Repair clubs and swap shops among groups eligible for West Midlands mayor's £100,000 grant scheme

Repair clubs, swap shops and community lending schemes are being invited to apply for grants of up to £5,000 through a new scheme launched by regional mayor Richard Parker.

West Midlands Combined Authority has earmarked £100,000 for its Circular Economy Call to Action Fund, which backs locally led projects to find new ways of repairing and reusing products and materials to keep them out of landfill.

There will also be a dedicated pot for young people through the Youth Climate Action Fund, set up by the mayor and combined authority, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, offering grants of up to £2,500 for initiatives led by 15- to 24-year-olds.

Projects need to have a focus on improving air quality, helping communities adapt to climate change or restoring nature.

Mr Parker said the two new funds doubled the amount of money put directly in the hands of local people over the past year to improve the environment and residents’ quality of life.

He said: “There are so many brilliant things happening in our communities to make them greener, healthier and more resilient. From planting trees and encouraging people to walk and cycle, to repairing rather than throwing things away.

“These may seem like small things but they are making a big difference to people’s lives and helping to create a real sense of pride in these neighbourhoods. I’m all for that, so I’m getting behind these community groups with the funding and expertise they need to get more great ideas off the ground and widen their impact.”

Mr Parker said the combined authority had backed 53 local projects with £55,000 through its Nature Call to Action campaign, the Clean Air Small Sparks Fund and the Community Environment Network’s Small Sparks Fund.

That money has funded almost 100 events involving thousands of people who have learned new practical skills, contributed to better air quality, and volunteered their time to create or restore more than over 53,000 sq ft of green space, equivalent to four Olympic swimming pools.

The Community Environment Network connects groups working to protect and improve the environment so they can share ideas, maximise their impact, and encourage more people to get involved. The network has almost 300 members.