⏰ Applications close Sunday 1 March 2026 at 23:59
What is UK100 Connect? | Who is it for? | Why now? | FAQs
Your community is talking about climate. Are you ready to join the conversation?
UK100 Connect is UK100's climate communications and engagement network, bringing together elected local leaders and climate and communications officers to tell their own local climate stories. Through expert-led training and peer-to-peer support, participants will be equipped with the skills and support key to effective engagement, laying the foundations for accelerated delivery on local climate ambitions.
Applications are open, and close at 23:59 on Sunday 1 March 2026.
What is UK100 Connect?
UK100 Connect is our brand new climate communications and engagement network. By bringing together elected members and officers, the programme will build capacity in local authorities to deliver effective engagement strategies on local climate action, facilitating accelerated progress on ambitious projects.
From April–November 2026, participants will benefit from:
- 5 expert-led learning sessions, to share best practice and equip you with the skills you need to communicate your local climate action.
- Quarterly peer learning roundtables, to reflect on challenges and bring your learnings to life.
- 24/7 WhatsApp support, with advice from experts and peer-to-peer learning.
- Resources and toolkits to transform your learnings into action, and share with your colleagues.
- A programme built on UK100's experience delivering four years of the Climate Leadership Academy, and produced with expert partners from across the sector.
See the UK100 Connect brochure →
Who is it for?
UK100 Connect is a unique network, convening elected politicians and officers to face climate communication and engagement challenges together, breaking down silos and boosting skills and confidence across the local authority. For each local authority in the network, three participants will benefit from the programme of support:
- An elected local leader, including a local authority leader or deputy leader, or relevant cabinet member
- A climate officer
- A communications/marketing officer
UK100 Connect is available at no extra cost to paid members of UK100 or local authorities that commit to paid membership by Friday 27 February 2026. Find out more about UK100 membership.
Ally members and those considering UK100 membership should contact membership@uk100.org for pricing details.
Why now?
Local authorities play a key role in delivering on the UK's climate ambitions. 82% of emissions fall within local authorities' scope of influence, and 40% of the public think local authorities are best placed to tackle climate change in their local area — more than for national government.
But the landscape is changing. Misinformation is spreading more quickly than ever, with more than half of Brits feeling overwhelmed by conflicting information on climate. Meanwhile, the cross-party consensus on climate action which has facilitated incredible progress since the first local climate emergency declaration in 2018 has fractured. For many local authorities, communicating climate change has become reactive, pushing back against conspiracies rather than telling their own story.
Successful delivery of local climate action hinges on clear communication, and effective engagement. UK100 Connect will equip you with the skills to strengthen your climate communications, moving from reactive to proactive, and safeguarding progress towards your local ambitions.
Ready to apply?
Submit your application by 23:59 on Sunday 1 March 2026.
The outcome of applications will be communicated by w/c Monday 9 March 2026.
Should you have any questions about UK100 Connect or the application process, please contact membership@uk100.org.
UK100 Connect FAQs
1. Who is UK100 Connect for?
UK100 Connect supports authorities to build capacity across teams to shape the narrative, engage communities effectively, and tackle misinformation. Each participating authority will nominate an elected leader (such as an authority leader or deputy leader, or relevant cabinet member or committee chair), a climate officer, and a communications officer to join the network and attend the training.
2. Is it mandatory for all applications to comprise an elected member, climate officer and communications officer to participate in UK100 Connect?
Yes, having all three participants from each authority is a requirement of the course, to ensure learning is disseminated throughout the authority, and to build internal capacity for climate communications and engagement. Exceptions will be made for authorities without a dedicated climate officer; if this applies to you, please do not be deterred from applying.
3. Is my authority eligible to participate?
Paid members of UK100 are eligible to apply to participate in UK100 Connect. If you would like to discuss upgrading your membership, or joining the network, to take advantage of UK100 Connect and all other membership benefits, please contact membership@uk100.org.
Existing allies of UK100 can access UK100 Connect for a fee of £1,500 + VAT.
4. What is the time commitment?
UK100 Connect will consist of 5 online learning sessions, held from April–November 2026. These will last 60–90 mins, and take place over lunchtime to ensure they are as accessible as possible. There will be additional bi-monthly 60 min online roundtables to reflect on key takeaways, and increase peer learning across the cohort. Attendance at all sessions is a requirement for participation in UK100 Connect.
5. What is the timeline for the sessions?
UK100 Connect runs from April to November 2026, with five expert-led learning sessions spread throughout the year. The programme is designed to fit around your council's schedule, with natural pauses built in around the May local elections and summer period.
Learning sessions:
- Session 1 – 1 April: Launch and foundations, focusing on breaking down silos between communications and climate teams
- Session 2 – 27 May: Climate communications, drawing on the Britain Talks Climate framework
- Session 3 – 1 July: Misinformation masterclass
- Session 4 – 16 September: Closed spaces and in-person engagement
- Session 5 – 11 November: Final session and reflection
Reflection touchpoints:
- 15 April, 24 June, 26 August, 21 October, and 2 December
Bulletins:
- w/c 6 April, 15 June, 10 August, 5 October, 16 November, and 14 December
In-person networking: Participants will also be invited to UK100's 10th Anniversary Conference in July 2026 for face-to-face networking with the cohort and the wider UK100 membership.
Between sessions, you'll receive regular bulletins with resources and case studies, plus optional reflection touchpoints to discuss progress with fellow participants. The programme concludes in early December with a celebration of your achievements and commitments for the year ahead.
All dates are provisional and subject to change, and we'll confirm the full schedule with successful applicants in March.
