For the past 5 years, Action for Community Environment (ACE21) grants of £250 have been awarded to community groups and local schools who have demonstrated that their environmental projects are sustainable and are of benefit to the wider community.

Last year's ACE21 2007 applicants had to develop a project that aimed to tackle waste issues within their community, whether it be reducing the amount of waste produced, reusing waste or aiming to increase recycling.  The successful applicants were;

• Bridge Training Opportunities for Women developed an awareness raising campaign to reduce waste in their local community.  They provided information on what can be recycled locally and what the community can do to reduce and reuse waste, with particular attention being paid to reducing Christmas waste
• St John Boste RC Primary School set up a recycling station in their school grounds for paper, plastic and fruit and vegetable peelings and created an open compost area to use their compost on their vegetable plot
• Hylton Castle Primary School's project aimed to raise awareness of the 3R's, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  The pupils organised a junk fashion show to demonstrate how old unwanted clothes can be reused and recycled into something new
• Broadway Junior School set up an after school recycling club to look at the ways their school can reduce, reuse and recycle their waste.  The recycling club has developed a wall display to further promote waste minimisation and to inform their class mates of the progress they continue to make!

In 2006, to support the Council's ongoing commitment to tackle climate change, ACE21 projects had to tackle an issue related to climate change and energy.  The successful projects included;

• A weather station was purchased by Our Lady Queen of Peace RC Primary School, which enabled pupils to monitor daily weather changes, predict future climate change and help them understand how changes in the weather and climate will impact on their daily lives. 
• St Aidan's Catholic School used ACE21 grant to develop a 'wirlygig', a piece of equipment that helps educate pupils on the principals of wind energy and renewable energy technologies
• Monumental Music Community Interest Company were awarded their ACE21 to undertake energy efficiency measures including the purchase of energy efficient light bulbs and the installation motion sensor lighting.  An energy efficiency awareness raising campaign also took place to run alongside these initiatives
• Witherwack Primary School continued to improve their school grounds.  By planting hedgerows and trees they helped to create a carbon sink and a habitat for wildlife.  A water butt was also purchased to collect water during the wetter winters to be used during the drier, warmer summers that are predicted as a result of climate change
• The Arts Included at Thornhill project were awarded an ACE21 grant to create an organic garden and develop composting facilities.  This project has helped promote the importance of local produce in reducing food miles and has encouraged people to reduce less food waste that is sent to landfill.   

Examples of previous successful ACE21 grants are:

Bridge Training and Education Opportunities for Women.  Their project "Local food is miles better for you" aims to promote local food and to increase composting of food waste to reduce the amount sent to landfill, thereby cutting down on food miles and greenhouse gases from the landfill sites.

Composting Area, The Hive. A composting area within the Hive's community allotment was established to encourage the local community to learn about healthy living and the environment. The project provided a sustainable supply of compost for gardening activities, which will benefited the soil and the quality of the crops.

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