Veolia invites communities to get funded and #BuildBackBetter

Veolia, the UK’s leading resource management company, has announced its 2020 Recycling Fund for Communities criteria will be expanded to include projects that help communities to bounce back from the pandemic.

Veolia’s Recycling Fund for Communities already supports projects that protect the environment. It will now also consider proposals that set-out to revive the vital community groups, services and spaces that have suffered in recent months. 

Supporting the #BuildBackBetter agenda, launched by Veolia’s crowdfunding partner Spacehive, Veolia’s 2020 funding will encourage applicants to reimagine the possibilities of their projects, by considering new community mindsets post COVID-19 and boldly addressing them. Projects that connect people and communities and encourage people to reduce their environmental footprint, are of particular interest.

Rachel Jay, Communications Manager for Veolia said: “Over the past few months we have all made drastic changes to the way we live our lives. This has driven a sense of community and demonstrates a unique opportunity for us all to make permanent changes that better our planet. Many of the nation's vital community groups and services have suffered in recent months. We are fortunate to be in a position to help them get back on their feet. Veolia’s staff and services were listed as key workers throughout the pandemic, and as our teams continued to collect, sort and reprocess the nation's recycling and waste, we were shown so much  gratitude and support by the public. I’m delighted that we can play a part to rebuild communities so that they’re more resilient than ever.”

Chris Gourlay from Spacehive said: "The Spacehive team and I have been incredibly inspired by how communities are pulling together to get through this tough period. And like millions of others we glimpsed how things could be different in our own communities. We should seize the chance not just to recover – but to build back better. There's potential to boldly reimagine the way we use our civic spaces and, together with Veolia, we are ready to support the ambitious change people want to make happen in their local area. We encourage anyone with an idea to create a project on Spacehive today and pitch to Veolia's Recycling Fund for Communities."

On 23 July Veolia will be hosting a webinar event to officially launch its 2020 Recycling Fund for Communities. The event will help project creators to shape their ideas, and provide advice on securing funding, volunteers and materials. Attendees will also hear from other successful projects and learn how Veolia’s donation helped them to bring their idea to life.

Anyone in London seeking funding for projects that protect the environment, inspire people to do the right thing with their waste, or that demonstrate the build-back of communities is eligible to attend. Places are limited, for more information and to sign up visit https://veolia-fund-launch-2020.eventbrite.co.uk.
  

Those who can’t make the event are still able to apply for funding online via our website www.veolia.co.uk/london/recyclingfund.