Veolia, the UK’s leading resource management company is delivering ecological transformation through its Sustainability Fund, supporting eight grassroots initiatives chosen for their exemplary contribution to the local community and environment in Camden.
The Sustainability Fund, launched by Veolia in 2021, has successfully supported over 260 projects with over £200,000 in just three years, empowering grassroots projects to make a positive and sustainable impact on their local communities, both socially and environmentally.
Not-for-profit organisations, community groups and individuals were asked to apply to the Sustainability Fund with ideas that help transform their local community by enhancing biodiversity, promoting sustainable waste behaviours, protecting or preserving resources and the environment, or using recycled, reused or reclaimed materials.
Veolia and Camden Council received a record number of applications last year and decided to award a total of eight initiatives. Some of the most impactful ones include:
- Growing Green with Harmood School: increasing biodiversity and pupil engagement with nature at a specialist school for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
- Sustaining Communities: sourcing donations of unwanted but reusable items to provide to families living in poverty and isolation.
- AYBI Recycle Revolution: creating recycled boxing equipment through harnessing discarded materials and turning them into items such as boxing gloves, punch bags and skipping ropes.
Albert McEyeson, CEO and Founder at AYBI Recycle Revolution said:
"By repurposing materials that would otherwise contribute to landfill waste, we reduce our ecological footprint and take responsibility for a cleaner and greener environment. Veolia’s Sustainability Fund will help us achieve a community that cherishes its surroundings, nurturing a sense of belonging and shared responsibility for its upkeep."
In previous years, Sustainability Fund supported projects in Camden that quickly became popular amongst residents, such as the Repair Party run by the Library of Things or the Energy Savings Club by Think & Do which helped engage 180 households about the best ways to save energy. The 2023 winners are yet to begin launching their projects in the upcoming months.
Victor Evans, Senior Contract Manager at Veolia said:
"Year by year, we can see that our Sustainability Fund is growing in popularity amongst Camden residents. It is fantastic to see that people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of climate action, and it’s a great privilege for us to be able to support such inspiring initiatives."
Councillor Adam Harrison, Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Camden at Camden Council said:
"Veolia’s Sustainability Fund has proven to be a great supporter of grassroot projects in Camden. I am delighted that these organisations and groups have been successful in their bids.
Although each project to receive funding has a different aim, collectively they are all striving to protect and improve our environment and reduce our consumption of energy and goods.
We want to challenge the “take-make-dispose” model of the linear economy in Camden and replace it with an alternative which values repair, sharing and reuse, while cutting consumption emissions, reducing waste, and supporting and valuing our environment."
If you have an environmental idea that will benefit your local community, head to Veolia.co.uk/Sustainability-Fund for more information about Veolia’s Sustainability Fund.
Applications will open again in Spring 2024.