In spring 2020 a full review of the City Change Fund was undertaken. This included raising the capped contribution from £20,000 to £30,000 and also introducing a new Climate Emergency Bonus (up to an additional £15,000) for projects helping to address climate change.
To launch the bonus, raise awareness of the City Change Fund, and to support and generate funding for Climate Emergency initiatives in real-time, the Plymouth Climate Challenge Live competition took place in Autumn 2020 with the final broadcast live via YouTube on Thursday 3 December 2020.
Seven shortlisted projects were given a £250 start-up pledge and crowdfunded for a month. The top three projects who raised the most money were awarded an additional £2,500 and took part in the live final. The winner was awarded a prize of £5,000 live during the final event.
The review of the City Change Fund and the Plymouth Climate Challenge competition has been just one of the great examples of how the city is responding to the Climate Emergency, ensuring grass-roots contribution to this national and international challenge. Projects which were shortlisted included: collecting and recycling 1,000 abandoned tyres in Plymouth Sound, a mass art installation to be displayed at COP26, a nappy library and a project to equip every school child in the city with rewilding seeds.
Please note – this was published when Labour controlled Plymouth City Council between 2018-2021.
