The Coastal Capacity Building Scheme is funding local projects in coastal areas in Wales and bringing together partners to tackle the climate emergency.
The Coastal Capacity Building Fund will enable communities to take action in Welsh coastal areas to support nature recovery and sustainability.
Funding will be distributed via the Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) and projects will be run in partnership with the local LNP Co-ordinator.
ABOUT THE FUND
The Fund aims to build capacity for community partners, helping them to deliver sustainable action that supports growth and recovery in local marine and coastal areas. It will encourage 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.
The scheme has a yearly budget of £500,000 available for projects of five months or more, with a minimum value of £20,000. All projects must be complete by 31 March 2025.
Welsh Government is funding the scheme from 2023-25, building on its investment in local nature recovery through the Local Nature Partnerships. Applications are made via the Local Nature Partnerships and WCVA is managing the funding and overall co-ordination.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Any new or existing partners with an interest in supporting their coastal communities can apply. To apply you will need to contact your Local Nature Partnership Co-ordinator who will act as the lead applicant for the funding. For more information please email lnpcymru@wcva.cymru.
WHAT WE’LL FUND
Some examples of the kinds of activities the fund could support:
- Developing skills, knowledge and networks/partnerships to engage with marine and coastal issues
- Carrying out scoping exercises to look at reducing carbon emissions in the marine/coastal environment
- Increasing public understanding of local eco-systems and how to manage and use them responsibly
- Implementing recycling initiatives
- Conducting research into local environments and the impact of climate change
- Improving local seafood supply chains and their sustainability
- Fostering sustainable recreation and tourism
- Building understanding of how to improve water quality
- Developing environmentally friendly food packaging
Projects should focus on:
- Nature recovery and enhancement
- Sustainable growth and diversification in Welsh coastal communities
- Helping Welsh coastal communities to access the grant fund and other appropriate funding by providing advice and assistance and developing a network of key stakeholders to share information on marine and coastal topics
You should also take into consideration the Local Places for Nature objectives:
- Support activities and actions that restore and enhance nature
- Focus on supporting under-represented groups and disadvantaged communities across Wales
- Encourage community participation and engagement to enable people to experience and value nature, which will help to lead to wider and larger scale initiatives being supported across communities
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.
HOW TO APPLY
To make an application to the Coastal Capacity Building Fund please contact your Local Nature Partnership, or email lnpcymru@wcva.cymru to find out more. The deadline for applications for the 2023 funding round is 22 September 2023.