Mission Focus: Growing a Greener Future
As we step into 2025, the impact of the Greening Our Communities mission has never been clearer.
Those who attended Illuminate learnt about some of the amazing projects who have been supported through this mission, such as Wastesmiths who reclaim waste and put it to use and Greening Wymondham who are transforming the world on their doorstep. With over £300,000 awarded annually to grassroots environmental projects, the mission is empowering local communities to take on climate challenges in tangible, impactful ways.
A Year of Green Growth
In the past year, the Greening Our Communities fund has directly supported projects across Norfolk, ranging from tree planting and conservation to sustainable food initiatives and community renewable energy. We are seeing that increasingly, people are struggling with climate anxiety (feelings of fear, worry, and distress about the future), but that through engaging in green activities and initiatives, people can be given agency to challenge these feelings.
A few highlights from the most recent round of funding include:
Cup-O-T Wellness & Therapy Services – A monthly nature club in Wymondham, where young people develop confidence and resilience through woodland activities.
Field of Joy – Conservation efforts in Reepham, with over 200 native trees planted and a growing community eager to tackle biodiversity loss together.
SoulShine Healing Ltd – A family-focused food-growing project in Marlpit Community Garden, fostering health, wellbeing, and sustainable living. Through Good for Good, local garden centre Notcutts donated quality tools and equipment to this project, meaning more money was available for this, and other green initiatives!
Reprezent Project – Transforming urban spaces in Great Yarmouth into micro gardens, complete with beehives, engaging local residents in nature-based solutions.
Each of these projects represents a small but vital step toward a greener Norfolk, with local action making a contribution to the wider fight against climate change.
Powering Sustainable Communities
We know that solutions to tomorrow’s problems are most effective when they are led by communities. That’s why, in January 2025, we worked with a panel of 10 local individuals to choose where funding was allocated for the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Community Fund. From a range of backgrounds, this 10-strong Community Panel helped award £100,000 to 11 groups, funding solar panels, insulation upgrades, and battery storage in village halls across the region. They also awarded funding to nature clubs and community growing programmes, investing in Norfolk’s green future for generations to come.
The panel also helped us to identify gaps where further support was needed beyond just funding, such as navigating planning permissions for green projects, increasing awareness about best practices in energy efficiency, and improving access to technical expertise. We hope to be able to meet this demand through our Skills Exchange programme (part of Norfolk Community Foundation’s Good for Good initiative).
Building a Greener Future
While there’s much to celebrate, the work is far from over. The demand for funding remains high, particularly for community building decarbonization. A 2022 survey found that only 16% of England’s 10,000 village halls are energy efficient—highlighting the vast potential for improvement.
Along with the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Community Found, Sheringham Shoal Community Fund has helped launch a range of sustainability projects, from air-source heating at Sheringham Little Theatre to the installation of LED streetlights in Blakeney. With funding increase this year, this fund is set to further amplify its impact.
What’s Next?
The Greening Our Communities Fund will reopen in June 2025, with additional resources to help applicants succeed.
Beyond grants, the Foundation is also reviewing its own environmental policies and exploring ways to connect local green projects with skilled volunteers from local businesses.
Join the Movement
The Greening Our Communities mission thrives on collaboration. Whether you’re a funder, volunteer, or someone with a passion for environmental change, there are countless ways to get involved. If you’re inspired by what’s possible, now is the time to act.
Together, we can shrink the global climate crisis down to a local, manageable scale—one community, one green space, and one project at a time.
