Climate & Health Small Grants

To support climate change activities and action in schools and early years services in Knox and Maroondah, the EACH Prevention and Population Health Team offered community small grants of up to $1,500 in term 2, 2021.

Schools and early years services were invited to complete an application form detailing how projects were going to take a whole school/service approach to generate new and sustainable ideas to tackle climate action that will also benefit health and wellbeing.

Projects needed to address one or more of the following categories:

• Increasing active travel
• Eating more plants
• Connecting with nature
• Using less energy
• Getting climate ready
• Reducing waste.

Projects had to be predominantly led and run by students and take a whole school approach, including engaging with the school/early years community in ways that interact with different aspects of school/early years life such as learning, culture, policies and the physical environment.​ Schools and early years services also needed to be able to reflect on how the project is going to be sustainable beyond 12 months, and if it is a new or existing initiative.​ There were 12 schools and 5 early years services who received funding.

Some of the exciting projects funded include:

• the establishment of soft plastics and composting systems,
• kitchen and bush tucker gardens,
• paddock to plate projects,
• bee and worm gardens,
• bike sheds, and
• a healthy eating café to name a few.

Due to the ongoing disruption of Covid restrictions, settings have not been able to spend a lot of time implementing projects so far, but we look forward to seeing projects achieved in 2022.

If you would like more information about the Climate & Health Small Grants please contact: sarah.murphy@each.com.au (Wed & Thurs)

Organisation: EACH Prevention and Population Health team