Our Story
Our Story
In November 2021, the UK hosted COP26 in Glasgow. In the weeks running up to the event, a group of ‘pilgrims’ walked from Bristol and London up to COP26 in Glasgow. They were so concerned about Climate Change and determined to draw attention to their actions. That group passed through Clitheroe. The pilgrims needed somewhere to sleep, hot meals and hot showers! A team gathered together from faith groups and other interested people, and the Ribble Valley became a centre for climate concern for a few days.
From that experience, Ribble Valley Climate Action Network was born. As we draw ever closer to a Climate Crisis, with aspirational targets of Net Zero but little definite policy change, we recognise that there is a need for action. There is also a need for a network. We know there are pockets of amazing stuff happening all across the Ribble Valley. This amazing work needs connection, support and we know that we can achieve more when we work together.
Our highlights so far…
October 2021 - Camino to Cop local people, members of Extinction Rebellion and churches engaged with the London-to-Glasgow climate pilgrimage as it passed through the Ribble Valley. Activities included hosting community coffee chats at St Mary's Centre, a public procession to Clitheroe Market featuring live music and poetry, and a "Letters to the Earth" creative workshop at the United Reform Church.
April 2022 - People involved in hosting the Pilgrims on their way to the Glasgow COP got together and RVCAN was established as an organisation with a constitution.
April 2023 - Climate Conscious Hustings -Prior to the local elections in May, RVCAN organised and hosted a public candidate forum at the Clitheroe United Reformed Church. In the May local elections three members of the RVCAN organising group successfully secured seats as Ribble Valley Borough Councillors.
June 23rd 2023 Inaugural Conference of Ribble Valley Schools (CORVS 1) RVCAN launched its first annual "COP-style" secondary school environmental conference, hosted by Stonyhurst School, bringing together student groups from nine local secondary schools.
1st July 2023-Ribble Valley Citizen Summit for Climate and Nature - Held at Trinity Church and Hub, with partners Longridge Environment Group and Readstone Environment Group. It was a full-day event attended by over 150 people, structured around interactive discussions, panels, and networking focused on environmental action.
January 2024 - Open Planning Meeting and development of a 3 year plan
February 2024 - RVCAN received a formal £5,000.00 grant offer from the Transition Together Seed Funding programme (backed by The National Lottery Community Fund's Growing Great Ideas programme) to hire a part-time Project Coordinator.
June 2024 RVCAN host local events In the Great Big Green Week.
June 18th 2024 - CORVS 2 was held in Ribblesdale Primary School. Students participated in a range of captivating activities such as making birdboxes and workshops run by the Ribble Rivers Trust.
October 2024 - Ribble Valley Climate Action Network Meet-up | WILDING | Screening at The New Inn, Clitheroe.
4th December 2024 -Ribble Valley Climate Action Network meet-up at The New Inn, Clitheroe with Jack Spees of the Ribble Rivers Trust talking about ‘Conserving a catchment for people and nature.
February 2025 - RVCAN all supporters meeting to discuss becoming a Charity.
Sunday 23 March 2025 Invite from Lancashire County Council to help plant a Miyawaki Forest at Edisford Park, Clitheroe.
20th June 2025CORVS 3 at Oakhill College. The focus was Nature Needs Nurturing. The keynote speaker was JACK SPEES, CEO of Ribble Rivers Trust. Workshops were practical and focused on Rivers, Woodland and Nature & Farming and Nature.
24th September 2025 - RVCAN Meet up and Film screening of Ocean at Grindleton Pavilion.
14th October 2025 - Ribble Valley Borough Council supported a Motion to declare a climate emergency. RVCAN supporters spoke in the public participation part of the meeting and also listened to the debate.
November 2025 - Meeting with Pendle and Clitheroe MP Jonathan Hinder at Clitheroe Library to ask for his support for the Climate and Nature Bill.
January 2026 -Open meeting focussed on the National Emergency Briefing on Climate and Nature (Westminster 27th November 2025) which explored both the implications of the NEB for the Ribble Valley and possible local initiatives.
March 2026 - CORVS 4 was hosted by Bowland High School in Grindleton Pavilion and the theme for the day was "How can technology support nature and tackle climate change, in schools?”.Students were given a brief to design a school for the future with the support from Alison Watsons organisation A class of Your Own.
April 2026 - First Ribble Valley film screening of Peoples Emergency Briefing Film at Grindleton Pavilion.
7th July 2026 -Well attendedcommunity screening of the Peoples Emergency Briefing at the United Reformed Church Clitheroe.
August 2026 Ribble Valley Climate Action Network achieves Charity status!