Bristol residents invited to apply for green grants

Bristol residents itching to get a green community project off the ground can now apply for special grants to get their schemes going.

In a bid to tackle carbon emissions, Bristol City Council are calling for residents and local groups who need help funding a community project to apply.

The council is hoping that the green schemes will help the city reduce carbon emissions by a targeted 40 per cent by the year 2020.

Council leader Barbara Janke said: “We saw the need for a small grants programme to help local projects get off the ground and give people the chance to reach new audiences, increase the quality of life in their neighbourhood and cut their carbon emissions. If you have an idea for a local project, get in touch with our team and see whether you can turn your idea into a reality.”

Grants for suitable projects will receive between £1000 to more than £10,000 from a total fund of £75,000 held by the Bristol Green Capital Community Challenge Fund.

The money will be allocated to charities, voluntary groups and not-for-profit organisations by a panel consisting of Green Capital Momentum Group members and a cabinet member.

Chair of the Green Capital Momentum Group, Alastair Sawday said: “We all know about the problem – we need to cut carbon. But what are the solutions? So often the best ideas come not from big business or government, but from the grassroots. Nowhere is this more true than Bristol, a city buzzing with brilliant ideas and actions to make us a greener city. We are delighted the council is investing in this fund.”