23 September 2025

Community projects are being supported to act on climate change thanks to new funding awarded in the Zero Carbon Communities (ZCC) grant scheme.

Now into its seventh round, the ZCC grant scheme empowers parish councils and non-profit community groups to deliver projects that either reduce or lock up carbon emissions or engage residents in climate change awareness and action.

Since its launch in 2019, the scheme has funded 82 projects, awarding over £650,000 to initiatives across the district.

This year, the Council received applications from 22 organisations. Following a rigorous assessment process, 14 projects were selected to receive funding - totalling more than £161,291.

These projects encompass a diverse range of initiatives which will be allocated to carbon reduction and community engagement efforts.

Core funding for the scheme is drawn from the Council’s Renewables Reserve, which comprises business rates from commercial renewable energy projects in the district.

Cllr Natalie Warren Green, Lead Cabinet Member for Environment at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Through our Zero Carbon Communities grants, we’re empowering local groups to take meaningful climate action, right here in our villages and towns. Whether it’s planting trees, boosting energy efficiency, or delivering inspiring eco-education, we’re proud to support projects that help build a greener, more sustainable future for everyone.”

Successful projects are:

• The Liberation Cycle – £12,000
  This Steeple Morden-based charity refurbishes pre-loved bikes to donate to those in need, facilitating active travel and promoting mental and physical wellbeing. The grant will support them to quadruple their impact, issuing 1,000 bikes in their second year through community workshops, bike refurbishments, and their Cycle Liberation Day event.
• William Westley PTA – £5,000
  William Westley Church of England Primary School’s Parent Teacher Association run a pre-loved school uniform shop to encourage reuse and reduce uniform costs. The PTA has been awarded a grant to purchase and install two sheds, including shelving and other storage, so the pre-loved shop can be moved on to the school site.
• Whittlesford United Reformed Church – £15,000
  As part of a wider project to make their building a low-carbon, full accessible community hub, the Church will use their grant to install battery storage and maximise benefits from their solar panels.
• Cambridge Carbon Footprint (Repair Cafes Plus) – £15,000
  The Repair Cafes are community events where skilled volunteers fix broken items brought by visitors. Cambridge Carbon Footprint will help establish three new cafes to continue their support for South Cambridgeshire’s existing network, including a register of repair volunteers, toolkits, and specialised insurance.
• Cambridge Carbon Footprint – £15,000
  Cambridge Carbon Footprint will use funding to support their Open Eco Homes series - free in person tours of 6-8 retrofitted homes, with a focus on homes with heat pumps. Also their thermal imaging camera loan scheme.
• The Let’s Cook Project – £15,000
  The Let’s Cook Project will receive funding to continue their work in South Cambridgeshire delivering food waste reduction campaigns in partnership with community groups. They will train and support 20 groups to deliver a 5-week campaign including cookery sessions.
• Cambridge Retrofit Hub – £12,700
  Supporting homeowners to make energy-efficient upgrades with expert guidance. The Retrofit Hub will receive funding to deliver a programme of 15 community engagement events covering home energy advice and home retrofit. Audiences include South Cambridgeshire homeowners, landlords, tenants, tradespeople and schoolchildren, with topics including energy efficiency measures, water resilience and overheating solutions.
• Teversham Community Club – £6,500
  The Community Club has been awarded a grant to make improvements to the thermal efficiency of the building, replacing existing entrance and lobby doors, existing single-glazed windows, fire escape doors and installing additional insulation to the ceiling.
• Balsham Parish Council – £9,769
  The Parish Council will install a solar panel system at The Pavilion, including battery storage. It benefits from recent improvements to cavity wall and loft insulation, demonstrating a fabric-first approach.
• Octagon St Mary’s Church, Willingham – £7,255
  Preserving heritage while opening doors to wider community use and events.
• Stapleford Parish Council – £15,000
  Driving local climate action through practical projects and resident involvement.
• Fen Ditton Parish Council – £15,000
  Making the village greener with tree planting, biodiversity boosts, and eco-events.
• Cambridge Sustainable Food – £14,936
  Tackling food waste and insecurity with community-led solutions and education.
• Dry Drayton Parish Council – £3,130
  Supporting small-scale sustainability projects that make a big local impact.

For more information about the Zero Carbon Communities Grant Scheme, visit the webpage. Funding was agreed in a meeting of the Council’s Grant Advisory Committee.