Press Release

Sheep's wool, peat bogs and burning wood...

16 April 2009

Multi-million pound fund launches to support local climate projects.

England's Northwest is striking out to be a low carbon pioneer in the UK, today (16th April) with the launch of Foundation, a climate fund for the Northwest, which will deliver £1m per year for local, community based carbon-reducing projects.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock MP will officially launch the fund with a personal video message to business and public sector leaders at an event at Halliwells Solicitors in central Manchester.

Called 'Foundation', the fund is being established to give individuals and businesses the opportunity to donate to local community projects across the region that are helping to combat climate change, whilst advancing social justice and tackling problems like fuel poverty.

Money raised will be spent on carbon reduction projects ranging from insulation, solar panels and wind turbines, to biological carbon sinks like peat bogs.

Managed by Groundwork Northwest, chaired by United Utilities and with an initial investment of £1.6m from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Foundation has a target to raise an additional £3m in donations over the next three years.

Energy and Climate Change Minister, Joan Ruddock, said:

"I am hugely impressed by the leadership being shown by the NWDA and Groundwork, which shows the commitment to fighting climate change at all levels across the UK. The work being done in the Northwest should be seen as an example to everyone of what we need to be doing to meet our ambitious emissions reduction targets.

"During the current economic difficulties it is important that we look after the most vulnerable in our society and I am particularly pleased to see a central theme of Foundation's work is helping households reduce their bills by introducing energy efficiency measures."

Gaynor Kenyon, Chair, of Foundation, said:

"United Utilities is delighted to be involved with Foundation, as protecting and enhancing the environment is at the heart of what we do. Climate change will really affect how we deliver services to our customers in the Northwest so we know how important it is that everyone plays their part in making a difference. And Foundation will help those communities in our region who perhaps find it difficult to implement carbon reduction projects.

"Foundation offers something new to Northwest businesses. As an innovative and powerful carbon reduction fund for the region, Foundation will fill a 'gap in the market' and offer organisations an alternative when compensating for unavoidable emissions. By investing in projects in the Northwest that will stimulate low-carbon technologies and skills or tackle societal ills such as fuel poverty, companies will find that many Foundation projects will support their broader corporate responsibility objectives."

Mark Turner, Chief Officer of Foundation, Groundwork Northwest, said:

"Foundation will make a significant impact across the Northwest, helping the region to tackle climate change. All the projects supported will also deliver a wide range of social and economic benefits – improving the standard of living and quality of life, often in some of the most deprived parts of the region.

"Groundwork helps communities change their places for the better – and Foundation will provide another way of creating that change. We will back projects that work closely with communities to address issues including fuel poverty and energy efficiency. We also want to stimulate local economies and job markets, so where possible, we encourage the use of products and suppliers sourced within the region."

Mark Turner, Chief Officer, of Foundation, said:

"Foundation is making a significant impact across the Northwest, helping the region to tackle climate change. All the projects supported will also deliver a wide range of social and economic benefits – improving the standard of living and quality of life, often in some of the most deprived parts of the region.

"Our approach is proactive and sustainable to ensure people get help to make tangible changes to where and how they live. Foundation backs projects that work closely with communities to address issues including fuel poverty and energy efficiency. We also want to stimulate local economies and job markets, so where possible, we encourage the use of products and suppliers sourced within the region."

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:

"The launch of Foundation comes at a time when the issues of energy and climate change are becoming increasingly high profile priorities on a national and international level. During these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever that we employ innovative financing mechanisms to secure investment and encourage business support to tackle climate change.

"Through innovation and resourcefulness England's Northwest will remain a leading exemplar of effective action, preparing it for the challenges of climate change and ensuring a sound infrastructure to support a low-carbon global economy."

Craig Chaplin, Partner Intellectual Property, Commerce & Technology Department, Halliwells, said:

"Halliwells is delighted to have this opportunity to be actively involved in the launch and development of Foundation. With years of experience assisting clients in the renewable energy sector – and with many other clients increasingly focusing on sustainability – we take the issue of climate change very seriously. It is an issue that will only become more significant for businesses in the future.

"Responsibility is one of the firm's core values and supporting Foundation demonstrates our commitment to putting something back into the community. Through innovation I am confident that we can help protect the environment for future generations.

"On a personal level I am delighted to have accepted a position on the board of Foundation. It is a role which allows me to use my knowledge and expertise to support and encourage Northwest businesses to sign up and play a part in fighting climate change."

Foundation projects will be selected based on an ability to demonstrate their carbon savings, whilst projects that otherwise struggle to find support elsewhere will be prioritised. Projects will not simply be selected for their pound per carbon saving ratio, rather innovative projects that tackle issues like fuel poverty or biodiversity will be given priority.

Foundation is available to community groups and organisations and those wishing to find out more can visit www.climatefund.org.uk or more information or call the Foundation team on 0161 237 3200.

Foundation is unique in that money raised will be spent entirely in the region. Businesses and individuals finally have a way to donate directly to their local community to compensate for unavoidable carbon emissions.

Foundation is as much about social equity as carbon reduction – projects must realise a reduction in carbon, but equally must deliver a wider range of benefits; including supporting families struggling to pay their heating bills, assisting local schools and community groups, investing in 'green collar' jobs and ultimately developing the region's low carbon economy.

Business will benefit from investing in their local area where their customers and staff live and work – directly assisting their own communities will offer the business a highly visible, tangible return on any donation to Foundation. Businesses can see their donation working twice as hard with Foundation, serving to compensate for unavoidable emissions and fulfilling corporate social responsibility goals.

An action in the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan, Foundation is a not-for-profit fund managed by Groundwork Northwest and a consortium of the NWDA, Energy Savings Trust, ENWORKS, Quantum, CO2 Balance and Creative Concern.

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Jake Smith at Creative Concern on 0161 236 0600, Mob: 07765018522