The Great Doncaster LESStival 2025

This year’s Great Doncaster LESStival builds on the momentum of last year’s campaign, shining a spotlight on employability and nature connection as part of our city-wide skills and resource-sharing activities.

 

What is the Great Doncaster LESStival?

From 1st–30th November 2025, Doncaster will once again host a month-long campaign, but this year we're back bigger and bolder than before!

Organisations, community groups, and residents across the city are invited to consider steps to keep more items in use and save much more money by celebrating the skills, knowledge, and resource that already exists in our communities.

Why is it taking place?

The LESStival was created in response to public consultation, where Doncaster residents highlighted the most important actions society can take to reduce the impacts of climate change.

The top three priorities identified were:

  1. Making the things we buy and use last longer
  2. Reducing household energy bills
  3. Transport options that reduce fuel costs

Since then, City of Doncaster Council has worked collaboratively with the community champions who delivered LESStival activities  in 2024 to support these activities to continue. Alongside, we have attended events and spoken to participants about why your environment matters, and how we can continue to support your priority. 

Our Shared Goal

You have have made it clear: the public priority is reducing consumption and household expenditure and the Great Doncaster LESStival will again focus on this. Creating a cleaner, greener, and healthier Doncaster is one of our city’s priorities, and we all want to be a part of creating it. By bringing LESStival back for 2025, City of Doncaster Council and the LESStival groups can support your priorities from reducing environmental pollution, and supporting cleaner nature and greenspaces, to freeing up household budgets for other essentials.

How can I get involved as an individual?

Every small step adds up to a big difference!

Here are some ways you can take part in the Great Doncaster LESStival 2025:

  • Attend local events and workshops in your community
  • Donate items you no longer use to charity shops so others can benefit
  • Take on a “buy nothing new” challenge for a month, for example, buy second-hand books instead of new ones
  • Learn a new practical skill, such as repairing clothes or upcycling furniture
  • Try meal prepping to cut down on food waste

The Great Doncaster LESStival Micro-Grant

To support grassroots action, the Great Doncaster LESStival will once again be available for community groups and organisations. These grants help fund creative, practical projects that reduce consumption, save money, and strengthen Doncaster’s collective response to protect your environment.

For more information on how to apply, please email sustainabilityteam@doncaster.gov.uk