Two Climate Officers for Nithsdale join the D&G Climate Hub team

The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership has announced the recruitment of two new Climate Officers who will help expand the work of the D&G Climate Hub.

The Hub launched in November 2023 as part of the Scottish Government’s Let’s Do Net Zero campaign, and is one of a nationwide network established to support and resource community-led climate action projects. The Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership was awarded £140,000 in funding to deliver the Climate Hub for the whole of D&G. Work is already well underway, equipping local groups to design projects that mitigate climate change impacts, and facilitating collaborations with other communities and regional bodies.

Both new officers are native to D&G and live in Nithsdale, the focal area for their work. Alison Gordon continues her career as a project coordinator, teacher and planner, while Senga Greenwood joins from the Keir, Penpont & Tynron (KPT) Development Trust, bringing years of experience in public outreach, events, and community-owned asset projects. The two recruits join existing Climate Officers who have been working across the Stewartry, Wigtownshire, Annandale and Eskdale in a busy first few months of operations. To date, the D&G Climate Hub has supported more than 25 local projects and events with seed funding grants ranging from £495 to £1,000.

Commenting on her appointment to the Climate Hub post, Alison Gordon said, “I am truly honoured to be appointed as a D&G Climate Hub Officer, under the auspices of the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership.  I’m looking forward to engaging with community groups across Nithsdale, helping to signpost funding, facilitate events, and organise networking opportunities for groups to see inspirational climate projects other groups have underway across the country.  I am a strong advocate of community-led action and its power to make meaningful, positive changes for local people and the amazing environment in which we live.”

Senga Greenwood said, “I am delighted to have secured a position as Climate Officer for the D&G Climate Hub. Having worked with the GSA Biosphere Partnership at various levels in my previous post, I have a great respect for the organisation’s ethos, ethics and client working relationships. To extend this to the Climate Hub is a natural progression for me. Each community and individual group will have disparate needs and aspirations, and that’s where we as Climate Officers have the opportunity to empower and give ownership to their climate agenda and actions, no matter how large or small.”

The Climate Hub offer includes seed funding that can be used to kickstart new ideas or support initiatives that are already underway. Enquiries from communities and local groups that could benefit from the Hub’s support, and expressions of interest in the next round of seed funding awards, can be made via project lead Jenna Cains: jenna@gsabiosphere.org.uk. Areas of focus include community building, circular economies, and carbon reduction, with completed projects including food growing networks, tree-planting, skill-shares, repair workshops, and action on plastic pollution around the Biosphere’s coast. Groups do not have to be constituted to apply.

For more information on the D&G Climate Hub please click here. The Hub is active on social media: follow #dgclimatehub to keep up to date.