Climate Action & Biodiversity Fortnight (9th - 22nd May) is now in full swing. To give you a flavour of the broad range of events taking place, details of three specific events are featured in this month's newsletter. Don't forget to enter our photograpy competition for your chance to win a €100 photography equipment voucher or one of ten €10 LEAP cards!

Featuring in this month's newsletter....

• A flavour of events taking place during Climate Action & Biodiversity Fortnight - from a Dusk Chorus Guided Walk; an EV Car "To Buy or Not to Buy!" Panel Discussion; to a Walk through the beautiful Tintern Demesne, followed by an Underwater Photography Display by Wexford Sub Aqua Diver, Ivan Donoghue.
• Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) Public Consultation - details of where to view the Draft Plan online, the location of the drop-in events taking place around the County and guidance on how to make a submission.
• Active Travel Wexford Newsletter - find out how to subscribe to this recently launched newsletter which aims to keep you updated on all things active travel.
• Courtown Home Energy Upgrade Event - an update on this information event held in Courtown on 23rd April.
• Sustainability Step Up Fund - details of who is eligible and information on how to apply for funding from this €1.5 million, two-year fund which supports social innovations across Ireland to scale their impact and address the climate crisis and its interconnected challenges. 
• Wexford Naturalists' Field Club June events - information on the club's upcoming June indoor lecture and outdoor field trip. 

Until next month! 

The Climate Action Wexford Team. 

Wexford County Council supported the SEAI, SEEA and the Courtown SEC in hosting a Home Energy Upgrade information event on 23rd April in The Hibbs Soccer Club, Courtown.

This was a similar event to the regional event held in St. Joseph’s Community Centre in March, and Wexford County Council is delighted to be able to support community awareness events such as this.

For more information on grants available to assist homeowners in retrofitting their homes and implementing energy saving measures, visit the SEAI website.

The Sustainability Step-Up Fund is a €1.5 million, two-year fund supported by Zurich in Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) via the Dormant Accounts fund. It supports social innovations across Ireland to scale their impact and address the climate crisis and its interconnected challenges. 

The fund comes at a particularly important time as communities across Ireland face increasing environmental challenges alongside rising inequality. The Sustainability Step-Up Fund seeks to tackle these challenges head-on by supporting up to five organisations that have a social and environmental impact by working in the space of the circular economy, climate stewardship, action and education, biodiversity restoration, community development or sustainable practices.

Both established organisations ready to scale and earlier-stage initiatives that are up and running and looking to step up their impact and strengthen their long-term sustainability are eligible to apply.  Applicants must come from an entity that has a not-for-profit legal form, e.g. a company limited by guarantee, social enterprise, a co-operative, trust, or charity.

This award includes: 

• A multi-year cash grant worth up to €210,000 over an 18-month project implementation period (per successful project)
• Non-financial supports, including:
• A place on Rethink Ireland’s Accelerator Programme
• Business and capacity-building supports designed in consultation with successful projects on topics such as strategic planning, impact management, communications, and fundraising.
• Access to Rethink Ireland’s networks.

Applicants are invited to join an application clinic on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 at 10am.
This one-hour webinar will provide information on fund eligibility and the application process and offer an opportunity to answer any questions you have. To participate, please register here 

In the meantime, for any questions you may have, please contact sustainabilityfund@rethinkireland.ie 

Applicants can apply to the Sustainability Step-Up Fund via this online application form. Applications deadline is 28 May 2026 at 1pm.

The full list of eligibility criteria can be found here, as well as details on how to submit your online application and all other relevant information.