Our story 

Climate Hub Bath & North East Somerset 

“to unite for a positive future for all”

We are facing a Climate and Ecological Emergency and humankind needs to act at every level: globally, nationally, locally and in our own households to minimise our greenhouse gas emissions. The UK Government committed in law to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, and BANES council declared a climate emergency in March 2019 and an ecological emergency in July 2020. 

In response to this growing crisis a small group of BANES residents came together in early 2021 to start to develop a climate centre for the BANES local area where we could have positive conversations with people about the linked climate and nature crises and share practical ways of taking action. 

Through networking with the council and other organisations, we launched a precursor to  the Climate Hub, the Green Outreach Hub, a monthly pop-up stall in the city centre themed around green issues such as carbon reduction, sustainability and biodiversity. 

The Climate Hub was registered as a charity in December 2022 and since then we have continued to hold pop up engagements and have attended local carnivals and other environmental events with our climate and nature based activities.   

Our goal remains to provide a central ‘hub’ or community space where concerned people and organisations can come together to engage with climate and nature based issues and act on the climate emergency.

Aims and objectives 

Our charitable objectives, set out in our constitution are to: 

Promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in Bath and North East Somerset and its surrounding area by providing education, information, advice and support on climate and ecological issues and sustainable living.

In our own words the  overall purpose we are working towards is for people and communities  “to unite for a positive future for all” and our vision for the Hub is that we will see  “Connected communities and people working collaboratively and taking action for nature and the climate”

Our shorter term goals are: 

  • To reach a wider audience, both through social media and face to face (by creating a website and launching our physical space) 
  • To offer and promote a programme of events, talks and workshops 
  • To offer safe spaces for discussion groups around climate anxiety 
  • To develop existing networks through hosting events and promoting communications 

What we do 

The ways we work to achieve our vision are: 

  • to increase awareness and understanding of the climate and nature emergencies, and
  • to support and build capacity for action amongst people and organisations to mitigate and adapt to climate change and biodiversity loss.  
  • actions might include supporting people to:
    • find ways to reduce their own carbon emissions through their diet, changing energy use or means of transport; 
    • join campaigns to influence these types of change at a wider level
    • have conversations with family and friends about these issues 
    • come to terms with their distress and anxieties around the climate and nature emergencies 

We do this by engaging with people through events, activities and pop-ups.  Once we have a more permanent space we will be able to reach many more people.   

To see some of previous engagement events and pop ups [go to our photo gallery] 

Activities within events have included: 

  • Children’s and adult nature craft activities;
  • Eye-catching installations and displays that highlight different aspects of the climate or nature crisis;
  • Vegan bakes and tasters to promote plant based diets;
  • Information, quizzes and practical ‘top tips’ about a range of issues;
  • Great Green Reads / library and book swaps 
  • Upcycling / recycling clothes swaps;
  • Campaigns to support;
  • Time and space for 1-2-1 conversations.

We share space wherever possible with other environmentally-focussed groups, for example at our Springtime Assembly in March 2024 we were able to share the space at the Bath Assembly Rooms with 12 other organisations, thanks to the support of the National Trust.  If groups have not been able to join in person, we have displayed posters and leaflets to help promote their environmentally-focussed goals and services.  

Trustees and Governance 

We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, (no 1201216), registered with the Charity Commission. We have a constitution and a voting membership. 

Our Trustees are: 

Natalie Barnett
Mel Clarke
Carmen Jones 
Mandy Lake 
John Leach 
Sue Poole  
Grace Wiltshire