Sustainable Staveley reveals where lottery grant money went

Sustainability and Energy Network in Staveley (SENS, or Sustainable Staveley), was awarded money from the Together for Our Planet lottery fund last year. SENS wants to transition the village to net zero for carbon emissions. 

The aim is to encourage local people to set up ‘green’ systems in their homes or business, and to work together in the community.

The apple grafting workshop (Image: SENS)

The award has been used to support practical events, training and resources to get people in support of the transition to net zero.  

The funding has covered anything from a set of children’s gardening tools and gazebo for use in community projects, planters for the village square, to running apple grafting workshops, repair cafes, a booking system and panniers for a local e-bike share scheme and a series of leaflets about SENS, and its Clean River Kent Campaign.

The funding also paid for administrative support to improve SENS communication structures – social media, website and newsletters.

Ings Summer Fayre in 2022 (Image: SENS)

‘We were delighted to have been offered this money,’ says Fran Richardson of SENS, ‘It has meant we have delivered a year of brilliant activities to get more people working together to look after where we live and to reduce our carbon emissions. We estimate that we’ve reached about 200 new people over the course of the scheme, which is amazing!”

Mark Kidd, Chair of Staveley Parish Council says, ‘Thanks to SENS and the lottery grant, our community has had the chance to take part in a wide variety of inspiring free events, and benefit from additional resources. The Parish Council is committed to building on these ‘green’ initiatives and have a range of projects in the pipeline, including a new community space in the centre of the village.”