Community-led climate action provides opportunities to improve the lives of local people and ensure the needs of Bristol’s diverse communities are better represented in decision making around climate.
In 2021, along with members of our community in Easton and Lawrence Hill, Eastside developed our community’s climate action plan Happy People, Healthy Planet as part of the citywide Community Climate Action Project funded by the National Lottery. In 2022, along with five other community organisations, the project was awarded a second round of funding to develop ‘demonstrator projects’ specific to the local area and the priorities identified by residents in our Community Climate Action Plan.
EASTSIDE PEOPLE POWER
Our Eastside People Power demonstrator project was a response to the cost-of-living and energy crises that began in 2021-2022. The project’s strands helped equip our community with the tools we need to address challenges around cold homes and rising bills while also making sure opportunities like home energy grants and new jobs reach our wider community.
The project included several strands of work:
Warm Home Champions – Eastside partnered with Bristol Energy Network to develop a home energy training programme for two cohorts of local champions. Over six weeks, these residents learned how heating works in their homes, ways to reduce their energy bills and simple DIY steps they could take to make their homes more comfortable and damp-free in the winter. The champions then shared their new skills and knowledge out more widely in the community.
Resilience Hubs – This pilot explored the role of community hubs to build local resilience to climate change. Eastside set out to get our own house in order by learning about our energy use and heating systems at Easton Community Centre and Felix Road, and making the buildings more energy efficient and comfortable in the winter. The buildings also became hubs of energy information with basic training for staff to signpost energy support, updated informational displays in our energy nook and regular energy advice drop-ins and DIY workshops at the community centre.
Making energy information accessible – We developed inspiring, clear and locally relevant communications over a range of formats (print, film, digital and radio) to make sure our community has the information they need to take action and access support around energy and climate. We’ve shared these out into the community in Up Our Street magazine, social media, radio and printed guides available in our two hubs.
Climate leadership programme – Dr Zakiya McKenzie facilitated this leadership programme for community members to develop a diverse network of local climate leaders. The programme began with a six-week course on causes and impacts of climate change, resilience and climate justice, building in creative, restorative practices. It has continued on with regular meetings and trips to explore community-led climate action and bring ideas back for local projects.
