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Read on for updates on... |
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- Our second annual Schools' Climate Conference
- The completion of Newham's FIRST community energy share offer
- The launch of our NEW Climate Action Website
- Upcoming events including Clean Air Day, a plastic Mass Unwrap and HairCycle workshops
- Funding and support to set up Community Composting Schemes
- How to Sponsor a Street Tree
- ... and more!
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Our second annual Schools’ Climate Conference |
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Newham hosted the second annual Schools’ Conference on the 20 May at the University of East London’s Centre for Sustainability. Over 40 headteachers, students, green leads and business managers attended representing 16 schools. |
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Retrofit Action for Tomorrow (RAFT), National Education Nature Park, Let’s Go Zero, and Community Energy Newham (CEN) and UCL’s Climate Action Unit presented throughout the day, with discussions on reducing bills through retrofit initiatives, on-site food growing, biodiversity in urban environments, and funding opportunities. Students also participated in workshops creating artwork utilising natural materials, as well as using insulation materials in a competition to keep a baked potato warm the longest! |
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Community Energy Newham completes its first share offer |
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Community Energy Newham – with the support of Repowering London and Co-operatives UK – has raised £120,000 in investment and has completed its first community share offer after launching in March this year. More than 100 investors took part, bringing the solar panels installed on three Newham Libraries into community ownership, and bringing a host of new members to the first community energy co-operative in Newham. The share offer was offered £60,000 in equity match investment from the Community Shares Booster Fund, delivered by Co-operatives UK and partners.
To find out more about Community Energy Newham and sign up to be notified of any future share offers, go to: www.repowering.org.uk/newham |
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Updated Newham Council Climate Action Website |
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We have launched an updated climate website for Newham! You can now find our Just Transition Plan, information about our current projects, how to get involved and support related to energy efficiency, reuse, healthy and sustainable food and active travel schemes, all in one place. |
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Join our Clean Air Day event on Thurs 19 June |
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This Clean Air Day on 19 June 2025, NHS East London and Newham Council are inviting those involved in healthcare and environment initiatives to celebrate collective efforts and share knowledge at an event in Canning Town.
At the event, we will: - Make new connections.
- Discover resources and training programmes for Health Care Practitioners to tackle air pollution.
- Understand the relationship between air quality, long-term health conditions, and mental well-being.
- Hear from DEFRA-funded representatives about the Newham Asthma and Wheeze Pilot.
- Recognise and award our dedicated Pharmacy Clean Air Champions.
Join us on Thursday 19 June, 3-5pm at 121 Star Lane Practice, Canning Town, E16 4QH. |
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Volunteering opportunities and events at HairCycle |
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The HairCycle Hub in Stratford is open with a fresh line-up of workshops, events, and opportunities to connect. Whether you’re curious about craft, eager to get hands-on with hair (yes, really!), or just fancy a tea and a chat, there’s something for everyone.
There are volunteering opportunities every Friday where as well as getting involved in the sorting process, you can learn more about recycling local hair and its potential uses such as in textiles, building materials and increasing biodiversity!
All workshops take place in Stratford at the HairCycle Hub, 373 High Street, London E15 4QZ.
Keep up to date and sign up to one of the upcoming events below. |
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Fight Single Use Plastic Packaging on Sat 14 June |
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As part of Great Big Green Week, PlasticFreeForestGate are working with Co-op to host a Mass Unwrap on Sat 14 June in Forest Gate.
Mass Unwrap is a fun, non-confrontational but high impact action that shows how unhappy a community is about the level of plastic packaging used in stores.
To take part, do your shopping as usual during the time slot, pay and then head to one of the volunteers to help you unwrap whatever plastic packaging you consider avoidable. You may want to bring extra bags for loose fruit and veg, jars or boxes for dry goods. Co-op recycles the soft plastics, ensuring they do not get exported, sent to landfill, or incinerated without energy recovery.
Join PlasticFreeForestGate for the Mass Unwrap at Forest Gate Co-Op, Woodgrange Road, on Saturday 14 June, 12-2pm. |
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Set up a Community Composting Scheme |
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The East London Waste Authority (ELWA) and the London Borough of Newham have launched a new initiative to reduce waste, inviting local residents and groups to set up a Community Composting Scheme.
Nearly 50% of food waste in household bins could be composted. By choosing to compost, we help to: reduce landfill waste, lower environmental impacts, enrich our soil and green spaces and save money and resources. As Newham does not have a compost collection service, all compost produced through this scheme will stay within the community - benefiting gardens, allotments, and shared green areas.
We are looking for ten new composting sites and will provide funding & equipment, including food waste caddies, 600L thermo-wood compost bins, informational leaflets and free online composting training via Garden Organic.
For more information, and to apply to set up your own supported Community Composting Scheme in Newham, click here the button below. |
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Up to £2,500 of grant funding for cargo bikes for businesses |
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Zero Emissions Network grants are available for up to £2,500 to purchase a cargo bike for sustainable travel and deliveries for your business or workplace. Applications that help facilitate a switch from a diesel or petrol vehicle to a cargo bike are particularly encouraged. This year the grant is available for businesses or non-profit organisations. |
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Green your street by sponsoring a tree |
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A new project in Newham is giving residents, businesses and community groups the chance to sponsor trees on our streets, helping to green our neighbourhoods and improve the environment in Newham.
Newham Council has teamed up with Trees for Streets, a national street tree sponsorship scheme, to make it easier than ever to get trees planted. You can even join forces with your neighbours to sponsor a tree together, which will be planted between November and March.
Street trees provide shading, improve air quality, reduce flood risk and make the local area more welcoming.
Find out more about Trees for Streets and sponsor a tree by clicking the button below: |
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Have your say on local waste management |
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Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and Redbridge are now consulting on the final draft of the East London Joint Waste Plan.
The plan provides policies for the sustainable management of waste in East London. It supports developments that promote a circular economy, work towards net zero carbon and plan for effective storage of waste, including recyclable materials and food waste.
This consultation runs until midnight on Monday 30 June 2025. We encourage you to submit your comments on our consultation website |
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If you’d like to share an achievement, event or funding opportunity in a future newsletter, contact us at Climate.Action@newham.gov.uk
If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter by a friend or colleague, you can sign up to receive future editions here. |
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Copyright © 2024 London Borough of Newham, All rights reserved. |
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Our mailing address is: London Borough of Newham, Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, London, E16 2QU. |
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