The Community Sustainability Support Network, England
Empowering Inclusive & Resilient Community Sustainability Across England
CSSN is an inclusive network for community-led sustainability action.
From Repair Cafés and Community Gardens to School Uniform Exchanges, Community Fridges, Community Energy Projects, Local Rewilding Projects, Climate Hubs and more — everyone is welcome.
The Network
- Connects community sustainability groups, charities, social enterprises, projects, services and spaces
- Enables peer-to-peer sharing of practical templates, case studies, data, and other useful resources developed on the ground
- Facilitates meaningful support between founders, CEOs, and project leads, including check-ins, mentoring and collaboration on funding bids, research and delivery
- Aims to provide a 'one stop shop space' for Members, so they can also signpost and/or access external stategic/expert resources, case studies, training, funding links, and research opportunities
Through all of this, the CSSN helps Members strengthen the impact, reach, joined up problem solving and collaborative approaches, team wellbeing and the financial resilience of their work.
Our Mission
CSSN exists to make it easier for local people and community organisations to create real, lasting change where they live.
Foster Collaboration
We connect the leaders of community sustainability projects, events, services and spaces to work together, sharing knowledge, resources and collaboration opportunities.
Enable Cross-Sharing
We facilitate the exchange of experiences, templates, tools, opportunties and advice between members.
Provide Free Support
We offer free, practical support so grassroots initiatives can grow, broaden their reach, avoid burnout, build resilience and increase their impact.
From repair cafes and climate action groups, community energy to food-growing co-ops, community fridge projects to clothes exchanges, friends of parks groups to transition towns, CSSN welcomes all types of 'not for profit' community sustainability groups, charities or social enterprises and their wide ranging projects, events, services, and spaces, regardless of size, funding or lack thereof, or location (though must be within England).
What CSSN Offers
Monthly Drop-In Sessions
A regular Online Session for community sustainability leaders to connect, share challenges and exchange solutions. Initially 1st Thursday of the month (6-8pm) - Template Agenda avilable shortly.
Introductions for One-to-One Advice
Members can be connected with other relevant Members or Expert Partners, to enable targeted "one to one" sharing of lived experience and/or expert guidance around specific delivery, inclusivity, governance, funding or impact plans / challenges.
Online Resource Hub
A secure digital space where Members can share their templates, lesson plans, slide decks, case studies, videos, research, impact data and other resources and best practice they have built up, to help their peers with inclusive, practical, "on the ground" action.
Annual In-Person Event
A national gathering for Members to connect in person, showcase inspiring community sustainabilty success stories, explore and feed back on govrenment policy and funder policy opportunities/challenges, and build stronger collaboration across England; with hybrid options available. We are currently seeking funding for this empowering and uplifting annual event.
Funding & Collaboration Signposting
The CSSN and its Members can signpost funding, training, delivery, research and campaign opportunities, including opportunities where Members may wish to work together collaboratively (for example on funding bids, campaigns etc)
Collaboration Partner Matching
Connect with other CSSN members to collaborate on funding bids, research projects, delivery, campaigns and more. Find collaboration partners with complementary expertise and/or geographic coverage.
Why It Matters
Local community groups and charities are the backbone of sustainability work in neighbourhoods, but many operate in isolation, face funding barriers and risk burnout or duplication of effort.
CSSN creates a support network that:
- Connects 20–50 grassroots sustainability projects in its first year
- Boosts the resilience and effectiveness of local initiatives
- Breaks down silos between projects, funders and locations
- Amplifies community-led solutions for climate, cost-of-living and wellbeing
Inspired by Success
CSSN is inspired by successful regional government-funded sustainability/circularity networks in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, and aims to learn from such infrastructure to boost community sustainabilty efforts and voices across England.
How Your Support Helps
To launch CSSN's first year, we are seeking funding to cover:
Annual Network Event: Connection, Celebration & Policy Feedback Event
Help us bring Members together in person, to celebrate projects across the region and feed into Reports to Policy Makers (sharing positive impacts, and relevant challenges / opportunities on the ground, with Government & Key Funders)
Technology & Support
Support around building and maintaining the online platform
Network Leadership & Mentoring
Additional support for coordination and facilitation of activities, including capacity building for consulting and "one to one" sessions.
By investing in CSSN, partners and funders will help create a resilient, impactful and collaborative sustainability movement that uplifts communities across England and builds a more sustainable, fair and connected future.