The Energia Group Greener Possibilities Fund, administered by The Community Foundation for Ireland, aims to support projects with a connection to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 13, “Climate Action.” To be eligible for the fund, projects must be related to the climate crisis, climate resilience, or biodiversity protection across the island of Ireland. This includes supporting groups affected by the impacts of climate change or groups involved in climate action or organisations hoping to build a stronger sustainability lens into their existing work.

In 2024, four charities – Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Grow NI, Global Action Plan, and FoodCloud were successful in their application for funding their climate action projects – each received €25,000 to drive impactful sustainability initiatives.

At Energia Group we have a long-standing record of working in collaboration with community groups having invested more than €80,000 in communities in 2024 through the Greener Possibilities Fund. In addition, we support a number of climate action education initiatives as well contribute hundreds of volunteering hours every year to worthy local charities across the island of Ireland.

2024 Awardees

ROI

Global Action Plan Ireland

Global Action Plan Ireland is dedicated to fostering sustainable communities throughout Ireland. With the support of their Greener Possibilities funding, they successfully launched a community garden in Blanchardstown, attracting over 4,800 visits to both of their locations. Additionally, they have hosted 42 local community groups, including disability services, youth groups, and recovery programs.

“At GAP Ireland, we believe in the power of community-led environmental action, and the support from Energia Group’s Greener Possibilities Fund has helped us scale up our programmes supporting local initiatives. With their backing, we are enhancing our GLAS community gardens as spaces for learning, inclusion and sustainability, so that more people, regardless of background, can come together to create positive change.” - Hans Zomber

 FoodCloud

FoodCloud’s mission is to transform surplus food into opportunities to make the world a kinder place. Their project is to carry out an update to their ordering and stock utilization process which will reduce food wastage. With the help of the Greener Possibilities Fund, they have provided 2,000 tonnes of surplus food to various community groups.

They have extended their support to 664 charities, offering them the resources they need to make a difference. Their hubs in Dublin, Cork, and Galway have implemented safe delivery options, ensuring that food reaches those in need without any risk. Additionally, they have enhanced their e-commerce platform, allowing for self-serve options that make it easier for charities to access their services. Their improved warehouse management system has streamlined operations, making the user experience more efficient and effective.

Grow NI

Grow offers opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to get involved in growing food and connecting with their community. Through The Greener Possibilities Fund over 4,500 people have benefited. They have collaborated with five local schools, involving three primary classes from each, with one school starting its own garden. Grow has conducted 85 weekly sessions focused on food growing, rewilding, and biodiversity. Additionally, they have planted 240 native trees on Black Mountain in Belfast. Their efforts have also extended internationally, connecting with three groups from Peru, the Amazon, and a Kurdish women’s group from Scotland.

“Working with Energia Group and the Greener Possibilities grant has far exceeded our expectations and plans. We have found the Energia Group volunteer teams to be a great addition to our regular volunteers, enabling us to handle bigger events and making large pieces of work go like a breeze. They have brought with them a positive culture, values and craic which fits seamlessly into our work. The grant administration, while thorough, has not been unduly burdensome which is so essential for small organisations like ours. The ripple effects from this project continue to grow out into other spaces and groups - made possible by consistent resourcing from this funding and from the energy and goodwill of volunteers and the local community.” - Claire Peacock, Grow NI

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is an environmental charity dedicated to creating a world where people and nature thrive. Their project focuses on an education and climate action empowerment program for young people not in the traditional education system. They have trained 140 future teachers in environmental education, and their Generation Nature initiative has become a model for sustainability education worldwide. Over 80% of participants believe that nature-based learning is essential for young minds. The charity has partnered with Stranmillis University College and Eco-Schools to further their mission. Looking ahead to their use of the fund for 2025, they plan to establish a nature demonstration site to bring environmental education to life.

“Energia Group have shown great interest and support in Generation Nature, not only through providing funding, but also through their promotion of the work we are doing as a part of this project. With regular check-ins on how the project is progressing, they continue to show their interest in developing the environmental knowledge and skills of educational professionals. The next steps of the project involve the completion of the installation of the Nature Demonstration Site at Stranmillis. Energia Group will be invited to come and visit the new site, and we would ask them to give feedback and promote its creation on their social media channels. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful are very grateful for the support Energia Group have provided and will continue to provide for the lifespan of this project.” - Carla Tully, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful