Scheme connects community to local environment
Young Dads are creating a buzz about climate action on the roof of former flour mill turned iconic Baltic art gallery on the River Tyne
The ‘Birds, Bees, Bikes & Trees’ project has been awarded more than £584,000 of National Lottery funding to help young dads build skills and confidence.
It’s also envisaged that the cash injection will support their local community’s connection with nature in an urban environment.
‘The pressing issues of climate change and the state of our natural world both locally and worldwide have always been close to our heart as a parenting support charity that wants the very best for young fathers, their partners and children for generations to come,’ explains NEYDL Founder CEO Kevin Stoodley.
‘Thanks to National Lottery funding over the next three years, we are excited to continue our Climate Action journey through the Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees project in partnership with our close friends at Baltic, Newcastle University and the young dads and families who continue to lead and inspire us.’
‘Alongside our beekeeping endeavours which include the management of four beehives on the roof of the Baltic and production of honey for their shop and restaurant, NEYDL has also embraced cycling, both as a way of reducing our carbon footprint and a way of reconnecting with nature.’
‘Starting with the purchase of a handful of bikes and pull along trailers during the COVID pandemic, our ‘Wheelie Good Dads’ weekly ride-outs and free-to-access bike loan scheme have proved a lifeline for many young men whose mental and physical health have suffered as a direct result of the pandemic.’
Inspiring people to take climate action
The National Lottery Community Fund commits £20million to inspire more people to take climate action in communities across the UK. It’s all part of a 10 year £100million Climate Action Fund programme.
The announcement follows recent research which shows the majority of UK adults say they’re worried about the impact of climate change.
The National Lottery Community Fund recently announced it’s ‘making £20 million available for ambitious partnership projects linking climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities and inspiring more people to take action.’
The scheme is the largest community funder in the UK and the money is part of a 10-year £100million Climate Action Fund programme. According to the latest government figures, 80% of UK adults are concerned about the impact of climate change.
Since 2019, £78.6m has supported 550 projects to enable people across the UK to take climate action in their local communities – and it’s all thanks to National Lottery Players.
One project to benefit from funding is ‘Birds, Bees, Bikes & Trees.’ The three year partnership is between Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, North East Young Dads & Lads (NEYDL) and Newcastle University.
The aim is to help young dads to build their skills and confidence and support the local community’s connection with nature in an urban environment.
NEYDL Is an award-winning parenting support charity that works with marginalised and disadvantaged young dads in the North East of England.
Successful urban beekeeping
Following a successful urban beekeeping pilot, 20 young men not in education or employment worked with a million bees in Gateshead – including hives on the south facing rooftop at Baltic.
It faces a post-industrial landscape rich in wild and planted forage, and many have progressed into volunteering and paid work, with one young dad launching his own brand of honey.
‘At Baltic, we take a long-term commitment to climate action, and that runs through our operation and artistic vision,’ says Sarah Munro MBE, Director of Baltic.
‘Whilst we’re primarily known as a gallery showing international art, we are also home to roof beehives and the most inland kittiwake colony in the world.’
‘The funding awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund for Birds, Bees, Bikes & Trees means we can bring engagement with climate action alive for communities on a significant scale.’
‘Over three years 180 young men, 30,000 under 16s local Primary and Secondary pupils and 10,000 local people will take part in regular activities.’
‘From guided kittiwake and bee talks, walking tours, and artistic workshops, to Climate Clubs, bike tours and rewilding opportunities, we look forward to seeing creativity flourish and for people to be inspired to take away simple, tangible steps to support nature and climate.’
The majority of UK adults say they are worried about the impact of climate change on their local community – and figures show that 64% believe of people surveyed felt that taking individual action makes a positive difference.
Supporting communities to be environmentally sustainable
The National Lottery Community Fund says supporting communities to be environmentally sustainable is one of its four key missions in its 2030 strategy,
‘It starts with community,’ says Nick Gardner, Head of Climate Action at The National Lottery Community Fund.
‘We know that climate change matters to communities, so it matters to us. This new funding aims to bring people together to deliver large-scale, ambitious projects that will inspire even more people to get involved in climate action.’
‘We’d love to get applications from partnerships with bold, exciting ideas inspired by people’s everyday activities – whether that’s going to an art gallery or supporting their local footie team – helping to create networks across the UK and reaching communities and groups who might be new to climate action.’
‘As well as our Climate Action Fund, we support environmental projects of all shapes and sizes through all our funding programmes.’
‘Over the last five years we have awarded more than £400 million through almost 7,500 grants to projects which involve environmental action, including action on waste and consumption, energy, transport, food and the natural environment.’
To find out more about the Climate Action Fund, or to sign up for a free webinar to find out more, visit: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/climate-action-fund-our-shared-future