Wroughton Science Museum will fund grants of up to £20,000 for community climate change and STEM projects.

The ‘Sustainable Futures’ grant was created to help projects centred around technology, ecology, renewable energy and habitat conservation, while the ‘Supporting Communities’ fund will go to local community groups.

Revenue from the solar farm at Science Museum Wroughton will be used to help fund these grants.

Last year, 1st Stratton St Margaret Scout Group were just one of the community groups benefiting from this, as they received almost £!7,000 to fund the purchase of 24 solar panels for their scout hall and a battery.

Group trustee Roz Gould said the panels will provide most of the energy the hall needs, with any surplus being fed into the national grid to provide extra income. The solar panels have also sparked a conversation amongst the young Scouts about sustainability and climate change.

“They know all about it and they're very pleased,” said Mrs Gould. “When we told them about it they couldn't believe it, they're very excited.”

Friends of Shaw Ridge Primary School, were also another recipient of the community-changing fund, as they received £18,000 to build a sustainable timber shelter in its Unity Garden so that pupils can enjoy outdoor learning in the winter months.

“It will enable us to take children outside either in small groups or as a whole class, to work, study, investigate and learn, giving them first-hand experiences with topics in their native habitat,” said FOSR volunteer Abbie Dart.

But grants like this are only possible due to the ongoing partnership between the Wroughton Science Museum and the Wiltshire Community Foundation.

“Our partnership with the Science Museum Group has already seen some wonderful applications that are making communities better, more engaged with science and the environment and we want to see that continue,” explained Fiona Oliver, join chief executive of Wiltshire Community Foundation.

“We want to see the Supporting Communities programme really making a difference to people by creating or enhancing community assets or running projects that give people the opportunity to improve their lives.

“The Sustainable Futures Grants are aimed at groups running projects that reduce a community’s carbon footprint, create sustainable or renewable energy solutions, take positive action on climate change, increase learning in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering or maths) or harness them to address a local problem,” she added.

Those offering the grants also hope to work with groups addressing issues such as anti-social behaviour or literacy or those teaching life skills such as budgeting and cooking.

The programmes are open for applications until December 15, and full details of eligibility and how to apply for the grants are at wiltshirecf.org.uk/grants-and-support/groups