Manchester Carbon Innovation Fund

Manchester City Council

Lisa Lingard & Esther BarnesEnvironmental Strategy Service

Manchester – A Certain Future

A stakeholder climate change action plan for the whole of the city to: • Reduce the city of Manchester’s emissions of CO2 by 41% by 2020 based on 2005 levels.

• Engage all citizens, neighbourhoods and organisations in Manchester in a process of cultural change that embeds “low carbon thinking” into the lifestyles and operations of the city.

www.manchesterclimate.com

Background

Manchester Carbon Innovation Fund

Carbon Innovation Fund launched during the writing of the MACF plan in summer 2009:

• £1 million fund

• Support MACF ideas and actions on the ground

• Inspire and support low carbon innovative projects

• Support community led action

• Pilot and market test ideas

• Be replicable

• Be a catalyst for long term and wide scale change

• Involved residents, schools, business, community groups, third sector, private sector, universities.

Why?

Manchester Carbon Innovation Fund

Themes such as:• Cycle training and measuring carbon savings – BikeRight!• Low Carbon Communities – Action for Sustainable Living• Low carbon living and education – Moss Side Carbon Co-op • Film making and social media – REEL Manchester’s Green Wave• Behaviour change - Manchester Metropolitan Uni’s Green Living• Community allotments – Regeneris Squared• Renewable energy – Northwards Housing Solar PV• Energy monitors for business and residents – SMARTER• Community green roofs – Red Rose Forest• Recycling trail – Museum of Science and Industry

What we did

Manchester Carbon Innovation FundApplications were open to all in Manchester

The project leads received:• Support from MCC staff in preparing their application,• Advice about how to achieve carbon savings,• Project management advice,• Links to other MCC departments such as Campaigns teams,• Communications advice and templates – e.g. Press releases.

Project leads had to:• Submit monthly monitoring forms and financial evidence,• Agree to adhere to communications guidance – e.g. use of MCC logo.

What we did

Manchester Carbon Innovation Fund40 projects delivered in 2009/10/11

Over half had direct and immediate community benefit.

75% now completed.

Outputs

Output Total to end of August 2010

Individuals directly involved 382

Individuals reached through wider engagement

18,238

Schools engaged 57

Jobs supported 92

Press releases and media coverage 121

Business engaged 317

Events / workshops held 400

Amount of additional match / in kind funding secured by projects

£79,090

The Green Wave - REEL Manchester

The Green Wave 45 minute drama developed, produced and premiered by community with REEL Manchester.Brought together 2 hard to reach communities. 89 local residents involved including 48 young people. Documentary webstreaming available at www.reelmcr.co.uk

Green Wave Facebook page. You Tube film. Educational tool for schools and communities. Part funded by CLASP

Local Project Managersrecruited as volunteers.

Ongoing training provided by AfSL. Builds individual & community self esteem. Delivers community led engagement with climate

change awareness themes. Responsive and flexible model. Value for money. Pledge system equates to carbon savings of £9

per tonne.

Low Carbon Communities Project – Action for Sustainable Living (AfSL)

Moss Side Carbon Co-op

Group of South Manchester residents who’ve teamed up with local architects. Low Carbon Social Network. Formed a co-operative to achieve bulk buying discounts.Run behaviour change programmes. Carbon Co-op manual for residents. Big Red Bus Tour around neighbourhoods. Aim to retrofit multiple houses to benefit from FITDeveloping a Community Bonds scheme.

Manchester Carbon Innovation Fund

Unlikely to be repeated in today’s financial climate, however: Great partnerships! Positive perceptions – we’re in it together, not just the Council's job. Initiated and accelerated climate change action. Feasibility / pilot projects now moving to long term projects. Attracted more money for projects! Close monitoring enabling good project management.

X Resource intensive to manage a large fund and some projects needed a lot of support from MCC.

X Some grassroots organisations may view it as over administrative, but need to protect public money.

X Some projects time constrained.

Lessons Learned