The Coastal Capacity Building Scheme funded local projects in coastal areas in Wales to bring together partners to tackle the climate emergency.

The Coastal Capacity Building Fund enabled communities to take action in Welsh coastal areas to support nature recovery and sustainability.

Funding was distributed via the Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) and projects were run in partnership with the local LNP Co-ordinator.

ABOUT THE FUND

The Fund aimed to build capacity for community partners, helping them to deliver sustainable action that supports growth and recovery in local marine and coastal areas. It encouraged collaboration between stakeholders, such as communities, businesses, local authorities and other public bodies, and build networks that foster nature recovery and rejuvenation in coastal areas.

All projects must be complete by 31 March 2025.

Welsh Government funded the scheme, building on its investment in local nature recovery through the Local Nature Partnerships.

THE PROJECTS WE FUNDED

Wild Elements

 Wild Elements worked with Anglesey Local Nature Partnership to engage schoolchildren by increasing understanding and awareness of marine and coastal environments, their significance, the challenges faced, and how to help overcome them and support nature recovery.

The project aimed to deliver 12 sessions to 12 primary school classes, engaging 288 children and 24 teaching staff. Previous similar studies were shown have a significant impact in encouraging interest and appreciation of nature, as well as having positive educational outcomes.

Through hands-on games and activities, the project helped introduce the children to Anglesey’s vibrant marine environment and highlight the impact climate change would have on it.

They also learnt how individual behaviours can impact nature recovery and the environment and learnt how to make positive changes that will benefit nature, marine and terrestrial life, and the environment.

It also aimed to raise awareness of jobs and careers in the environmental sector and encourage further study at university.

PILOT SCHEME

In early 2023 14 pilot projects were funded to test what investment in this area could achieve, here are some examples of how the funding was used.

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW)

Participants at workshop in Porthcawl discuss barriers to the community’s ability to support the local environment

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) worked with the Ceredigion Local Nature Partnership to explore the barriers that are limiting coastal communities’ capacity to tackle climate change.

The project looked at addressing two key barriers:

• Poor communication and a feeling of not being listened to
• People not feeling they have the knowledge or capacity to play their part in marine and coastal issues

They brought together volunteers and local stakeholders in Porthcawl and Aberporth who might not have been involved in local environmental activities before, such as farmers, local businesses, and community police officers.

Participants learnt a lot from each other, for example how businesses could support community activities, and pressures facing local businesses that the community may not be aware of.

The project created a good space for people to network and share the community-led sustainability activities that were happening, but they also identified that improved coordination and support was needed for ‘sustainable community action’ in the area.

Flintshire Coast Films

A local fisherman in Connah’s Quay was interviewed as part of a project to raise awareness of the benefits of getting involved with the local coastal environment

The good work by local volunteers, organisations and businesses risked being overshadowed by crime in Connah’s Quay in Flintshire. To combat this a project run by the Flintshire Local Nature Partnership sought to showcase the benefits of engaging with local coastal areas by producing films featuring local stakeholders.

The project engaged 40+ volunteers as well as local business owners and filmed a range of stakeholders such as a local chef, fishermen, the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution), and a local influencer.

People who engaged with the project were amazed at the local wildlife present in what is perceived as an urban area. The project brought about the discovery of common lizards on an old landfill site which led to plans for creating a natural habitat for the breeding ground via the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust.

Filming with RNLI Flint also enabled the organisation to highlight the dangers of the estuary, encourage its safe use, and promote the work by their team of volunteers.