Helping communities get involved in Great Big Green Week
Dozens of events are taking place across Oxfordshire this month as part of Great Big Green Week (GBGW) – the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature.
Oxfordshire County Council has provided funding totalling £5,000 to nearly 30 community groups who are marking GBGW, which runs from 7 -15 June.
These grants range from £95 to £500 for celebrations, festivals, exhibitions, workshops, wildlife projects and events such as therapeutic gardening, making mini nature reserves, upcycling clothing, crop planting, hedgehog protection, and birdbox making.
Councillor Judy Roberts, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Place, Environment and Climate Action, said: “What a privilege it is to be able to help local grassroots organisations put on events for Great Big Green Week.
“We know the appetite in Oxfordshire for this type of community involvement is huge, and it is always wonderful to work with the county’s ever-growing number of community action groups in Oxfordshire. Thousands of people will be attending these events, which will help inspire all ages to do their bit to tackle climate change.”
Some grants will be used to make events, including Oxford Pride – which is set to attract around 20,000 people to South Park on 7 June – more environmentally friendly.
This is the fifth year that Oxfordshire has thrown itself into the campaign, which is run by the national campaigning organisation the Climate Coalition.
Residents can find out about GBGW events taking place near them on CAG Oxfordshire’s website.
Katherine Chesson, Director of CAG Oxfordshire – the county’s community action group network – said: “Great Big Green Week is a chance to celebrate the good that is happening and engage new audiences locally.
“It’s always a joy to see the breadth of activities and events taking place across Oxfordshire – organised by groups deeply embedded in their communities and run by people passionate about making change happen locally. We’re proud to support them through our network and grateful for the continued support of Oxfordshire County Council.”
Oxfordshire County Council has been supporting CAG Oxfordshire for nearly 25 years, organisationally and financially, as the number of groups has risen to more than 120. Their expansion forms a cornerstone of the county’s climate strategy – for both delivering a greener county and for increasing community climate resilience.
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