Low Carbon Community — Empower Women for Change

The Low Carbon Community project, funded by the Climate Challenge Fund from April 2020 to March 2021, aimed to assist ethnic minority women in the southwest of Glasgow in reducing carbon emissions associated with travel and household textile waste. The project offered free activities, including a women’s cycling club, eco-driving training, upcycling of household textile waste, and a swap shop. Additionally, the project conducted workshops to enhance the knowledge of climate change among volunteers and the local community.

The success of The Low Carbon Community project inspired us to seek additional funding for extending some of the services and activities we were able to provide. We secured funding from the SCVO Adapt & Thrive fund from April 2021 to May 2021, enabling the continuation of Low Carbon Community Activities, including the Swap Shop/Upcycling and Cycle Training classes for an additional two months.

We provided five main project activities and services:

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Low Carbon Community Cycling Club
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Community Awareness Workshops
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Eco-Driving and Sharing
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Sewing and Upcycling
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Swap Shop
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The impact of each activity and service was significant.

The Community Cycling Club and our partnership with Drumchapel Bike Hub for bike lessons was a tremendous success. Our participants not only learned how to ride a bike, but they also found a way to overcome the isolation experienced during the challenging pandemic period.

During our Community Awareness Workshops, we engaged with service users and were able to initiate meaningful discussions about carbon reduction and witnessed individuals expressing their commitment to making lifestyle changes.

Low Carbon Community’s Cycling Club 2020/21!

Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, we successfully conducted an online eco-driving workshop, educating women on reducing fuel consumption and promoting eco-friendly driving practices.

Our volunteer-led online sewing classes have not only taught women valuable sewing skills but have also fostered new friendships. The materials used in these classes were sourced from the Swap Shop, promoting sustainability.

The Swap Shop initiative made a significant positive impact on the community by diverting 1114.5kg of clothes from landfills, benefitting both the environment and members of the community.

Overall, the project surpassed its carbon reduction goals, achieving 137% of the initial target. Notably, the waste carbon saving reached 186% of the set goal, resulting in a total reduction equivalent to 19 tonnes of carbon dioxide!