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Welcome to the Going Green Together newsletter from VONNE. VONNE is the regional support body for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in the North East. If you have any content you'd like to share in future editions of this newsletter, please get in touch.
Going Green Together monthly newsletter. Includes graphics of trees and a wind turbine.

Hello, 

We've had lots on over the last month, with more to come in April. Here are some project updates:
Environmental Policy Workshop

We enjoyed hosting our first environmental policy workshop in partnership with Cumbria CVS, with great feedback from participants. 

Together we worked our way through the importance of having a policy in today's VCSE context and the foundations of a clear document that will steer meaningful action for your organisation. 

Don't worry if you missed this one, we have more workshops planned throughout the year. 
New - GGT Peer Support Sessions

Our peer support sessions will begin online on the 16th of April. A chance for our participants to get to know one another, muse ideas and tackle challenges together. Our first session will have a focus on community and team engagement.

As a participant of GGT, you will have received an email with more information on how to come along. Please drop us an email if you would like to know more.
 
 
Other News and Opportunities
4 women in bright jackets embracing
How will climate and nature crises impact on women and girls?

Women and girls in the UK often face greater and differing risks from climate change, shaped by factors such as income, health, housing, safety and caring responsibilities. Yet these realities are still too often missing from climate policy and practice.

This new Everyone’s Environment briefing, produced by NPC in partnership with Wen (Women's Environmental Network), brings together evidence on how climate change is affecting women and girls in the UK. It also highlights opportunities to reduce these risks while building a fairer transition.
Find out more 
Report finds political drop in support for 'net zero' is not mirrored in public opinion 
 

The report from the Institute for Public Policy Research seeks to understand threats to net zero. The authors find that public support for net zero remains higher than is interpreted by many politicians, often amplified by mainstream media. They argue that their findings show that a strong, progressive agenda on climate action remains broadly popular with the public.
 
Read the report findings
Kim McGuinness and the Energy Minister stand in a circle listening to the thoughts of school children in red uniforms
Mayor celebrates major North Sea offshore wind expansion as route to create new green jobs for the North East

New offshore wind sites are to be leased off the North East coast, set to open up around six gigawatts or more of offshore wind capacity.

This has the potential to create thousands of new jobs and bring investment to ports, supply chains, construction, engineering and operations, with opportunities for people right across the region.  
Read more here
First 100 schools now cutting bills with Great British Energy solar panels
 

Classrooms and pupils are benefitting from lower energy bills thanks to Great British Energy funded solar panels, as 100 schools and colleges have now completed their installations. Around 250 schools and colleges are set to save up to an estimated combined £220 million over the lifetime of the solar panels, taking pressure off finances and securing more money to be reinvested in classrooms.

The Government’s Great British Energy has targeted schools and colleges primarily clustered in areas of deprivation in the North East, West Midlands and North West, ensuring areas in most need get the support, as well as at least 10 schools in each region of England.   
 
Read the press release
A filed of wildflowers with large tree and blue skies behind it.
New way to gain financial support as biodiversity net gain in now on the Carbon and Nature Marketplace

Biodiversity net gain is now available on the North East Carbon and Nature Marketplace, making it easier for people and organisations to support nature recovery across our region.

This also provides an opportunity for the VCSE sector to gain support for projects that seek to restore nature and help wildlife to thrive.
Find out more about Biodiversity Net Gain
Be equipped to support your clients with energy costs - Free training available
 

Yorkshire Energy Doctor are once again running their Community Energy Ambassadors project, providing training for anyone living or working in the North East, Yorkshire and Cumbria. 

Through the Energy Ambassadors project they offer:

· 3 x 1.5 hour CPD-certified training course - online

· A portal of resources

· A monthly Energy Ambassadors newsletter 

· Invitations to online update events 
 
Sign up and find out more
Hartlepool residents celebrating after tree planting
Community-powered action in Hartlepool

This March, dozens of Hartlepool residents rolled up their sleeves and planted over 200 trees to help tackle the town's low tree canopy cover and create a greener, healthier future for the community.

The planting day formed part of our multi-partner Tree Equity for Hartlepool project, which has just celebrated its first planting season!
Discover more about Hartlepool tree planting
 
Events this April
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Logo
Capturing Flourishing Urban Nature in Tees Valley

Calendar competition

Deadline: 1st May 

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust are looking for photographs that celebrate native wildlife and wild places thriving close to home, from gardens and streets to parks, reserves, the coast, and green corridors 

- Open to amateur photographers of all ages 

- Landscape orientation only

- Standard edits only (no AI or heavily manipulated images) 

To enter, email info@teeswildlife.org to request an entry pack with full terms and conditions.

Looking up into a forest canopy from the ground
Ashington Community Woods - Adopt a tree

Sapling Collection: Saturday 4th April - 10am - 12pm

Hirst Welfare Centre Cafe, Ashington

More dates available

If you have a little bit of outdoor space, can you can nurture a tree destined for Ashington Community Woods?
 
Pick up a baby sapling to look after at home this year, then join others in the community to plant it at a community tree planting day next winter!
Find out more
Durham Community Action Logo
The Big Solar Conversation

Saturday 11th April - 2-5pm (Lunch from 1pm)

Shotton Community Hub, DH6 2PQ

Energising East Durham are holding a community conversation to hear what residents think about solar panels. This is a chance for East Durham to talk, learn and come together over this topic. Email energy@eastdurhamtrust.org.uk for further details.
Find out more
Community Foundation Logo
Environmental Action Conference: Funding, People and Place

Tuesday 21st April 12-6:30pm

Wylam Brewery Palace of Arts, NE2 4PZ

Community Foundation North East are hosting their Environment Conference, bringing together funders, community organisations and regional partners to explore how environmental funding can support local communities. Book your place and be part of the conversation shaping a greener North East.
More information and book
Cyclist on cycle lane on a sunny day
Active Travel England: Spotlight on Sunderland City Council

Tuesday 21st of April - 11-11:45am

Online

Join colleagues from Sunderland City Council as they share how the city is connecting communities and new developments through an ambitious programme of active travel infrastructure.
Find out more and register
A woman holding her young son in one arm. They are outside in the sun and cooking, both looking into an open pan.
Completing a Funding Application: Bring your project to life training

Tuesday 21st of April - 10-11:30am

Online

This online session is aimed at volunteer-led organisations and community groups in Durham.

Durham Community Action will support you to complete a funding application, understand the basics of applying for grant funding and how to link your project to a funder’s criteria including a demonstration of the Durham4Community grant finder programme. 
Book your place
Durham Community Growing and Food Network Logo
Durham Community Growing and Food Network

Tuesday 28th of April - 10am-12pm

The Lodge, Blackhall and Consett Park 

The theme for this meeting is Growing Communities Through Gardens, where they will explore topics such as culture, art and intergenerational gardening to highlight how community gardens help create a stronger sense of community.
Book your place for the network event
Friends of the Earth Logo
Anti-Racism and Environmental Justice training

Wednesday 29th of April - 12-4pm

Northumbria University, Sandyford Building

A participatory workshop combining political education, practical anti-racism, and an action focused approach to organising and campaigning.

This is a collaborative anti‑racist and environmental justice training session being planned by Friends of the Earth, The North East Anti Racism Coalition and Northumbria University.

This interactive session provides practical skills and fresh thinking to help create climate campaigning rooted in equality and justice.
Book your free place
 
 
Upcoming Climate Campaigns
Lots of red apples
Stop Food Waste Day

29th April
Find out more
Earth Day Logo
Earth Day

22nd April 
Find out more
Woman looking at her phone, standing over a river
The Big River Watch

24th-30th April
Find out more
 
 
Environmental Funding
 
John Ellerman Foundation - Tackling the Climate Crisis 
 

Up to £60,000. Rolling Grant

The John Ellerman Foundation is providing grants that address the crisis of:

  • Reducing social polarisation and building trust
  • Promoting equitable economic systems
  • Advancing equity and justice

The funding provides multi-year core funding of up to £180,000 in total, to strengthen organisational capacity and long-term impact. Support can cover salaries, operational costs, monitoring and evaluation, communications, digital development and other essential core expenditure rather than one-off project costs.
 
 
Find out more and apply here
The Curtin PARP Fund
 

£1,000 - 7,000 – Rolling Grant

Grants are available for people who wish to study or develop a career in environmental/green jobs (e.g. horticulture, parks and gardens, sustainable energy).

Grants are to help individuals reach their potential through support for individual study and employment or supporting activities that benefit groups of people e.g. for the delivery of training courses particularly which give accreditation.
 
Find out more
Veolia Environmental Trust
 

Minimum £10,000 - Rolling Deadline

Veolia award grants towards projects that improve community facilities and the natural environment. A habitat and biodiversity grant has opened, funding improvements to or the creation of natural habitats and our vision is for a healthy environment where native species can thrive.
 
Apply here
 
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Going Green Together is a VONNE Climate Action Alliance initiative hosted by VONNE. Registered Company in England Number: 4061592. Registered Charity Number: 1084083
 

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