The Great Doncaster LESStival 2024

Public and private organisations, venues, businesses, education settings, communities, and individuals are being invited to take part in Doncaster's campaign to simply "do more with less" this November!

 

What is the Great Doncaster LESStival?

From the 1st-30th November 2024 a month-long campaign across Doncaster, labelled the "Great Doncaster LESStival" will take place. Organisations and communities across Doncaster are being invited to consider steps to reduce consumption, reduce household expenditure, provide people with practical skills and celebrate the skills and resources that exist across the city which help lower consumption.

Why is it taking place?

The month-long campaign was borne from analysis of a recent public consultation exercise where residents across Doncaster were asked what they believed were the most important actions society could take to reduce the impacts of climate change. The top three priorities named by the public were:

  1. Making the things they buy and use last longer
  2. Reducing household energy bills
  3. Leaving the car at home, and exploring more walking, cycling and public transport options

What you told us:

  • 78% of people believed they have the ability to make changes.
  • 62% of people believe it is worth doing something even if others aren't doing the same.
  • 84% of people agree that we can reduce the effects of climate change.
  • 64% of people believe information regarding valuable change is too conflicting and can mean they don't know which is the best action to take.
  • 8.25/10 was the average score given to how important climate action is.

Residents in Doncaster have told us that their priority when it comes to climate action is reducing consumption and household expenditure. The Great Doncaster LESStival will target this priority, highlighting not just what Doncaster already does to target less, but what the next steps are to how we can reduce even more. For example, making the items we buy and use last longer and understanding how to save energy around the home.

Creating a cleaner, greener, and healthier city is one of our big five priorities. This priority will need everybody to help it become a reality, that is why we have listened to public feedback and acted on an area which is important to many people and will have so many positive consequences, from less reliance on harmful materials to more monthly finances for residents to spend elsewhere.

How could I get involved as an individual? 

Along with the micro-grants available to groups as mentioned below, it is also imperative that individuals also take part in the Great Doncaster LESStival. Individual action is so important and really does make a difference to help the climate.

Here are some examples of individual action you could take during the Great Doncaster LESStival:

  • Look out for events taking place in your local area and attend them.
  • Take items you no longer use to your local charity shop so others can enjoy them.
  • Set yourself a challenge to not buy certain items new for a month. For example, no new books, instead buy them second hand.
  • Learn a new practical skill. For example, watch YouTube videos on how to patch up clothes so items with holes in can continue to be used.
  • Try out meal prepping to reduce food waste.

Check our our top tips for climate action page for more examples of individual action!

The Climate Action Micro-Grant:

This grant is available to community groups, registered charities, social enterprises and others. Find out more here.