A Kidlington-based Climate Action Partnership project has been given a grant of over £1.5 million by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Waste Innovation Station Hubs (WISH), run by Cherwell Collective, will use the funding to continue the project's work in building climate resilience across Oxfordshire and rolling out its model to hubs county-wide.

WISH's network comprises more than 30 organisations, including Oxford United Football Club and Oxford University Development.

Oxford Mail: WISH’s eco-Christmas market, No Waste NoelWISH’s eco-Christmas market, No Waste Noel (Image: Hailey Larson)

Niall McWilliams, managing director at Oxford United Football Club, said: "Leadership for Oxford United extends beyond the team and beyond the game and includes supporting community resilience building, carbon literacy, and better waste infrastructure.

"We've been partners with Cherwell Collective for years, supporting with our surplus to keep items out of landfill but also supporting with outreach and networking to help the wider community move forward together."

The principle innovation strategy of WISH focuses not only on waste repurposing but also on delivering carbon literacy outreach.

It aims to lower barriers to climate action by providing different ways for disadvantaged groups to participate and amplifying the collective voice of the community.

Sebastian Balcombe, senior land and planning manager at Oxford University Development, said: "It is brilliant to work with an innovative organisation like WISH to engage with the local community on science, creativity and themes that relate to Begbroke like the circular economy and biodiversity, within a space that is spearheading new ways to build climate resilience."

WISH places strong emphasis on community engagement and bonding, with events aimed at fostering transparency around reusable waste, as well as providing citizens with the opportunities to build resilience together.

Lindsey Brummitt, programme director at Eden Project Communities, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that WISH has been awarded National Lottery funding to continue its important work.

"WISH’s success in building social capital while simultaneously encouraging the local community to take small, manageable steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle is a shining example of the power of community action."

Emily Connally, Cherwell Collective founder, added: "The next big challenge is the Good Waste Charter, getting people on board, and supporting businesses so they know that a circular economy can help buffer their own profits, as companies who do take this on tend to see a boost of 150 per cent."

WISH seeks to expand its operations based on community feedback.

The objective is to operate more efficiently and reduce travel for participants by extending outreach to Banbury, Bicester, and Witney, in response to the demand from these areas.