Brent Together Towards Zero

Local Environmental News

At its meeting in October, Brent Council’s Cabinet agreed the new climate programme for the borough to run up until the end of 2026. The plan is focused delivering climate action around the following key themes:

• Climate action that supports households with the cost of living
• Climate action that boosts the local green economy and helps local businesses with the cost of doing business
• Continuation of the two community-led Green Neighbourhood Pilots in Kingsbury and Church End/Roundwood, and the initiation of the agreed development-led pilots at St Raphael’s Estate and South Kilburn
• Leading by example in the council’s own corporate estate and operations
• An intelligence-led approach to boroughwide action where it is needed most
• Improving Brent’s resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change
• Connecting people with nature
• Building community capacity and assets for community-led climate action

Item 9 of October Cabinet Meeting

The council has approved £3 million of funding for a transformative green corridors scheme in Church End and Roundwood. This ambitious project, part of the council’s Green Neighbourhoods initiative, aims to make the area a model of sustainable urban living with major improvements in walking and cycling access, air quality, safety and overall community wellbeing.

Find out more

Residents, community groups, and organisations have a chance to help shape our flood risk strategy.

This is an important strategy which forms part of Brent’s climate adaptation planning –  and you have the chance to shape it. The strategy focuses mainly on where flooding risk areas are, how we will deal with a flood, and putting things in place to reduce the risk of flooding. You have until 31st December 2024, so please do give your feedback on the survey and help shape adaptation responses to your local environment.

Click here to have your say

Faith leaders, public sector policy makers, engagement specialists, charities and councillors came together for the first Symposium of its kind between a local authority and academic institution on ‘the Connection Between Faith and Climate Change’.

The Symposium was hosted by Brent Council and the London School of Economics Religion and Global Society research unit (LSE RGS) at the Brent Civic Centre in Wembley.

LSE RGS presented their policy and research work around faith and climate change – and the importance of working with faith communities to bring about positive behaviour change. Brent Council showcased their grassroots work with faith communities in the London Borough of Brent, and the extensive progress they have made over the past few years.

Brent Well & Warm aims to support residents through the cost of living crisis. It is a FREE programme led by Brent Council and Groundwork’s Green Doctors, and is available to Brent residents who are struggling to keep their homes warm and struggling with their energy bills.

The Green Doctors will provide in depth consultations to residents, which could include a visit to your home to install free energy-saving measures, giving advice on bills and providing referrals to further services to improve health and well-being.

Any Brent household with one or more of the following is eligible:

• Anyone over the age of 60

• Families with children under 12

• Anyone with long term physical or mental health conditions

• Anyone who is pregnant

Click here for Brent Well & Warm Referral Form

Why buy when you can borrow? 

Save money and help protect the planet by borrowing tools and gadgets at a fraction of their price. The Library of Things at Willesden Green is packed with everything you need for new hobbies, DIY projects and epic movie nights.

You can now get a whopping 50% off your first borrow using the code: WILLESDEN50. Or, looking for sustainable gift ideas? Why not get your loved one a Library of Thing gift voucher  – a thoughtful, eco-friendly alternative to buying new.

Find out more

Community corner

In November, primary schools from across the borough met at Brent Community Enterprise Hub to attend a three day training programme called Our Schools, Our World. The training was led by Brighton and Hove Council who have piloted a new approach to climate change in schools. Brent is one of only four authorities in the country to be rolling out this approach. Schools will follow the Our Schools, Our World framework which will support with ‘greening’ the curriculum, establishing a sustainability leadership group and reducing emissions across each school. We will provide more updates in the BEN newsletter as this exciting scheme progresses!

It’s not just a climate emergency, it’s also an ecological emergency! Brent has recently installed 22 new noticeboards explaining how the council has changed the way it manages some grassed areas to support wildlife and biodiversity. The boards are now in place in 21 of our parks and green spaces across the borough. Take a pause and have a read the next time you are out and enjoying the borough’s green spaces!

The boards are currently in place at: Barham Park, One Tree Hill Recreation Ground, Alperton Sports Ground, Roundwood Park, Gladstone Park (x2), Church Lane Recreation Ground, Silver Jubilee Park, Roe Green Park, Eton Grove Open Space, Tookey Close, Woodcock Park, Preston Park, Sudbury Court Open Space, Elmwood Park, King Edwards VII Park  (Wembley), Neasden Recreation Ground, Tiverton Green Playing Field, St Raphael’s Estate, Sherrans Farm Open Space, Lindsay Park and Tokyngton Recreation Ground.

Join The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) to help improve local parks, meet new people, learn new skills and boost your health. Winter is the perfect time to get involved, as your efforts now will help create beautiful, vibrant green spaces in spring.

Every Tuesday & Wednesday, from 10am-3pm, at sites across the borough (such as One Tree Hill Park, Chalkhill Orchard and Neasden Rec).

Email hattie.jones@tcv.org.uk to find out more and get involved.

Funding opportunities

Brent Together Towards Zero

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