Save Our Shropshire is delighted to sponsor an award through the Shropshire Association of Local Councils (SALC) for the best three councils by category of size, in the geographic area of Shropshire for progress on creating a plan and taking action on the existential threat of climate change.
The floods in 2020, 2021, and 2022 alone cost businesses bordering on the Severn £ 450 million!
This suggests a real need to ensure we are a vital part of the efforts to tackle climate change.
The winners must demonstrate a clear commitment, a credible plan, and effective community engagement in making the necessary behavioural changes to improve our natural environment. They will demonstrate a focus on carbon reduction, which is at the heart of tackling climate change.
They will demonstrate action on buildings and housing energy, travel and transport, food production and consumption, and purchase of goods and services within their direct control and their community.
Councils that enter the competition can and should demonstrate their progress in four areas:
- A commitment and visible activity to tackle climate change and its consequences within their community.
- A climate change strategy that supports sustainability is embedded in their Parish or Town council’s plans.
- Established projects which encourage low-carbon lifestyles, and demonstrate the co-benefits of health, financial savings, community development or resilience against the threats of climate change.
- Has actively engaged their community through a process of advice, practical help and general education to take action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and improve our protection of Nature.
There are around 230 councils across the geographical area of Shropshire, which covers the two authorities of Shropshire Council, and Telford and Wrekin.
We want to see councils of all sizes participate in the competition, to ensure that it is not just the largest who can enter and win. Hence we will award three prizes, as follows:
Large Councils One prize of £ 3,000. Large is defined as having a population greater than 5,000 people
Medium Councils One prize of £ 2,000 Medium is defined as having a population of less than 5,000 and greater than 1,000
Small Councils One prize of £ 1,000 Small is defined as having a population of less than 1,000 people
Populations should be taken from the 2021 National Census and are listed in the following document, taken from the National Census.
The Parish or Town council should complete the applications using the form (created in Microsoft Word) and send it with the subject line SALC Climate Award to the Shropshire Association of Local Councils (alc@shropshire.gov.uk). The email address is included in the form. The following is a .pdf version of the form, which can be downloaded here, completed, and then sent to Dianne Dorrell. You can also look through the document here in preparation.
You can also download a Microsft Word version of the application form by clicking on the following download button.
The Award application will be reviewed by a committee made up of members of the SALC committee and independent experts.
Application Forms must be completed and submitted by 17.00 hrs on September 25th 2024, and results will be published on October 30th 2024, following SALC’s Annual General Meeting.
