£15,000 Grants for Community Initiatives to Prevent Waste in North London

6 April 2021

With many north London community groups working to combat the climate, pollution and biodiversity crises, North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is offering grants of up to £15,000 this year to support initiatives focused on preventing waste.

Community groups across seven north London boroughs – Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, and Waltham Forest – can apply from 6 April until 7 May 2021 to NLWA’s Waste Prevention Community Fund.

Grants up to £15,000 will be awarded from NLWA’s £60,000 annual fund to groups which are developing innovative projects to help residents reduce their consumption-based emissions by preventing unnecessary waste and keeping valuable resources in use. Projects which focus on one or more of the following – electrical repair and reuse, prevention of food waste, furniture and textile reuse, and the reduction of single use plastics – are particularly encouraged.

More than 850,000 tonnes of waste are collected in north London every year. Much of this waste is preventable. NLWA therefore wants to support community-based organisations, who are keen to tackle waste in their efforts towards combatting the urgent ecological issues of our times.

The fund was established in 2017 to support initiatives in the north London area and complement NLWA’s waste prevention programme, extending the reach and impact of its waste prevention activity. Last year’s grant recipients include:

• FEAST With Us, the London charity tackling food poverty through its use of surplus food and education, awarded a grant to help it reduce COVID-19-related plastic and food waste.
• Groundwork London, the charity dedicated to transforming local London communities, awarded a grant to help people learn new DIY and cooking skills, which reduce waste and save money.
• Hackney City Farm, a community farm helping people learn about food, nature and the environment, awarded a grant to adapt its 'Get Loose' shop to COVID-19 rules, trial a  zero waste deposit/collection scheme, and install a digital screen to inform visitors about waste reduction tips and events.

NLWA’s Managing Director, Martin Capstick, said: “At the heart of our work is a mission to help prevent and reduce waste as well as encourage sustainability and a circular use of resources. Many community groups in north London are making a big difference to the environment at a grassroots level and NLWA’s grants are here to support them in their vital work.”

To be eligible for funding, an organisation must be non-profit. The project must take place in one of the seven north London boroughs and reduce the amount of local authority collected waste in at least one borough in north London. Organisations that have previously submitted funding requests and/or have received support from NLWA’s Waste Prevention Community Fund may also apply for funding.

NLWA’s Waste Prevention Community Fund for 2021-22 opens for applications on 6 April and closes at noon on 7 May 2021. For more details https://www.nlwa.gov.uk/ourauthority/our-annual-grant-giving