energy saving tips, created and distributed by youth climate ambassadors in Heart of Pitsea.

Climate action for residents and planet

When you look at the breadth of climate action already being driven by Big Local communities, it’s evident that it’s about a better quality of life for residents and planet. It’s about better housing, more affordable energy bills, green spaces, warm community spaces, empowering young people, local and sustainable jobs, and better food systems.

Big Local volunteers and workers take a tour around Sale West Big Local’s community spaces, at the Big Local climate residential.

If you’re part of a Big Local who would like climate-related support, please get in touch by filling out this form: