The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) is money from the Scottish Government administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful to support community-led groups reduce local carbon emissions.
The South Seeds board of Trustees first secured funding from the Climate Challenge Fund for a year’s project in May 2011. This project started carbon reduction activities in the area by enabling residents to grow food and reduce their energy bills. The project created the area’s first community garden at Agnew Lane, supported residents to access useful energy advice, borrow energy monitors or tackle problems with their energy provider. In particular, South Seeds also worked with agencies to get a higher than average take up for the free loft insulation scheme.
From engaging directly with residents, working with community groups and agencies across the area, South Seeds realised more information was needed about how to save energy in draughty Victorian tenements. Funding from the Climate Challenge Fund was awarded in June 2012 for two years to investigate and trial energy saving measures in tenements. During this time the Energy Snapshot report was published and South Seeds developed its own home energy audit, which proved popular and helped residents make real savings on their energy bills.
In August 2014, South Seeds was awarded funds for 19 months to rollout the home energy auditing programme to further across the Southside and to develop a home composting programme. During this project South Seeds was able to engage with a high number of residents and develop our energy saving handyman service.
Currently South Seeds is running a one year Climate Challenge funded project which includes working with migrants to find out why they struggle to with the UK energy system and to work with local businesses to see if we can support some of the many micro businesses trading on the Southside to improve their balance sheet by saving energy.
