The BBC has produced a number of quick and easy to read guides to help you understand what climate change is, how climate change might affect your community and why taking action is important.

• What is climate change: a really simple guide?
• What will climate change look like near me?
• What do all the terms mean?

Small changes undertaken by lots of people can have a big impact. Thinking about how we as individuals use energy and resources, changing our behaviour, and reducing what we use does make a difference.

• Calculate your carbon footprint
• How to reduce your carbon footprint
• Things you can do about climate change from the Wildlife Trust
• 40 ways to be more ecofriendly in 2024.

Join with your neighbours to take action in your local community against climate change. Acting together you can access additional support and apply for funding to create change in your local area; protecting your community for future generations.

Setting up a group

• • How to turn your idea into a project

• Take a look at the range of climate action activities carried out by groups in this Climate Action Projects report we prepared, thanks to funding from the Woodsmith Foundation.

Getting your community on board

• An easy guide to community engagement
• Community climate engagement guide.

Taking action

• Community carbon calculator; see where you use the most carbon
• Top 10 tips for successful Community Action
• Project ideas and resources for what to do
• Ideas for action from a rural perspective
• Actions for Parish and Town councils
• FAQ Green energy in Village Halls and Community Buildings.

Find local groups taking environmental action

• Craven: Action on Climate Emergency (ACE)
• Hambleton: Climate Action Stokesley and Villages and Hambleton Thirsk Friends of the Earth; North York Moors National Park Authority
• Harrogate: Nidderdale Environment and Climate Groups (but no online presence as yet) and Harrogate climate change coalition
• Richmondshire: Richmondshire Climate Action Partnership
• Ryedale: Ryedale Environment Group; Thornton le Dale village hall
• Scarborough: Circular Coast; Whitby Esk Energy; Raincliffe Woods CIC;
• Selby: Zero Selby
• North Yorkshire: North Yorkshire Council Beyond Carbon.

You can also find your nearest Climate Action Group here.

Inspiration

See the ‘Stories‘ section below to see what others have done.

Further support and information can be found in the ‘Next steps’ section below.

Climate change is strongly linked to social inequality. In Yorkshire, the UK and abroad, it will be the poorest communities that are most adversely affected by climate change. Charitable organisations need to consider what they can do alongside their day to day work to take action against climate change.

Policy and procedures

• Template Environmental policy for charities
• Example Environmental policy
• Trustee Handbook: Environmental responsibilities for charities.

Climate action pledge

• Climate Action pledge for groups to sign up, to show they are serious about reducing their environmental footprint, similar to volunteer charter
• Climate Action pledge explanatory information sheet what the above is and how to use it
• Step-by-Step-action-plan for groups to use to reduce their energy use, template for how they will reduce their environmental footprint.

Taking action

• Calculate your carbon footprint for small businesses
• The journey to net-zero for small to medium enterprises
• Ten steps to becoming a greener charity
• Eco-friendly fundraising ideas
• Calculate your organisation’s digital footprint.

Inspiration

See what others have done in the ‘Stories’ section below.

Further support and information can be found in ‘Next steps’ below.

Your charity, voluntary or community group might be very experienced in fundraising and securing funding, or you may be brand new to it. Whatever your level of experience, our Funding Toolkit contains resources, stories and advice on how to get support with all your funding needs, including how to request a bespoke funding search, carry out your own funding search and register to receive our monthly Funding Bulletin.

If you are a voluntary or community organisation or a social enterprise in North Yorkshire the Community Support North Yorkshire team can work with you to understand your grant funding needs, check you are eligible and direct you to suitable grants. We can also be a critical friend during the application process.

Resources to browse through now:

• How to turn your idea into a project
• Funding toolkit
• A quick guide to funding green projects.

Take a look at our ‘Next steps’ section below for further ideas and support.

Be inspired by what other people, groups, projects and workplaces have done. Hear and read their stories, find out about the positive impact they have had, the challenges they have faced and their top tips for your own action.

For more information on our Climate Action study undertaken in North York Moors National Park and Scarborough, including information on groups take climate action in that area, please click here.

Podcasts

• Community Collaboration: how to fund, conduct and implement an energy feasibility study
• Installing Electric Vehicle charge points
• Conducting an Eco Audit
• Eco Audit template
• Installing Ground Source Heat Pump and Solar Panels.

Local projects

• Askrigg Community Energy project
• Ryedale Environment Group
• Our Zero Selby
• Take a look at the wealth of activities being carried out by local groups in North Yorkshire in our Climate Action Projects report, funded by the Woodsmith Foundation.

Blogs and case studies

• Village Halls adapting to climate change: one North Yorkshire halls response which, although published in 2020, can still provide relevant inspiration.
• Low carbon success stories from community groups across England
• Going Green Together North East
• Action on Climate Together (ACT) North Lanarkshire.

Find further support and information in the ‘Next Steps’ section below.

If you’re a voluntary or community organisation or a social enterprise in North Yorkshire there is a wealth of support and advice that we can offer you.

Our Community Support and Volunteering North Yorkshire teams have a wide range of expertise available to help you to grow your project or organisation.

However large or small, we are here to help. Visit Community Support North Yorkshire to find out more.

The following are all large national and international organisations leading on climate change education and action.

• Centre for Sustainable Energy
• The Climate Change Committee
• Greenpeace
• Climate Action network
• The Climate Reality project
• Top 15 useful environmental websites in the UK.