As Volunteers Week approaches (2nd – 8th June), Manchester’s In Our Nature programme is calling on Mancunians of all ages and abilities to take part in community activities and projects to help take action on climate change.
Through support from the In Our Nature programme, 82 projects have been set up over the past three years across the city – from bike libraries and clothing swap shops to community gardens and home energy efficiency projects. These have not only had a positive impact on the environment but have enabled people to meet neighbours, learn new skills and leave a lasting impact.
Projects currently looking for volunteers include Repair Cafe’s across the city in Charlestown, Chorlton Park, Openshaw and New Moston, and community nature projects, in Longsight, Wythenshawe and Newton Heath.
OkA recent global survey showed a huge 89% majority of the world’s people want stronger action to fight the climate crisis but stay silent, because they mistakenly believe they are in a minority, and others don’t share their concerns. But feeling part of a bigger community can help, with research from the In Our Nature programme finding that nearly two thirds (64%) of participants who had volunteered at community nature projects in Manchester agreed that taking part in the project made them feel they could do more themselves to tackle climate change.
Since 2022 In Our Nature has worked with communities across the city to connect the climate crisis to practical actions we can all take to make a difference, reduce our carbon emissions, save money, and learn something new. Over 2,250 people across the city have taken part in 82 community projects, that have transformed local green spaces, made sustainable travel more accessible, have learnt how to cook tasty healthy meals, and have saved money on their energy bills.
The programme has also worked alongside these communities to create a range of useful resources and toolkits on their website. The resource hub provides tips and guides for local community groups and residents looking for support to learn new things, help improve their local community and bring their ideas to life.
In Our Nature brings together a delivery partnership made up of Manchester Climate Change Agency, Hubbub, Groundwork Greater Manchester, Amity CIC, The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Chrysalis Research, who work alongside Manchester City Council’s Neighbourhood Team. The project has benefited from £2.5 million of support from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Dr. Katherine Lowe, Programme and Partnership Manager at Manchester Climate Change Agency said: “Thanks to the generous support of our funders and the dedication of our partners, In Our Nature has made a huge impact on the lives of Manchester’s residents. We’re building a movement for change, one that is focused on positive actions. Through the programme, we have seen that reducing our carbon impact and doing something great for the planet can also help us to save money, feel better and connect with our communities – all really important given the financial and other pressures that many people are facing. In Our Nature has demonstrated that together we can feel empowered to create the change we want to see in our own lives, in our communities and as a city.”
