West Midlands Community Groups Win £100,000 Green Funding Boost

Community organizations and young people across the West Midlands are set to receive a significant financial injection to support environmentally friendly initiatives. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has announced that £100,000 will be distributed through its Circular Economy Call to Action Fund.

Under the scheme, eligible groups can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to finance projects aimed at sustainability and ecological improvement. In partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, the WMCA has also established a dedicated Youth Climate Action Fund. This separate pot offers grants of up to £2,500 specifically for applicants aged 15 to 24.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker highlighted the impact of local grassroots efforts, noting the variety of innovative work happening in neighborhoods. He cited examples such as tree planting, promoting active travel like walking and cycling, and repair cafes that encourage fixing items rather than discarding them.

“These may seem like small things but they are making a big difference to people’s lives and helping to create a real sense of pride in these neighbourhoods,” Parker said. He added that his goal is to provide community groups with the necessary funding and expertise to expand the reach of their ideas.

To qualify for the funding, projects must focus on one or more of three key areas: improving air quality, assisting communities in adapting to climate change, or restoring nature. The grants are available to applicants in Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall, Dudley, Birmingham, Solihull, and Coventry.

The announcement follows recent activity from groups such as Walsall’s United Support Group CIC, which recently conducted a planting session at the Nature Nook project as part of the authority’s Nature Call to Action Campaign.