Two Bristol based organisations, the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and Thrive Renewables, are joining forces this week to raise vital funds to support community climate action. This collaboration is part of the Big Give's Green Match Fund, a week-long campaign where every donation is doubled. From April 18 to 25, CSE are rallying local support to raise £10k to enable more communities to implement bespoke climate action plans, with match funding generously pledged by Thrive Renewables.

CSE has been working with Bristol community groups for 40 years, helping them plan and take steps to reduce the environmental impact of their area, like improving the energy efficiency of local buildings, promoting low-carbon transport, and even setting up community enterprises for renewable energy projects.

"Community climate action is so effective because it lets us create solutions that fit each local area's unique needs and resources,"

"When we put local people at the heart of climate initiatives, we earn their support and buy-in for change. And by building on what already exists in the community, we can make those changes even more impactful. At the end of the day, the people who live in these communities know them best, so they're essential for driving real, lasting progress."

Local people and businesses are invited to donate whatever they can from 18 to 25 April. This fundraising campaign gives individuals and businesses a chance to contribute directly to community-led solutions that are making a tangible difference. Every pound donated will be matched, meaning your support will go twice as far in empowering local groups to take urgent climate action.

To donate and double your impact, head to Big Give's Green Match Fund from midday 18 April.

Bristol based clean energy investment company, Thrive Renewables, has pledged a match funding pot of £5k to support CSE's campaign.;

Louise Daniels, Head of External Affairs at Thrive Renewables said:

"As a longstanding supporter, Thrive Renewables is absolutely delighted to provide match funding for CSE. We are very keen to see more communities being given the tools and resources they need to make a difference in their area. By working together, we can reduce carbon emissions locally which will ultimately help tackle the climate emergency globally."

As well as providing 1:1 support to community groups, CSE creates tools and resources that support local action, like the Community Carbon Calculator, a free tool that lets you explore the carbon footprint of your neighbourhood.

Leah from a local community group, who recently took part in one of CSE's bespoke climate action planning workshops, said:

"The climate action workshop was brilliant, very inspiring. It showed us CSE's practical, accessible tools and resources which has made starting to make carbon reductions and take climate action achievable for us".