Eco-aware organisation helps people learn about climate change and make connections

AN environmental hub which helps Inverclyde people learn about climate change and encourages individuals and groups to make strong connections in their communities distributed more than £13,000 to local organisations last year.

Inverclyde Climate Action Network (ICAN) is a resource which provides help and support to people and groups keen to get involved in projects connected to climate change.

A total of 17 organisations recently benefitted from £13,500 of seed funding which was shared across the community in small grants of between £500 and £1,500.

Sabrina Sigler and Grace Phillips from Inverclyde Climate Action Network. (Image: George Munro)

Climate action co-ordinator Sabrina Sigler and climate action worker Grace Phillips work with people in Inverclyde who want to set up projects connected to the changes in our environment.

Sabrina said: “Climate change is a huge issue and it will affect people in Inverclyde possibly more than in other places, as we are quite exposed to the elements here.

“It’s really important for people to understand that climate change will affect us and that it is already impacting parts of our lives.

“People are noticing more extreme weather and starting to connect that more to climate change.

“It is not a political issue – it is a fact.”

Grace added: “Climate change can sometimes be a daunting term, and people maybe wonder what they can do about it.

“Any individual can make a difference, and everything adds up to make a stronger and healthier community.

“The network itself is of huge benefit and is a very valuable resource for people.”

ICAN is hosted by Inverclyde Community Development Trust and is based at 7 ½ John Wood Street in Port Glasgow.

The Scottish Government began setting up climate action networks across Scotland in 2020, and Inverclyde’s was founded in 2023.

The hub aims to help Inverclyde communities to take climate action by providing support, training, and resources.

Sabrina Sigler and Grace Phillips from Inverclyde Climate Action Network. (Image: George Munro)

ICAN’s empowering communities for climate action seed funding programme funding has supported organisations and projects including Green Tangerine, Inverclyde Shed’s growing space at Muirshiel Lane, Blooming Inverkip, Wellington Park Bowling Club’s wildflower meadow, Inverclyde Community Food Network, RIG Arts, Kilmacolm Primary School, Youth Connections, and The Pantry.

Advice provided by the organisation helps projects to deliver climate-focused activities on themes including sustainable travel, food justice, and nature enhancement.

ICAN helped with a Blooming Inverkip project. (Image: ICAN)

Sabrina and Grace offer groups practical advice to help them move forward with their activities and put people in touch with other groups that can help.

ICAN also provides carbon literacy and climate awareness training sessions, and runs ‘Climate Fresk’ workshops which help people learn about the changing climate system.

The team hosts anti-racism training sessions for organisations, and Sabrina said these go ‘hand-in-hand’ with climate change.

She added: “Having more inclusive organisations is key to making Inverclyde better.”

Sabrina and Grace say that bringing people together with a focus on climate change produces a lot of co-benefits.

Sabrina added: “People develop social connections, learn new skills, and find out how to save money on their energy bills.

“Our activities are also for people who are struggling with food insecurity, and everything we do is aimed at improving health and wellbeing.”

Grace added: “We do a lot of work with community gardens; areas which encourage people to spend more time outdoors and build connections, while learning about growing food and how to use it in cooking.

“The projects don’t need to be huge. We work with anyone who is interested in what we do.

“We’re open to everyone who lives, works, and cares about Inverclyde.”

ICAN supported a wildflower meadow project at Wellington Park Bowling Club. (Image: ICAN)

ICAN helped with a project at Kilmacolm Primary. (Image: ICAN)

The team at ICAN will soon be introducing a programme called Future Inverclyde which will take the form of a series of arts and crafts workshops and activities for young people, with the potential for an exhibition at the end.

ICAN’s word for the next year is ‘hope’ – and Sabrina said there are many reasons to be hopeful about what’s going on in Inverclyde.

She added: “People are changing and adapting to climate change, and we are full of hope that we can make Inverclyde better.

“There’s so much good stuff going on in this area.”