£60,000 up for grabs as Veolia unveils new Sustainability Fund

Veolia launched its new community funding scheme on World Environment Day (5 June 2021) to help support people across the country to transform their local communities and environments.

Veolia says it has been a challenging year where ‘many communal spaces and services have suffered’.

Because of this it is looking to back projects that make a ‘positive, sustainable difference’ to local areas and deliver long-term social and environmental benefits.

With over £60,000 worth of funding as well as in-kind resources and volunteers available, Veolia aims to empower people to take positive action in their local area.

The Sustainability Fund will help to transform local communities and environments into places that support a sustainable future for everyone. I look forward to seeing all the fantastic projects that pitch to the Fund and supporting successful applicants

The resource management company is looking for projects like those previously supported below:

• Running on sunshine; Solar panels have been purchased and installed to make the running of community centres more environmentally-friendly.
• Caulibox; The UK’s first reusable lunchbox scheme, Caulibox tackled plastic waste and the throwaway culture of takeaway foods, by working with local vendors to swap disposable packaging to reusable boxes.
• EnergyGarden; This organisation transforms disused land around transport networks into communal gardens. This enhances biodiversity, brings together local communities and teaches residents about growing their own food and plants and eating seasonally.
• Paddleboard recyclers; Bringing together exercise and litter picking, Veolia supported paddleboarders to protect the cleanliness of rivers and waterways.
• EcoTots; Educational talks, lessons and activity clubs for young people to learn about sustainability and how to best preserve resources and protect the environment.

Rachel Jay, Communities Manager, Veolia UK and Ireland said:  “At Veolia we are always looking at ways to give back to the communities we serve. The Sustainability Fund will help to transform local communities and environments into places that support a sustainable future for everyone. I look forward to seeing all the fantastic projects that pitch to the Fund and supporting successful applicants.”

Misha Dhanak, Chief Executive Officer, Spacehive said: “Spacehive is proud to be Veolia’s crowdfunding partner and we can’t wait to see the projects people put forward to help their local area. Veolia-backed campaigns on the platform have raised over £1 million for their communities so far. Gaining support from Veolia alongside the crowd will help even more ambitious ideas take off.”

Veolia’s Sustainability Fund is open to not-for-profit organisations across the country, however they are particularly interested in areas where the company partners with the local authority to deliver waste and cleansing services for the community.

Find out more about the fund and how you can apply at: Veolia.co.uk/Sustainability-Fund