We support voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the North East of England to become environmentally sustainable and take action on the climate emergency.
We do this through providing tools, resources, events and training to build knowledge and confidence around climate and the environment, and the ways organisations can make an impact.
Climate change affects us all. Whether you work with young or older people, in health and wellbeing, supporting local communities, or tacking inequalities, our lives, work and communities require a stable climate.
The most vulnerable communities are already being affected by climate change. Many lower-income households can’t afford house insurance, or to protect their homes from flooding, and are struggling to pay their heating bills. More extreme weather will affect farming, causing food prices to rise. Colder weather means bigger energy bills which will continue to make life harder for people with less income.
Across the VCSE sector, organisations know that the environment is important to them and their communities. However, they often don't know where to start, or how they can make a meaningful impact. They may also face barriers when it comes to accessing the resources or training they need to make this much-needed change happen.
We know that VCSE organisations can make a difference. Not only can they become more environmentally sustainable, but they can work closely with communities to make fantastic change happen, deliver help to those in need, and make climate action an opportunity for local people to have a better quality of life. The VCSE sector can become more resilient and adaptable while helping to protect those most affected by climate change. We're here to help organisations to do this, and to bring about a greener, fairer future.
This website was created in 2021 to provide a resource hub for anyone in the sector to use. Here, you'll find advice to follow and resources to download to start your climate journey.
In 2022 we launched a pilot to reach out to the community and actively support organisations. We did this through events, subsidised training, and seed funding for developing climate projects. Our pilot was funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, County Durham Community Foundation, Tees
Foundation, and Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland.
We were delighted to partner with Cumbria CVS and Cumbria Action for Sustainability during our pilot to expand our support offer into Cumbria. These partners are now carrying this regional work forwards, and we are supporting them to develop their offer for Cumbria.
Following our pilot, we're delighted to have been funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Point North, and Tees Foundation to carry the next phase of the project forward between 2024 and 2027. We will be providing a wider range of resources and one-to-one support, additional training courses, further events and peer networking, and more. We'll have more news for you soon, so watch this space!
Going Green Together is led by the Voluntary Organisations' Network North East (VONNE). It is delivered in partnership with the VONNE Climate Action Alliance (VCAA) , environmental experts Genee and SmartCarbon, our Cumbrian partners Cumbria CVS and Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), and our web developers Jamabuck.
The VCAA is a group of organisations based in North East England wanting to engage, inspire and support others in the VCSE sector to take climate action, support nature and support our people and communities through the transition to a green economy. Members of the VCAA include:
Join the Going Green Together movement today – to learn, take your first steps in climate action, and share your successes with the community to help inspire others. Connect with us and others by joining our network.
