Friends of the Earth Dundalk receive funding to support their work

Friends of the Earth Dundalk is due to receive funding from the Climate Actions Work Engagement fund to support their work to bring people together and share information on climate action. The fund is focused on climate engagement, awareness and communications - helping communities to reach new audiences in their locality. It will also provide opportunities for community groups to promote their work and spread the message of community-led climate action. 

The fund is administered by Community Foundation Ireland which as part of its mission of Equality For All in Thriving Communities has been empowering local groups, researchers and advocates to take action on climate and nature since 2000. The foundation's work in this space is informed by its 25 years' experience of partnering with 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable groups as a philanthropic hub. A network which continues to grow.

Congratulating Friends of the Earth, Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said:

“Partnership is key to meeting the climate challenge. At Community Foundation we are proud to have contributed knowledge and insights from our network of local community groups to inform and deliver this Government initiative. A network which underpins all our work as a philanthropic hub.  We look forward to seeing the impact of these imaginative projects.”

The fund is a core component of the Climate Actions Work Programme. This programme has built on engagement with community groups through the National Dialogue on Climate Action over the last few years. The engagement showed that many community groups and organisations are supported through volunteers who often have to give up nights and days to undertake engagement and communications activities. The fund is intended to provide support to promote the incredible work already underway, and to encourage new participation. The fund supports groups to work with audiences who have not previously engaged in climate action at a local level or beyond.

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Friends of the Earth is an international organisation which calls not just for for faster climate action but for action that is fair and based on justice for humans and nature.  A branch was established in Dundalk in Feb 2024 when local people got together determined to take action on climate. The focus of the group has been on the restoration and care of the Ramparts River and addressing housing needs by addressing vacancy, dereliction and affordable retrofitting so that all homes are climate resilient.  The group have organised walks, host a book club and Cuppa for Climate events.  

Friends of the Earth Dundalk are looking forward to hosting conversations on biodiversity, water, sustainable homes and articulating the future we want to see.  

We are thrilled that our first conversation will be on the ‘Rights of Nature’ with Dr Peter Doran of Queens University Belfast and Grant Wilson Director of the Earth Law Centre USA in mid May in Dundalk town.