The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund (CAF) supports UK communities to take local, long-term climate action. Projects focus on energy initiatives, nature and biodiversity, waste reduction and/or sustainable food systems. The programme aims to reduce carbon emissions, foster community-led, lasting change, and prioritise initiatives in areas facing poverty or disadvantage.  Grants typically range from £500,000 and £1.5 million with projects lasting 3-5 years.  

CAG was appointed at the support and learning partner during the initial years of the National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund (CAF) programme. 

As part of our role, we developed an overarching theory of change and evaluation framework for the programme with suggested output, outcome and impact indicators.

We also supported the sharing of learning between grant holders through:  

• Facilitating an online hub, using Slack

• Codesigning and chairing quarterly online workshops, themed on topics agreed with grantholders.  Typcally attended by 60-80 participants, these were designed to be highly interactive, with facilitated breakout groups to enable focussed discussions and peer learning.

• The development of written and video case studies pulling together learning and best practice from different projects. For example: 

• Learning signposts on a number of topics such as inspiring climate action through education and training, managing and measuring behaviour change, reducing carbon impacts of food production, community energy, food waste, storytelling, climate adaptation and resilience, engaging diverse communities, engaging young people in climate action, transport, partnership working, and approaches to carbon measurement.

• Video case studies on projects including Green & Healthy Frome 

• Running a peer to peer mentoring programme through which experts from amongst the grantholders were paid to provide support to other projects. 

“CAG worked closely with our team and the wider Fund to develop a comprehensive Learning and Evidence Framework as well as the programme’s Theory of Change. CAG took into consideration the complexity of the programme, which involved diverse multi-stakeholder partnership projects focusing on all five areas of emissions with different contexts, priorities and approaches. Throughout the process, CAG demonstrated flexibility, strong expertise, a relational approach, and professionalism. They worked simultaneously with the grant holders to understand their work and their approach to impact measurement while collaborating with us to understand the vision of the programme and how it fits within the wider framework of the organisation.” Ariana Ntziadima, UK Portfolio Manager – Climate Action Fund