# New Opportunities Fund hosts debate on caring about the environment

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2002/06/19/new-opportunities-fund-hosts-debate-caring-about-environment/
- Published: 2002-06-19T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

How do you inspire apathetic Britons to care about the environment? Focus locally,
was the conclusion of an environmental debate hosted by the New Opportunities Fund.

A MORI survey commissioned by the New Opportunities Fund, the National Lottery 
distributor, revealed that the greatest threats to green spaces are believed to 
be from crime and vandalism (68%) and people’s lack of concern, care or interest(
42%). Both were seen as far bigger concerns than traffic pollution and global warming.

A debate on the findings suggested that local projects are the much-needed catalyst
for all sections of the community, motivating people ‘to make a difference’.

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Baroness Pitkeathley, Chair of the New Opportunities Fund, said: “The debate reinforced
the enormous benefits of local community-based projects, an area in which the New
Opportunities Fund has already committed more than £125 million of National Lottery
money and where we are already seeing great steps being made into creating safer,
greener and closer communities”.

The debate was held at a Green Fair in Central London which aims to highlight how
National Lottery money is being used to set up schemes, including those addressing
crime and vandalism and apathy, within urban and rural communities.

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