Several community projects that aim to promote sustainable food habits and reduce food waste have been awarded grant funding under Scotland’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF).

Set up in 2008, the CCF is a Scottish Government programme administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful that provides funding for community groups to run projects that reduce their community's carbon emissions.

Scotland’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse announced the latest tranche of successful CCF projects earlieir this month.

Among the 18 recipients across Scotland sharing £1.9 million are:

• The Leith Community Food project (£98,650): Run by Leith Community Crops in Pots in Edinburgh, this project will reduce food waste and food-related carbon emissions by helping the community grow their own food at sites including Leith Primary School, Stanwell Nursery and Dr Bell’s Family Centre, and providing information on sourcing sustainable food and reducing food waste;
• The Carbon Crib (£58,764): Part of the Junior Climate Challenge Fund (JCCF), this scheme is managed by a youth panel and supported by Beith Community Development Trust. It will develop a derelict area in Beith, North Ayrshire into a food growing space. As well helping the community decrease carbon emissions by encouraging growing and consumption of local produce, the project will also deliver a variety of workshops that aim to reduce food waste;
• Food Education at Stirling (FEAST) (£97,163): This community project, run by University of Stirling Students' Union will provide on-campus food growing space and composting facilities. It will also deliver a food education programme for students and local school children and form a food co-operative enabling the purchase of local produce in bulk; and
• Communities for Conservation project (£184,779): Awarded the second largest grant, Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council project officers and volunteer co-ordinators will work with ethnic minority communities and offer home energy efficiency advice, food growing training sessions and waste advice.

Other projects awarded funding under CCF include:

• The Al-Mahdi Foundation (Al-Mahdi Islamic Centre), which received £193,251 to install insulation, draught proofing and lighting controls to houses on the southside of Glasgow;
• MY Adventure's Cycling (£98,796), which will deliver cycle training, bike maintenance, guided rides and provide ‘affordable, year-round workshop facilities for public use’ to encourage the move towards travel by bike; and
• The Room to Roam Green Travel Hub in Aberdeenshire (£171,327), which aims to reduce car use and carbon emissions in and around Huntly by developing a car club, e-bike rental scheme as well as promoting public transport alternatives to the car.

‘Working together at international, national and local level to tackle this most serious of issues’

As well as announcing the latest recipients of the CCF, Wheelhouse also revealed that the Scottish Government has pledged an extra £1.5 million to the fund.

The cash boost takes the total budget for 2014-15 to £11.8 million.

During a visit to St Boswell’s Village Hall, a previous recipient of CCF support, Mr Wheelhouse said: “[C]limate change is a serious threat not only here in Scotland but across the globe. We need to work together at international, national and local level to tackle this most serious of issues.

“It’s great that so many communities around Scotland, such as St Boswells, are showing real desire and commitment to making a difference and I’m delighted to confirm funding for a further 18 new, diverse range of projects through our Climate Challenge Fund. Each will contribute to making Scotland a more sustainable place to live and that’s why I’m so pleased to announce the £1.5 million extra funding for future projects.”

David Gunn, Climate Challenge Fund Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful added: “We congratulate the 18 community group projects awarded Climate Challenge Fund grants in this latest round of funding and are delighted to see the awards include three Junior Climate Challenge Fund projects led by young people. We look forward to working with all the groups in the implementation of their projects.”

Grants up to £150,000 per year, per project are available until March 2016 through the CCF and JCCF.

To date, the CCF has awarded grants totalling more than £57.2 million to 658 community group projects.

Find out more about the Climate Challenge Fund.