Arup spearheads groundbreaking partnership to boost community-led climate projects

Key partnership benefits

• Enhanced Support for Grant Holders: Access to shared knowledge, expertise and support, helping projects scale their impact and achieve greater success 
• Strengthened Environmental and Climate Action Sector: United projects and collaborative approaches will strengthen the entire community-led climate movement 
• Wider Societal Impact: Better-connected projects will increase public engagement, create more sustainable solutions and drive systemic change 
• Knowledge Amplification: Five years of learning from grassroots climate action will be collated, amplified and shared to drive bigger results 
• Inspiration for Future Climate Action: Powerful stories and insights will spark new ideas that are relatable and replicable to encourage more communities to take action.

Ben Smith, Director of Climate and Sustainability Services at Arup, said: "We are thrilled to lead the consortium working with The National Lottery Community Fund to support grant holders from their Climate Action Fund. It's been wonderful to meet some of the amazing grant holders and learn about the inspirational local projects they are leading. We see so much potential to raise awareness, provide learning support, facilitate knowledge sharing and ultimately inspire more people to engage in climate action. Critically, we believe that individual and community scale climate action can drive wider systems change. Passionate people effect change." 

Mel Eaglesfield, Director of Funding Strategy, Communication and Impact at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “Local action has a nationwide impact and will contribute to a more sustainable future for everyone. This groundbreaking new partnership represents our commitment to not just funding community-led environmental projects but to catalysing climate action across the UK. By connecting grassroots expertise with national resources, this collaborative approach will help to build capacity and networks that can drive the systemic changes our communities need.” 

Matthew Horne, Joint Chief Exec of Innovation Unit, said: “It’s a privilege for us to work alongside the grant holders on the Climate Action Fund. They are doing amazing work with local communities to combat climate change, change behaviours and win over hearts and minds. We look forward to supporting them to be even more impactful locally, reduce climate injustice and have a greater influence on our national systems.” 

Peter Johnson, Managing Director of Creature & Co., added: “We have a real opportunity to help not only Climate Action Fund grant holders but the country’s response to our global climate crisis. Helping recipients of these grants with communications will hopefully electrify action in communities across the country.”