This project is now finished.

This project has come to a close.  To read our issued press release on the outputs of the Community LED by Energy Champions project, please click here.

 

In 2018 Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh and Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn secured a share of £15.3 million made available through the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund (CCF). The two community land trusts were awarded a CCF grant totalling £149,600.

 

The CCF is a Scottish Government grant programme, managed and administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful. The CCF provides funding and support for communities to help tackle climate change by running projects that reduce local carbon emissions.

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The Community LED by Energy Champions project was run by two Community Land Trusts working in partnership and offered free support to residents of both Carloway Estate and Galson Estate on the Isle of Lewis. Project coordinators were recruited for each estate area to support the establishment of volunteer teams to help people save energy in the home as well as supplying information on energy efficiency measures and climate change as well as signposting to other support organisations.

 

Kenneth Maclennan, Chairperson of Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh said at the time of launching the project in 2018:

      "We are very pleased to have secured this funding to deliver this interesting project. Working alongside another land trust will support the delivery and development of the project and we are pleased to build a strong partnership with Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn. We hope to recruit and train a team of volunteers, who will become “Energy Champions” to support the rollout of the project. We see this as building community capacity at a grassroots level and allows us to deliver a project that meets the needs of our communities. "

 

David Gunn, Climate Challenge Fund Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful said:

     “We congratulate both organisations for securing funding from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund and encourage the local community to take advantage of the support available through the “Community LED by Energy Champions”.

“We look forward to supporting the communities of both estates as they implement their project and empower many more communities to take action on climate change. We see it as part of our work to make Scotland clean, green and sustainable.”

 

The CCF has awarded 1,097 grants totalling £101 million to 658 communities since its introduction in 2008, for projects involving energy efficiency, sustainable travel, local food and resource efficiency.

 

Further information at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ccf

 

 

An-Dràsta! film

 

'An-Dràsta!', filmed and edited by young people during the summer of 2019, examines how the climate emergency is affecting the Western Isles. It is a plea from our young people to protect our shared futures.   It was produced as part of the Community LED by Energy Champions project and was supported by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund, with additional support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

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Click here to see the film.