Funding for Quaker-backed climate project
‘The grant will be a game-changer.’
A new collaboration between a Quaker-founded eco group and other charities will receive £200,000 to help communities take climate action.
The Birmingham Faith Climate Action Partnership will receive the money over three years. The group includes the Muslim organisation the Bahu Trust, Birmingham Council of Faith (BCP)’s Footsteps, and Ashden, a climate solutions charity. The ‘Footsteps – Faiths For a Fair Low Carbon Future’ group was set up around nine years ago.
Footsteps steering group member and Cotteridge Quaker Chris Martin told the Friend that the funds from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will ‘build the capacity of Birmingham faith groups to engage in community-led climate action in disadvantaged areas of the city, and to share the learning widely’.
‘The collaboration will build on the key roles that Birmingham faith communities played during the Covid pandemic and lockdown as vaccination and food distribution centres.
It will also build on the way in which care for the natural environment and fellow human beings are central to many faith beliefs.’
Kamran Shezad, sustainability lead for the Bahu Trust, said: ‘The grant will be a game-changer for faith group climate and environmental action in Birmingham. It is a unique collaboration which brings together the Bahu Trust’s experience of climate action in disadvantaged areas of Birmingham, and Footsteps’ record of delivering interfaith activities, with Ashden’s experience and ability to share experience across the UK.’
Ruth Tetlow, president of BCF Footsteps, added: ‘The partnership is a natural next step in Footsteps’ work to bring faith groups in Birmingham together, to respond to the challenge of moving to a low carbon future following the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.’
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the UK’s largest independent funders.
Founded in 1961 by Ian Fairbairn and named after his wife who was killed in world war two, the grant is part of the foundation’s work to strengthen the bonds in communities and help local people build ‘vibrant, confident places’ where they can fulfil their potential.
