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A new million-pound initiative that will help grassroots community organisations develop their own sustainability projects has the potential to turn Leicester into a city of climate action, according to Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ (Æß²ÊÖ±²¥) Leicester.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the university has received £1.3 million for the LEAF project (Leicester Environment and Future) from The National Lottery Community Fund's Climate Action Fund. The project aims to improve sustainability in some of Leicester’s most deprived communities. 

Dr Mark Charlton speaking at the launch of COP 30 at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥

This new community-driven sustainability programme, which lasts for three years, will establish a climate action hub in Leicester as a collaboration between Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ and 5 community partners, designed to support local people in cutting emissions and train more than 150 staff and volunteers in carbon literacy as well as involve at least 1,500 residents in sustainability activities.  

It will provide the five grassroots community group partners with funding to embed sustainable practices in some of the city’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

The National Lottery Community Fund's Climate Action Fund is funding the LEAF project

Dr Mark Charlton, Æß²ÊÖ±²¥’s Associate Professor of Sustainable Development and project lead, and Deputy Vice Chancellor,  Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Planning, Research and Innovation, Professor Mike Kaglioglou officially launched the project during the opening event of COP 30 at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥.

This annual series of events highlights sustainability initiatives across Leicester, and runs in parallel to the United Nations’ COP 30 conference, which this year takes place in Belem, Brazil. 

Speaking at the launch, Dr Charlton said: “The legacy we want for this is to share what we’re finding with Leicester and beyond. We haven’t seen anything like the project that we’re developing here before. Each of the organisation’s projects is pioneering in its own way and we’re excited to see them develop.

“We want this to amplify beyond the organisations that are working with Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ and we want to make Leicester a real city of climate action.”

Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ is the global hub chair for one of the United Nations’ (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 11, building sustainable cities and communities.

This year, the university is hosting 20 events across the 11 days of the COP conference to drive discussions on how Leicester can become a greener community and demand climate action.

The launch of COP 30 at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ and the LEAF initiative comes after Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ was named Sustainable Institution of the Year at the 2025 Green Gown Awards.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Mike Kaglioglou 

Opening COP 30 at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥, Professor Kaglioglou said that the LEAF project and wider COP event “marks the university’s commitment to the UN’s SDGs” and will help Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ “take climate action to diverse and disadvantaged communities.”

We spoke to the five partners to explore how the LEAF funding will benefit their organisation.

 

Saffron Acres

In 2006, the Saffron Lane Neighbourhood Council took over 13-acres of disused land in the heart of the city and set about breathing new life into the area.

In that time, the team removed the debris and has transformed the land into an award-winning green space, which houses a thriving community food-growing project, which also provides work experience as well as educational opportunities for schools and people with learning disabilities.

With its share of LEAF funding, Laura Gray, who manages the Saffron Acres project, and her team of committed volunteers will clear the final parcel of disused land and build temporary structures to host new community workshops.

Laura Gray shares how Saffron Acres has benefited the community and what the LEAF funding will provide

Here, schools, those with learning disabilities and visitors to the site will learn traditional skills such as coppicing.

“We’re going to build structures that will host workshops for schools and the wider community,” Laura said. “People will be able to learn about horticulture, carbon literacy and caring for the environment in a fun, practical way.

“The funding enables us to expand what we do and bring people together to build something lasting. Everyone who comes here leaves with a smile on their face.”

Saffron Acres already welcomes more than 2,000 visitors each year; the new investment is expected to increase that number by around 500.

ZamZam Unlimited Possibilities

Founded by Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ alumna ZamZam Yusef, ZamZam Unlimited Possibilities (ZZUP) CIC has worked with more than 1,000 young people across Leicester since 2023, offering cultural, creative and life-skills programmes.

ZamZam Yusef says her Climate Action Youth Work scheme can turn creative ideas into action

Now, through the LEAF partnership, the organisation is launching a Climate Action Youth Work scheme, training youth workers to integrate sustainability into their everyday practice and helping young people design their own environmental projects.

More than 1,000 young people have engaged with workshops and projects through ZZUP since it was founded in 2023.

ZamZam said: “The funding helps turn creative ideas into visible action. It allows us to expand our team, run more sessions and give young people real support to bring their climate ideas to life.

“Many care deeply about the planet but don’t know where to start. We give them that space to learn, act and lead.”

 

One Roof Leicester

Since becoming a registered charity in 2012, One Roof Leicester has provided accommodation and support to homeless people across the city, many of whom are refugees rebuilding their lives.

The charity currently houses around 40 residents in 14 shared homes, offering help with everything from paperwork to financial independence.

Thanks to the LEAF funding, One Roof Leicester will look to install heat pumps and solar panels in its properties and hire a dedicated climate action officer. The charity also plans to create gardens where residents can grow their own produce and to share its experiences with other homelessness organisations nationwide.

CEO of One Roof Leicester, Salma Ravat, believes it’s the first time a homeless charity has received funding for sustainability initiatives and represents a change to combine social justice with environmental action.

She said: “We just want our residents to think, even if it’s one little thing they’re doing like turning off the lights when they leave the room or deciding to grow their own vegetables instead of buying ones that may have travelled hundreds of miles.”

“Everybody can make a little change that’s going to have a positive impact on the climate. We’re all accountable; it doesn’t matter who you are.”

 

Leicester Nirvana FC

Ivan Liburd of Leicester Nirvana FC reached out to the United Nations Academic Impact Initiative (UNAI) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Hub based at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥, asking for a partnership to achieve its green ambitions.

The club wants to become the first amateur football club to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and has partnered with the UN on its Football For The Goals initiative – a platform for sustainable strategies that lead to changes in behaviour.

Part of the club’s vision is to draft its own whitepaper on sustainable practices within grassroots football, which will be funded through LEAF, as well as community health and wellbeing sessions where the team will provide nutritional advice for the community.

Speaking at the launch of the LEAF programme, Ivan outlined how the programme will benefit the club and the wider community.

He said: “Anyone who has worked in grassroots football knows that money can be tight and you have to become sustainable financially. We have had this idea, ‘what if we had a building that looked after itself and pays for itself’ on renewable energies. That’s something we want to explore further with this funding.”

“We want to write a white paper on sustainability within football to help get more people from ethnic backgrounds working with academics and feel represented when it comes to climate action.

“Another thing we’re looking at introducing is something called ‘1,000 miles in my shoes’, where members of the community can come to the club and we can have a conversation to broaden people’s understanding about Leicester’s diverse cultural backgrounds.”

 

Somali Development Services CIC

Somali Development Services CIC has been a cornerstone of Highfields, within the city, for more than 20 years.

It provides support to refugee and migrant families, helping them navigate everything from housing and benefits to CV workshops and helping people secure work.

The group will be using the funding from the LEAF project to create a new community green space within its Abingdon Road headquarters. Here they will train families to grow fruit and vegetables, encourage its users to engage in gardening projects and teach its users about local climate initiatives.

Deputy Manager Maryan Anshur said the project had already sparked excitement among local families.

“We are so happy to have this opportunity,” Maryan said. “Immigrant communities, we often don’t have access to green areas, so they are very excited and asking when this will be launching.

“Some of our service users were farmers before, and they’re eager to use those skills again. Many have already registered their names, saying, ‘Please don’t forget me, I want to be part of this.’”

COP 30 at Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ will be running from Monday 10 to Friday 21 November. The full list of events to take place this year is available to view on the Æß²ÊÖ±²¥ website.