COMMUNITIES in West Devon are being invited to apply for a slice of some £10-million worth of funding provided by the Big Lottery Fund to jump-start more sustainable living.

 Spiralling fuel costs and food poverty are just some of the issues to be addressed through BIG's Communities Living Sustainably programme which aims to inspire people to adapt the way they live, work and engage with each other to reap financial, environmental and health gains.

 Mark Cotton, Big Lottery Fund head of region for the South West, said: 'Ten communities across England will each gain up to £1m to improve their chances to live sustainably. We want to support people, communities, schools, other local services and employers to come together to understand the simple steps they can take to start making a big change in their locality.  

 'We want to spark the imagination of local communities to make greener choices and most importantly help vulnerable people to reduce their costs and improve their quality of life. This £10m investment aims to jump start a change in the behaviour of individuals and communities to think and act differently in their daily lives so that sustainable living becomes second nature.'

 Communities will be expected to introduce a range of different sustainable activities such as reducing waste, identifying alternative energy sources, accessing and growing local fresh foods or improving energy efficiency for individuals and in community buildings.

Support and advice around energy, housing and finances including energy efficiency measures, benefits entitlements, fuel-debt repayment plans and improvements to homes in disrepair is all part of the initiative.

 Other activities that could be encompassed by these partnership initiatives include supporting communities at risk of flooding or other extreme weather events, recycling and reuse schemes such as the refurbishment of furniture for people in need and introducing a bio-fuel initiative to give schools or community groups cheaper fuel to run their transport.

Community partnerships are invited to submit an expression of interest by noon, Tuesday, January 31, 2012, with 30 areas likely to receive development funding of up to £10,000 to draw up detailed plans. The ten best proposals will then be funded with up to £1 million to deliver ideas for a period of up to five years, with the learning being shared to inform and influence others on how communities can become more sustainable.

 Communities Living Sustainably is part of the Big Lottery Fund's £50m Sustainable and Resilient Communities strategy that aims to encourage behaviour change amongst individuals and communities so they can cope better with the environmental, economic and social impacts of a changing climate.

Vulnerable people, including homeless, those on low-incomes or older people, are less likely to cope with the negative effects of climate change such as floods and heat waves or severe cold weather.