Environment

Now that 2013 has arrived, there are fewer than 8 weeks until the deadline for all entries to the Responsible Business of the Year Awards, on Friday 1st March 2013.
Responsible Business of the Year Award
Recognising businesses that have adapted their business strategy so that their products, services and people build resilient communities and more sustainable futures.

Apply for funding before the 15th Feb 2013

Are you a community or voluntary group, or a not for profit organisation? Do you have a waste reduction, re-use or recycling project in mind?

Grants of £5,000 have been awarded to three Greater Manchester-based community organisations. The grants will fund innovative projects to encourage local people to leave their cars behind and try the bus instead.

The winners are:

Gaydio (leading a consortium of 8 community radio stations) – using local radio to deliver the benefits of taking the bus to thousands of drivers ahead of a ‘Get on Board’ day of activity

Is your organisation interested in developing a community renewable energy project?

Have you considered installing solar panels, a wind turbine or a biomass boiler or would you like to generate energy through a community hydro project?

Generating Success aims to promote and encourage community based renewable projects both, locally in Greater Manchester and further afield. It will demonstrate just how straight forward it really can be and hopefully demystify the process to other groups who just need that extra bit of encouragement.

Big Society Capital is to invest £1 million in PURE, the Clean Planet Trust, which will enable it to fund up to 70 community energy projects in deprived communities in the UK.

PURE’s Community Energy Fund combines both social and private investment: Big Society Capital’s investment will be boosted by donations from companies such as Barclays and British Airways.

As part of the Greener Journeys initiative, three grants of £5,000 are up for grabs for Greater Manchester-based community organisations, clubs and charities to promote bus travel to their members or supporters. Working alongside local bus company Stagecoach and other major bus operators, Greener Journeys hopes to find local groups with the influence and credibility to encourage people in their communities to leave their cars behind and try the bus instead.