 BUSINESS: New service launched to help small and medium sized enterprises save money and become more sustainable.
Eligible businesses will receive expert sustainability audits, consultancy, and access to funding as part of a new £10 million scheme launched by the West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, earlier this month.
Following a free assessment of a firm’s environmental impact, the service will help organisations understand the most suitable workplace adaptations for improving energy efficiency, cutting down on waste, or harnessing cheap and renewable energy.
Enterprises will also receive advice on implementing bespoke climate plans, securing investment, and making other sustainable changes that support climate action.
Learn more about the new support for businesses and find out how to apply.
WASTE: Revive Leeds and Seagulls Reuse recognised in national ‘top social enterprises’ list.
Revive and Seagulls work closely with the council to help residents across Leeds reuse and recycle more of their stuff, diverting waste away from the tip and giving people access to low-cost tins of paint and second-hand items.
Both social enterprises have been recognised for their social impact, sustainability, and ability to innovate—as well as their commitment to tackling climate issues and taking positive action on equality and diversity—by the NatWest SE100 Index.
Through reducing waste and giving goods another life, the work of the two organisations is reducing Leeds’ environmental impact whilst also helping residents to save money, alleviating poverty, and creating local employment opportunities.
Read the council press release to learn more about these nationally recognised social enterprises.
 BUILDINGS: 190 households in Holt Park now enjoying some of the U.K.’s most efficient homes following green upgrades.
Nearly 200 homes on the Holtdale estate have benefited from a recent ‘retrofit’ project to install energy-saving improvements including new insulation, ventilation systems, electric air source heat pumps, and solar panels.
Earlier this week, a group of social housing residents from across West Yorkshire met with those living on the Leeds estate to hear first-hand how the £9.8m green housing project has made their homes warmer, healthier, more comfortable, and significantly cheaper to run.
The completed scheme, which was funded jointly by the council and U.K government grant, is part of Leeds City Council’s pledge of investing in £100 million of green upgrades for social housing by 2025 to alleviate fuel poverty and help reduce the quarter of Leeds’ carbon footprint that comes from heating and powering residential buildings.
More information about the visit to the completed Holtdale retrofit scheme can be read online.
 FUNDING: Grant scheme launched to help community organisations deliver and scale climate-friendly projects.
More than half a million pounds has been made available to enable community projects in Leeds that cut carbon and improve neighbourhoods, thanks to a new scheme funded by the West Yorkshire Mayor.
Incorporated voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations can now apply for between £5,000 and £50,000 to fund local projects that boost nature, sustainable travel, building efficiency, or clean energy in Leeds whilst tackling inequalities.
Applications for the first wave of ‘Community Climate Grants’ funding must be submitted to Leeds City Council by 20 October.
Find out more about the new funding for local projects.
 WASTE: Donate or re-use good quality school uniform items at a local school uniform exchange.
Thousands of tonnes of good quality school uniform is going to waste in Leeds every year when it could be shared—costing families and increasing our carbon footprint.
Leeds School Uniform Exchange makes it easy for families to pass on school clothing that is no longer needed and, instead of buying new, find items of good quality uniform, for free!
They also support people to start exchanging by setting up uniform sharing schemes at schools, online or in neighbourhoods across Leeds.
Parents can check out where to donate or collect good quality uniform for free on the Leeds Uniform Exchange website.
 ENGAGE: Calculate your carbon footprint
Do you know your carbon footprint? It measures how much you are contributing to climate change through your actions.
The bigger your footprint, the more planet-warming gases your actions are responsible for emitting into our atmosphere, and the bigger your impact on the planet.
Knowing your carbon footprint—and which parts of your life it comes from—is a great first step for reducing your personal environmental impact, and helping others to do the same.
Calculate your carbon footprint using WWF's website interactive tool.
Climate Emergency Advisory Committee
If you would like to raise an issue, comment, or opportunity as part of a future meeting of Leeds City Council's 'Climate Emergency Advisory Committee', then please get in touch to find out more about contributing to the Open Forum.
Contact climate.emergency@leeds.gov.uk and include “Open Forum” in the subject line for more information.
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