Communities across Galway can apply for a grant of up to €5,000 through an initiative supported by the non-profit, social innovation platform ChangeX.
The Accenture Sustainability Challenge is designed to provide communities with vital resources to kickstart sustainability projects in their own localities.
Grants of up to €5,000 are available, plus a starter resource pack, mentorship and technology tools for teams across the country to start a sustainability project within their own community. Entrants can choose from a portfolio of six ideas that have already been tested and proven to have a positive social or environmental impact within communities in Ireland.
Niamh McKenna, head of impact at ChangeX says it is the company's ambition to enable and to support local community groups, schools, and organisations to take action against climate change and start innovative but doable environmentally-focused projects in their own areas.
"From experience, we know that community-led projects have proven hugely successful for communities across Ireland and we are looking forward to seeing even more groups and organisations come together to roll out more of these green initiatives across the country."
The porfolio of ideas include a garden pocket forest aimed at increasing biodiversity and green space within local communities; a repair café, a meeting spot equipped with tools, materials, and volunteers to repair clothes, furniture, and other household items; a Community fridge, a communal place where surplus food is shared with the local community by local businesses and individuals; an open orchard to provide free fruit to residents and greenery to urban environments; a plastic free 4 kids initiative aimed at helping primary schools become plastic-free, and a pollinator plan to support biodiversity with an all-Ireland pollinator plan.
Commenting on the initiative, Deirdre Murphy, corporate citizenship lead at Accenture in Ireland, says climate change is increasingly affecting living and working conditions around the world, and now is the time to act.
"Communities hold the power to be a catalyst for change and, as a business operating in Ireland for more than 50 years, we believe one of the most important things we can do is support the communities we live and work in.
"We’re committed to embedding sustainable practices across all elements of our own business and we’re making strong progress towards achieving our net-zero goal. There are six fantastic ideas for local communities to choose from, all of which can help them make a real and positive environmental impact.”
The fund will support up to 15 teams across the island of Ireland. Groups, individuals and organisations passionate about building a thriving community are encouraged to apply.
Applications will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once applicants successfully complete a 30-day challenge to kick-start their idea and take their first steps towards making their project a reality. Thousands of local teams across Ireland and further afield, have successfully started community projects through the ChangeX platform, accessing the ideas, support and funding needed to have a measurable impact in their local area.
For further information see https://www.changex.org/ funds/accenture-sustainability-challenge.
To apply, entrants should visit www.changex.org/ie/funds/accenture-sustainability-challenge where they can explore the six ideas, register their team, and receive more information on the steps to complete the challenge.
