Insights and Updates

Planting Seeds for Change in Bolton

Climate Change Can Feel Bigger Than Us

Tackling climate change is often communicated as an individual responsibility.

“Walk don’t drive!”
“Reduce plastic use!”
“Shop local!”

(Ironic when my apples from the supermarket have travelled further than I ever will!)

What I’ve come to realise in over a decade of working to tackle climate change is that changes need to happen way beyond the individual level. We need local, national and global changes to nurture a habitable planet. Things like regulating new builds; investing in renewable energy production; levies on personal luxury travel; investing in flood defences; controlling what happens to our waste after we’ve carefully washed and recycled it.

“All of these changes can feel beyond our control and often the scale of it all makes me feel powerless.”

Yet, I still show up every day to create spaces where we can all play a part in the decisions that affect our lives.

Starting with Conversation and Curiosity

When I was asked to facilitate the co-design of an environmental toolkit in my hometown, I was excited to reconnect with local power and action. After three years of working on national policy, this felt like an invitation I couldn’t refuse. Yet, after reading the brief, I had my reservations.

Can online resources really stimulate environmental sustainability across the VCSE sector?
Are we asking too much of an already stretched sector?
Would this make a meaningful difference?

I headed to my favourite local walk to ponder all of this. As I contemplated the drought-depleted reservoir, I remembered the words of climate justice activist Mikaela Loach:

“We all have the power to fight climate change and all of our contributions are needed.”

It got me thinking – no one starts their climate awareness journey chaining themselves to runways. Most of us will never end our journey there either.

It often starts with a conversation.

That conversation can lead anywhere: protecting your favourite green spaces from litter; conserving water; growing your own salad; lobbying your MP to demand action for nature. Whatever it is you care about, it likely started with connection and curiosity. And who better to create the environment for these conversations than our thriving VCSE sector?

Building the Eco Toolkit Together

Many of Bolton’s community groups, charities and social enterprises already have sustainability at their core, but many more do not. Regardless of purpose, what they all share is a desire to create a fairer, kinder, healthier version of the world we live in — a world based on relationships and caring for each other.

This inspired the starting point for all of the co-design conversations:

How can we support the sector to build on what they already do so well?

It’s worth remembering that, when we talk about the sector, we mean everything from tiny community groups focused on a couple of streets to large charities serving thousands of people every week — and everything in between. Those who work out of a van, those who own premises, organisations with no staff and organisations with 500 staff. No two organisations have the same starting point.

Bolton CVS commissioned us to create something useful for everyone. To help realise this, we recruited a co-design group reflecting the diversity of the sector. This group of volunteers has informed our thinking, helped us make sense of data and tested resources every step of the way — including the decision to prioritise tools and opportunities that are self-directed, written in plain English and easy to use.

The Eco Toolkit, created by and for Bolton’s VCSE sector, aims to encourage greener, healthier outcomes for people and the planet. Starting with a self-assessment, there are resources to encourage incremental action whether you are beginning or already leading a sustainability journey.

“Whatever your size, capacity or starting point, there is an obvious next step.”

The toolkit includes:

• Self-assessment tools
• Practical resources
• Training opportunities
• 1:1 support
• Policy templates
• Real-life case studies

What Pitch for the Planet Showed Us

To get even more people involved, part of the project budget was allocated to fund local environmental action through Pitch for the Planet. In April, community groups and organisations from across Bolton came together to share ideas for embedding environmental action in their communities.

“The evening was full of hope, creativity and genuine community spirit.”

From growing projects and biodiversity initiatives to community wellbeing and education, the ideas demonstrated that environmental sustainability is not separate from community action — it is deeply connected to it.

The event reminded me that when people are trusted with resources, given a voice and brought together around shared values, amazing things happen.

Some of the ideas supported included:

• Growing and food projects
• Biodiversity initiatives
• Community wellbeing activities
• Environmental education
• Neighbourhood action projects

More than anything, Pitch for the Planet reinforced why community-led action matters. Too often we are told what needs to happen without being given a chance to influence decisions. Yet our communities are the sum of our choices and actions.

Creating fairer, cleaner, healthier places to live starts with showing up and joining in, one conversation at a time.

We Are the Systems

Whether your organisation is planting seeds (literally or metaphorically) or undertaking carbon literacy training, you are doing your bit. None of us can do it alone, but together we can make a difference.

We are the systems.

Even if you believe the only way to make a difference is through systems change, it is worth remembering that very few laws have ever changed without public pressure. From the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 to the Environment Act 2021, governments respond to what people demand and organise for.

“If we want action on climate change, we need to create a tipping point where more and more people feel connected to the conversation and empowered to act.”

And that starts in our communities.

What Next?

The Eco Toolkit is continuing to grow through collaboration, learning and community input. Whether your organisation is just beginning to think about sustainability or already leading environmental action, there are opportunities to get involved.

You could:

• Explore the Eco Toolkit resources
• Take part in training or Carbon Literacy sessions
• Access 1:1 support
• Start conversations within your organisation
• Connect with others already taking action
• Take one small practical next step

Because meaningful change rarely happens all at once.

It happens through people showing up, sharing ideas, building relationships and taking action together. One conversation at a time.

Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract issue, it’s already affecting our communities in Bolton. From rising energy costs and fuel poverty to extreme weather, air quality and pressure on local services, Boltonians are already paying the price. At the same time, voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are being asked to do more than ever, often with limited time, funding and capacity.

The Eco Toolkit has been created to support VCSE organisations to start where they are, build confidence, and take practical action on environmental sustainability in ways that make sense for their organisation, their staff, volunteers and the communities they serve.

That’s where the Bolton Eco Toolkit comes in.

VCSE organisations play a vital role in Bolton’s response to the climate crisis. You are trusted by your communities, rooted in place, and already working at the intersection of social, environmental and economic challenges.

But we also know that sustainability can feel overwhelming.

Many organisations tell us they:

• want to do the right thing, but don’t know where to start
• worry sustainability will be costly or complicated
• feel excluded by jargon, targets or one-size-fits-all approaches
• lack the time or capacity to turn good intentions into action

The Eco Toolkit is designed to remove these barriers and replace them with clear, supportive and achievable steps.

A journey, not a checklist

Rather than a tick-box approach, the Eco Toolkit supports organisations through a journey, from early awareness through to more embedded and leading practice.

You might start with simple actions around energy, waste or travel. Over time, you may want to look at governance, procurement, policies, staff engagement or longer-term planning. The toolkit helps you move at a pace that works for you.

Co-designed, local and practical

The Eco Toolkit is being developed through a co-design process with VCSE organisations in Bolton, shaped by real experiences, challenges and ideas from the sector.

This means it is:

• grounded in local context
• realistic about capacity and resources
• focused on what actually works
• designed to evolve as learning grows

While the full toolkit will launch in summer 2026, many resources, events and learning opportunities are already available and can be accessed now.

You don’t have to wait for the full Eco Toolkit launch to get involved. There are practical opportunities available right now to help your organisation build confidence, test ideas and take your next sustainability step.

1:1 Support and Training
A 1:1 support offer and a programme of introductory and themed sessions is running alongside the toolkit, designed to be practical, supportive and relevant to the VCSE sector. Find out more here.

Pitch for the Planet
Pitch for the Planet is a small grants and learning opportunity for VCSE organisations with ideas to improve their environmental sustainability. Organisations are invited to develop and pitch an idea — whether that’s starting something new, improving an existing approach, or testing a small change — with the chance to secure funding of up to £750 to put it into action. The pitching event is designed to be supportive, inclusive and accessible, with learning and peer support built into the process. Find out more here.

Climate change is already impacting the people and communities the VCSE sector supports most. Taking action on sustainability can:

• reduce running costs and energy bills
• strengthen funding and commissioning bids
• support social value and environmental outcomes
• build resilience in uncertain times
• empower staff, volunteers and services users

The Bolton Eco Toolkit is here to support you — whether you’re just beginning to think about sustainability or already taking action and looking to go further.

Explore the resources, get involved in events, test ideas, share learning and take your next step.

The climate crisis is already affecting Bolton. The VCSE sector is well placed to respond. Start where you’re at. Take action now.