Happy 1st Birthday, Lewes Climate Hub!
It’s one year since Lewes Climate Hub moved into its new home at Lewes House – thanks to the hard work of many people to provide a central location for climate action in the town – and what a year it’s been!
Lewes Climate Hub began life in 2020 as local groups Extinction Rebellion Lewes and Transition Town Lewes initially came together to explore the idea of creating a local ‘climate emergency centre’ – a concept that was gathering pace across the UK to provide central places in towns and cities for climate action.
Our first home was at 2 Fisher Street – a small district-council owned space just around the corner from Lewes’ Tourist Information Centre. The opening of this colourful tiny space created quite a buzz. But it became clear that if we were to hold all the activities and provide all the information we wanted to, then a bigger space was needed.
So when, with the support of Lewes District Council, Community Energy South (the umbrella organisation for local community energy groups across the south-east of England) invited us to take some space in their new headquarters at Lewes House on the High Street, we jumped at the chance.
A season for everything
A year on and so much has happened. We’ve welcomed over 3,200 visitors and hosted nine different ‘seasons’ looking at everything from transport and energy to food, rivers & seas, biodiversity and climate justice – with a wealth of talks, workshops, children’s activities, musical performances, and people’s assemblies.
By having a central welcoming public space, we’ve been able to attract people who have thought about climate action but never known how or where they can get involved. And perhaps most important of all, we’ve been able to translate their concerns and ideas into action.
For example, local people’s thoughts on ‘green travel’ in and around Lewes that were gathered at our transport season in July are now feeding through into a ‘Movement Strategy’ for the town and East Sussex County Council’s Local Transport Plan.
Partner Groups
Our proudest achievement is probably joining forces with so many committed and expert groups, projects and organisations in and around Lewes. Today we have close to 40 ‘partner groups’ that we promote and signpost at the Hub – and with whom we join forces to put on seasons and events. You can see profiles of the partner groups here.
Having so many skilled, knowledgeable and expert people around the town (and beyond) that we can call on is fantastic – and absolutely essential to climate and environmental action that genuinely makes a difference. From the Repair Café and Library of Things to Wildflower Lewes to the Get Bikery cargo-bike project, Lewes already has many of the initiatives that other towns are looking to set up in a climate hub. We’re just so pleased to be able to be a central point that can direct people to all these brilliant projects.
Reaching out
We’re also delighted to work with so many organisations across town including Priory School and Western Road Community Primary School, and East Sussex College, and projects at universities such as Clean Growth UK at the University of Brighton. We’ve worked closely with Green Church Lewes, and presented to groups from U3A to the Rotary Club to a climate action contingent from Korea. But we’re keen to do so much more. If you have a group that would like to hear more about Lewes Climate Hub and the work we do, please email us at .
Staunch support
At Lewes Climate Hub, we know how lucky we are to have a physical, central, council-owned space for climate action. Many people from across the UK visit us, wanting to know how they can set up something similar in their town or city.
It simply wouldn’t have been possible without the staunch commitment of many district councillors (and council officers) and the enthusiastic support of our town council too. Nor without the help of so many volunteers who enable us to be open Wednesday to Saturday, week in, week out (apart from August!). Which means we’re always available when someone finally decides they want to drop in to learn more about climate action, ask questions, and get involved.
…and more support always needed!
It must be stressed that, apart from one part-time co-ordinator, everyone at the Climate Hub works on a voluntary basis – often squeezed in between day jobs and other full-time commitments. We are financed by whatever grant funding we can secure and modest income from some of our activities (we try to keep most of our events free of charge so as many people as possible can come to them). So we do need constant support – and we’re not shy about asking for it!
We’d like to keep the Hub going for – well – until action to safeguard our climate and natural world is no longer needed. Which might be quite a bit of time yet.
So if you can support us in any way – from financial support to providing equipment to marketing, filming, social media and distributing posters – we’d always love to hear from you. After all, this is everyone’s Climate Hub – and it takes all of us to make it a success.
Useful information
