Green Horizons

New £1.5 Million National Lottery Programme Places Disabled People at the Heart of London’s Climate Future

An ambitious new London partnership has secured £1.5 million from The National Lottery Community Fund to place Disabled people at the heart of climate action across the capital. Green Horizons brings together Groundwork London, Inclusion London, Inclusion Barnet, Disability Rights UK, and Co-Production Collective at UCL (University College London) to co-produce and test new approaches to climate action and the natural environment over the next four years.

The programme will generate practical, tested learning that can shape climate policy and practice across and beyond London, recognising disabled people as partners, leaders and innovators in creating more inclusive and resilient communities:

“We envision cities where nature, climate resilience and disability inclusion are seamlessly integrated. Green Horizons is an opportunity to demonstrate what is possible when Disabled people are at the heart of climate action.”

Why Green Horizons Matters

Disabled people make up around one in six people globally and up to one in four people in the UK, yet they are disproportionately affected by climate-related challenges. They face greater risks from extreme heat, flooding and poor air quality, are more likely to experience barriers to accessing nature and green spaces. Despite this, the knowledge, experience and expertise of Disabled people remain underrepresented in climate policy, planning and environmental programmes.

As London faces increasing climate risks alongside growing pressures on public services and community resources, Green Horizons will demonstrate how accessibility and inclusion can strengthen climate action and create better outcomes for everyone.

Shaped by Co-production 

Co-production is central to Green Horizons. Rather than designing programmes for Disabled people, Green Horizons will work with Disabled people and Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) to shape priorities, make decisions and develop solutions together. This approach recognises lived experience as a form of expertise and places Disabled people at the centre of decision-making.

Through this approach, Green Horizons will:

• Identify and address barriers that limit participation in climate action and access to nature.
• Create opportunities for Disabled people to take leadership roles in climate action.
• Harness the skills, experience and creativity of Disabled people to help respond to climate change

Liz Watchorn, Head of Funding at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “We’re proud to fund Green Horizons’ work, ensuring that communities most affected by climate change are not just consulted, but are leading the way in shaping solutions. By centring disabled people at the centre of climate action, this project will help create a London that is better for people and planet and offer learning that can inspire similar approaches across the UK.”

A Word from the Partners

Groundwork London

‘‘Across London we have seen how communities can transform green spaces, respond to local climate challenges and improve their neighbourhoods when they are given opportunities to shape solutions. Green Horizons is an exciting opportunity to build on that learning by bringing together environmental, disability and co-production expertise alongside lived experience.

We hope the programme demonstrates how the natural environment, climate resilience and disability inclusion can work together to create stronger communities and influence future approaches to climate action and urban greening.’’

Inclusion London

“Disabled Londoners are right now facing a range of serious risks as London experiences its third unprecedented heat wave of the year. It’s vital that Disabled Londoners voices are heard and our needs understood by everyone tackling the climate crisis and the challenge of building a climate resilient city that is safe and inclusive. Green Horizons gives us the opportunity to do this – centring the experiences, needs, voice and leadership of Disabled people in this important project”

Disability Rights UK

“Climate change is not just an environmental issue – it is a disability rights issue.

Disabled people are often among those most affected by extreme weather, poor air quality and barriers to accessing green spaces, yet our experiences and therefore our expertise are too often overlooked.

Cities that are less resilient to climate change will have challenges with infrastructure, housing, transport, emergency planning and health and care systems. The Green Horizons project sets out to reverse these trends, ensuring that policies and solutions are developed in full collaboration with Disabled people, to create a more resilient, accessible and inclusive London for everyone.”

Inclusion Barnet

“We are delighted to be part of this innovative programme, and we are looking forward to working with Disabled people in Barnet to create an inclusive approach to environmental issues.”

Co-Production Collective

“Co-production will be at the heart of the Green Horizons programme, through which we aim to create lasting impacts in climate action through meaningful collaboration with Disabled people and Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) across London. Through Green Horizons, we are looking forward to supporting climate resilience by developing equitable partnerships that centre justice, inclusion, transparency, respect, honesty, and community.”

Looking Ahead

Green Horizons is an invitation to imagine something different: a future where nature, climate resilience and disability inclusion are seamlessly integrated from the start.

As the programme develops, we look forward to working alongside Disabled people, Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs), community groups, environmental organisations and partners across London. If you share our ambition, follow this page and discover future opportunities to get involved.

Get in touch with the Green Horizons team at greenhorizons@groundwork.org.uk

About partners

Groundwork London

Groundwork London takes practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support local communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience, as this is vital if we are to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to better work and healthier, happier lives.

Inclusion London

Inclusion London is London’s leading Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO), representing and supporting London’s network of Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations. It works to promote equality, influence policy and strengthen the voice, leadership and rights of Disabled people across the capital.

Disability Rights UK

Disability Rights UK is one of the UK’s leading organisations led by, run by and working for Disabled people. It works to influence national policy, campaign for disabled people’s rights and support Disabled people to have greater choice, control and opportunities to participate fully in society.

Inclusion Barnet

Inclusion Barnet is a Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO) based in Barnet. It works alongside Disabled people to improve access, reduce inequalities and create opportunities for people to influence the services, places and decisions that affect their lives. As the first Green Horizons Climate Action Hub, Inclusion Barnet will work with local communities to co-produce and test more inclusive approaches to climate action and urban greening.

Co-Production Collective

Co-Production Collective is a community of practitioners, researchers and people with lived experience based at UCL (University College London). It works to advance meaningful co-production across research, policy and practice, supporting organisations to embed lived experience in decision-making and create more inclusive approaches to change.

National Lottery Climate Action Fund 

This grant comes from the Climate Action Fund, a long-term commitment by The National Lottery Community Fund to support communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in positive environmental action.