What is Brent Together Towards Zero Programme?

Background

Brent Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency in July 2019, pledging to do all in its gift to achieve carbon neutrality in the borough by 2030. Following on from this declaration, the council embarked on an engagement process with residents to feed into the development of a long-term Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy (2021-2030). This strategy was approved by the council’s Cabinet in April 2021 sets out the council’s pathway and key areas of focus for achieving its aim of making Brent a carbon neutral borough over the course of the next decade.

One of the five key themes within the Strategy is ‘Supporting Communities’ with the overarching objective of ensuring that everyone who lives, works or studies in Brent will have improved access to clear and understandable information on the need to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. Ensuring as many people as possible will be actively engaged in taking action to help the borough become carbon neutral by 2030. The strategy document will focus on yearly delivery plans, which will be monitored for progress and refreshed each year by the council’s Cabinet.

One of the 23 actions relating to the ‘Supporting Communities’ theme is to launch a small grants programme for green community projects, to complement the Brent Carbon Offset Fund focused on carbon reduction in homes and buildings. The council has secured £50,000 to support local community projects.

Purpose of the Grant

We know that there is growing interest from residents who want to get involved in tackling the climate and ecological emergency in Brent. There are residents and groups that have ideas for potential environmental projects within the borough that we want to support.

The aim is to make the grant as simple and accessible as possible. We want to make sure the fund is spent during this year. We encourage you to apply for the grant whether your idea is big or small. All ideas can contribute to improving climate change.

Grant Application:

I am requesting for a £1,000 grant to carry out a composting initiative based at Longstone Avenue Allotments. On my new plot at Longstone Avenue Allotments, I intend to:

• Install up to 6 raised beds on the plot
• Within those raised beds, install between 3-4 Subpod Compost Systems
• Feed the Subpods with home food waste (sourced from my household, neighbour's households, allotment neighbour households, any Brent resident who wishes to contribute)
• Generate compost using the Subpods
• Distribute (free of charge) a minimum of 50% of all fresh compost generated to allotment neighbours and Brent residents who wish to cultivate their own urban farms (i.e., kitchen window herb gardens, balcony gardens, etc.)
• Distribute (free of charge) a minimum of 20% of fresh produce cultivated on my allotment plot to any local food bank or Brent residents in need of food support.

To begin with, I have set provisional dates to run the initiative between August 2022 and 1st August 2023.

Please sign this petition if you are a Brent Resident and support this grant proposal.

Read more about Subpod Compost Systems here: https://subpod.co.uk/pages/how-does-subpod-work

Thank you,

Leah Devlin