Folkestone & Hythe District Council is introducing a Green Grants scheme to support projects which develop social cohesion, promote climate resilience and enhance nature and wildlife.  It will be open to a wide range of organisations and individuals including community groups, schools, parish and town councils, charities and small businesses.

The scheme will help the council to fulfil the commitment it made in 2019, when a Green Party motion to declare a climate and ecological emergency was passed unanimously. This committed the council to lead community, public, and business partnerships towards carbon neutrality by 2030. The council’s direct emissions account for only 0.38% of the district’s total but is estimated that its influence could impact up to 33% of emissions.

Cllr Stephen Scoffham, Cabinet member for Climate, Environment and Biodiversity, who has led the creation of the new scheme, says: “I am really pleased we’re introducing this scheme, which will help local people from all walks of life take a lead on projects they have initiated themselves. This was top of my agenda when I was elected 18 months ago.  It’s taken a long time to get going but now things are starting to happen.”

The new Green Grant Programme builds on the success of the Green Business Grant Scheme 2023-2024, which provided a total of £155,133 towards the cost of 14 projects that helped local businesses and organisations become more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint.

The new scheme is expected to be launched next month, when more information will be provided and applications invited under these headings:

  • Community climate action micro-grants(up to £1,000)
  • Social and community grants (up to £15,000)
  • Small business, community group, charity and parish premises grants (up to £20,000)
  • Rewilding, tree planting and wild meadows (up to £10,000)

You can read more about what the district council has done following the climate emergency declaration here.

Councillor Stephen Scoffham: new Green Grants scheme will help local people take the lead on climate projects.