Climate emergency response

Climate action support for schools and education providers

Climate action support for schools and education providers

We know that schools in Sheffield are already starting to experience the impacts of the extreme weather conditions created by the changing climate.

The education sector also has a significant role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by:

  • decarbonising estates and operations
  • equipping children and young people for a net zero future

Schools and other education providers are expected by government to complete a climate action plan by the end of 2025.

Built for Change can help schools and other education providers to do this.

What is Built for Change

Built for Change is a programme of support led by Sheffield City Council with expert input from partners to support educational settings to become more resilient to the changing climate and to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

This programme is primarily funded by a Sheffield City Council Public Health to support the most vulnerable schools to adapt to the changing climate.

Support is also available to help education providers across Sheffield to develop their climate action plans, reduce energy emissions and costs and to access additional funding.

Our partners

The partners include:

  • Let’s Go Zero
  • Connected by Water (including Yorkshire Water)
  • Business in the Community
  • Learn Sheffield
  • Sheffield Hallam University

Pupil involvement

The changing climate and climate crisis is a source of anxiety for many young people. One of the best ways that this anxiety can be reduced is to take action.

As a result, Built for Change will be powered for young people, with opportunities for pupils to be involved in:

  • climate action planning
  • choosing and designing interventions
  • communicating with their families and local communities

How we can help

There are 2 levels of support available:

Accelerated support pilot

This pilot will provide some of the most climate vulnerable settings with intensive support including:

  • expert 1:1 support from Let’s Go Zero to complete their climate action plans by October 2025, in line with government expectations
  • guaranteed funding in the region of £20,000 for interventions and surveys to support the school to adapt to extreme weather conditions
  • for local authority maintained schools, priority access to renewable energy and energy efficiency funding opportunities
  • a range of learning and enrichment opportunities for young people

Applications were by invitation only and the decisions will be communicated to settings in June 2025.

Built for Change Network

This support is for all other interested settings and includes:

  • opportunities to attend training
  • supported grant applications for future funding
  • resources to support climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience

More detailed information is available in the supporting information.

How to apply

You can apply for Built for Change Network support by completing the short online form below.

Contact the Sustainability and Climate Change Team

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