Greener Futures Impact
Empowering Westminster through community-led climate action Supporting training and jobs in the green economy
As we reflect on four years of Greener Futures, we’re proud of the programme’s positive impact on over 40,000 people across Westminster, enabling community led climate action, supporting green jobs, and improving access to nature.
As part of the programme, our partnership with Groundwork has supported 85 previously unemployed Westminster residents into training and jobs. Some of these worked in Green Teams improving outdoor spaces across the borough, others developed technical skills at Westminster Wheels, whereas trainee mechanics they helped keep Westminster moving through bike refurbishments and repairs.
The programme has also enhanced 139,500 square metres of green space across Westminster. Delivered via Groundwork as well as the community projects we’ve funded, 966 new habitats having been created, improving access to the outdoors and encouraging more people to connect with nature.
What we’ve learned: Insights on engaging communities in climate action
Greener Futures has given us valuable insights on the role of communities in climate action which will inform the design of future programmes and partnerships. We also hope our learnings help others make the most of the incredible potential of communities to contribute to climate solutions.
Rising momentum for climate action in communities: Communities are increasingly engaged in climate related projects, shown by the steadily growing number of grant applications we’ve received throughout the programme. Interest continues to build year on year.
Local organisations unlock local solutions: While national and international efforts remain essential, local organisations play a vital role in making climate action meaningful and relevant. Climate change is a global issue, but its impacts, and the opportunities for action, differ from one community to another. Local partners help find the approaches that resonate most.
Language matters: Terms like “climate” and “carbon” can feel distant or technical. We’ve learned that framing initiatives around everyday challenges, from energy bills to access to green space, helps make projects more relatable. The immediate social benefits can motivate action more effectively than long-term environmental outcomes.
Invest in career pathways, especially for entry-level roles: To ensure those facing barriers to work can truly access green jobs, we must build clearer pathways into the sector. That means raising awareness of opportunities, influencing the curriculum, engaging training providers, supporting employers to take on people in genuinely entry level roles. Routes into Retrofit, our programme with Groundwork, will continue to focus on creating entry-level roles for Westminster residents to gain specialist skills in construction and retrofit.
The impact of the Greener Futures programme is far greater than we could have ever imagined, and we couldn’t have achieved this without our lead partners: Groundwork, Westminster Foundation, and The London Community Foundation. We thank the many more organisations that have helped play a part too.
Watch our short video to see the programme’s impact for yourself: