East Suffolk Council
Top ideas for communities
Can your community inspire and empower residents to:
- Set up a Transition movement in your town or parish?
- Run litter picks
- Research low-waste, zero-waste, or product refill shopping options in the area and encourage local vendors to offer these options?
- Gather excess fruit from village trees to distribute or process as a group?
- Start community farms, gardens or orchards?
- Organise regular swap-and-mend events, or a swishing event to swap unwanted clothes?
- Plant up community open spaces for wildflowers and encourage pollinators?
- Ask the council to manage a roadside verge or public open space in your community in a wildlife-friendly way?
If you are just getting started setting up a group, or are seeking to expand your existing group, then this guide from Suffolk Climate Change Partnership Community Environmental Groups - Advice and Guidance to Setting up your own Group looks at how to get people interested, the types of governance structures you may wish to consider, and examples of activities depending on what your ambitions are.
If your idea for community action requires funding, why not discuss it with your local district councillor, each of whom has an Enabling Communities Budget and/or contact the local Community Partnership for your area.
If your group has a community building, such as a village hall, church, or community centre, why not take advantage of the free Community Building Energy Advice Service to identify opportunities to save energy and money.