Think tank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) has announced a £1.5m environmental project with support to be given to 180 smaller charities.
With funding from the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), the project will aim to amplify the voices of those most affected by climate change including disabled people, people on low incomes and people from ethnic minority communities in England and Scotland.
The project will support 180 smaller charities to represent their communities and influence policy and will be delivered through a partnership between NPC, the Race Equality Foundation, Disability Rights UK, Turn2us, Media Trust and Hope for the Future.
It will publish new research on the impacts of climate change, nature loss and government environmental policies on women, girls and the LGBTQ+ community.
The scheme will also train 60 people from underrepresented groups to advocate for change in the media narrative.
‘Empowering diverse voices’
The project will use NPC’s Everyone’s Environment programme model, which aims to accelerate action on the social impacts of environmental crises, to work with local charities.
Leah Davis, head of policy and external affairs at NPC, said: “Environmental change hits some of the most disadvantaged people the hardest, and we simply don’t hear enough from these people and communities. This work aims to change that.
“Empowering diverse voices in policy and the media can transform the conversation. And working directly with local charities means communities get the support they need to respond to the consequences of environmental change.”
Kamran Mallick, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, said: “We know through our policy work that disabled people will be amongst the hardest hit by a changing climate and that is why this partnership with NPC is so important to highlight the issue.
“By working with NPC, we are confident we will begin to see an end to eco-ableism and begin to educate the wider world on the need for co-operation.”
Laura D’Henin-Ivers, chief executive of Hope for the Future, said: “Too often, decision makers are hearing from the same people about the same issues.
“For democracy to truly work, and for climate change to reach the top of the agenda once again, it’s vital that everyone has a say in decision making which affects their day to day lives.”
India Brain, trusts and foundation manager at Turn2Us, said: “This initiative fits perfectly with our mission to tackle financial insecurity and ensure people with lived experience are crucially part of these important conversations.”
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