Aim

Climate change does not affect everyone equally. We are raising money to ensure that lived experience shapes local emergency planning.

Who are we, and what is our project about?

We have all experienced the effects of climate change with the recent heat waves, but climate change does not affect everyone equally. Communities already experiencing poverty, poor housing, ill health, disability, language barriers or social isolation are often the most severely affected by heatwaves, flooding, poor air quality and food insecurity. In Tower Hamlets voluntary and community groups play a vital role because they are trusted by residents and have a deep understanding of their communities’ needs. We are raising money to ensure that this lived experience shapes local emergency planning. 

We have applied under the Climate Action theme, to work with the Equalities Networks (Women’s network, Ethnic minority network, Older People’s Reference Group, Disabled People’s Network, LGBT Forum, InterFaith Forum). Last year we worked together on a community resilience project, which mapped local networks, identified gaps in existing approaches, and made recommendations to ensure that the needs of residents, especially those with protected characteristics, are fully recognised in emergency planning and response. The final report noted that the impact of climate change such as floods and fires is shaped by people’s circumstances, resources and identities, with some groups less prepared or more at risk.  

Tower Hamlets CVS is the lead organisation for this project. We support voluntary and community groups to run their organisations effectively, secure funding to deliver services and to connect and collaborate with each other, as well as working with statutory partners.

We now have an opportunity to secure funding from London Resilience and the Aviva Foundation to strengthen community resilience in Tower Hamlets.

Why are we crowdfunding?

This funding will enable us to work directly with the Equalities Networks and other voluntary and community groups to understand how different communities in Tower Hamlets experience climate related emergencies, and to ensure that their lived experiences shape local emergency planning structures.  

Our crowdfunding campaign will fund the community conversations and coordination work needed to address the gaps, bringing together voluntary and community organisations so that those most affected by climate change have a stronger voice in local emergency responses.  

How we’ll spend the money raised

Our target is to raise £14,000 (£6,000 from the crowdfunding campaign matched by £6,000 from Aviva Foundation and £2,000 from London Resilience).  

We will spend the money to:

• Understand how different communities experience climate-related emergencies, such as heatwaves, flooding and power outages. Voluntary and community groups (including the Equalities Networks) will host community conversations, feeding back to the Tower Hamlets Borough Resilience Forum. This will ensure that community knowledge and lived experience are fed directly into local emergency planning.  
• Establish a Tower Hamlets Community Resilience Network, bringing together voluntary, community, faith and statutory organisations to improve coordination and preparedness. Tower Hamlets CVS will host a network every quarter to bring together VCS groups, including the groups most impacted by climate change. We will ensure statutory partners are invited where necessary, and that new strategies are brought to the network for consultation.
• Strengthen relationships between communities, the Council, emergency planners and other partners so that those most affected by climate change have a stronger voice in shaping local responses. 

If we raise more money then we will support more small voluntary and community groups and hold a learning event for them and statutory partners.

How you can help

There are two simple ways to get involved and support our project:

1. Make a donation

Every pledge gets us closer to our goal. Early support can help build momentum and inspire others to give too.

2. Spread the word

Share our project with friends, family and your wider network. The more people we reach, the more likely we are to succeed.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 23rd October 2026 at 1:51pm