Topup grants scheme supports climate action

Applicants to the latest strategic grants round of our flagship programme, The Leeds Fund, can boost their funding with a topup grant specifically to support them to act on climate change. 

Leeds-based community organisations applying for the £50,000 multi-year grants can opt in to receive an additional £2,000 of funding to help them with their environmental sustainability. 

While many organisations are facing increased costs as well as increased demand for services, it can be impossible to invest in future-proofing measures. By offering funding ringfenced for sustainable changes, organisations can take action now that will benefit them, and their communities, in the long term. 

The extra funding could be used in several different ways, such as: 

• • • Undertaking a carbon audit
    • Developing a climate action plan 
    • Training staff on environmental practices 
    • Engaging a climate specialist to guide and support with any of the above 
    • Small scale, practical environmental activities, like: 
      • • changing all lighting in a community space to LED bulbs 
        • buying small items to work on a community garden. 

A first for Leeds Community Foundation, the topup funding scheme is one way we’re demonstrating our commitment to acting on climate change – one of 5 priorities in our 2024-29 strategy for building a fairer Leeds for everyone. 

We believe the future of Leeds is not only socially and economically inclusive, but also environmentally responsible. As such, we’ve signed the Funder Commitment on Climate Change and are proud to have delivered the Climate Action Leeds Community Grants programme, which has seen thousands of Leeds residents take part in climate-friendly activities. 

We’ll evaluate and learn from this first round of climate action topup grants, and will consider introducing the model across more of our funding programmes. 

If you want to talk to us about our climate action, or how we could work together to support communities in Leeds to respond to climate change, please get in touch – info@leedscf.org.uk or 0113 242 2426.