Climate and Nature Fund Case Study: Cornwall Climate Care

Cornwall Climate Care’s sixth documentary film, Hungry for Change, tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time: food and climate change. It forms part of their Climate Stories series.

Crowdfunder was an effective way to raise the money needed to produce the film, with a total £17,825 raised from 168 supporters, including £5,000 from Cornwall Council through the Climate and Nature Fund hosted by Crowdfunder.

Hungry for Change is a 30-minute film presented by St Ives-born forager Josh Quick, and features practical, positive and inspiring stories of real people working to research, tackle and adapt to the challenges coming our way as the climate changes.

What we eat and the way we produce it is responsible for a huge part of our carbon emissions – particularly since, right now, we import around 50% of all our food .... and waste one-third of it.

In recent years, rationing of tomatoes and salad vegetables by UK supermarkets, due to poor harvests in Spain and North Africa, highlighted Cornwall’s vulnerability at the end of long global supply chains.

Hungry for Change features fascinating and inspirational stories, from community growers to gleaners picking the ‘waste’ crops in our fields to help feed thousands of people in need across Cornwall. It is a partner film to Food for Thought, which looks at the contentious issue of climate change and the livestock industry.

The documentary series highlights the impacts of climate change already being felt across Cornwall and the fantastic businesses, researchers, community groups, and individuals working hard to prepare us for the challenges coming our way.

Cornwall Climate Care’s (now former) Director Claire Wallerstein said: “We are incredibly grateful to Cornwall Council for their support for our Crowdfunder through the Climate and Nature Fund. This was really essential to us being able to hit our target and complete the film, Hungry for Change.

“We believe that our films can play an important role in encouraging the individual and community action we need to ensure that both people and nature can thrive here in Cornwall, even as the climate changes”.

The films are freely available online but are primarily used in public screenings, Q&As, festivals and industry events. They act as a springboard for meaningful and non-judgmental conversations, encouraging engagement and action.

Cornwall Climate Care’s Education Coordinator, Hayley Hill, delivers school workshops full of creative activities around the themes of the films. The workshops are free and delivered across Cornwall and Devon. Find out more here.

After watching their films, Sir David Attenborough wrote to tell Cornwall Climate Care: "The need you have identified is indeed a real one, and your films meet it very well. Many congratulations".

If you have a project that tackles the effects of the climate and ecological emergency, you could receive up to £5,000 in support. Find out more:

Cornwall Council: Cornwall Climate Nature Fund (crowdfunder.co.uk)