A grassroots football coach on preparing for a hotter climate

A grassroots football coach on preparing for a hotter climate

In this story we meet Oli Gibson, a volunteer coach at Ringmer Football Club near Brighton, where three generations of his family are involved in the club. We visited Ringmer’s ground to talk about football’s place at the heart of local communities, and how climate change is beginning to reshape the game from the grassroots upwards. In his day job, Oli is a heat and performance researcher at Brunel University, so we discuss the challenges facing both artificial and natural pitches, from synthetic surfaces that can reach temperatures of 70°C to the increasing pressure on grass pitches during longer periods of heat and drought. Drawing comparisons between the resources available in the professional game and the realities of grassroots football, and reflecting on the current World Cup - set to be the hottest on record - Oli also considers why climate change is still not being properly addressed in football’s biggest conversations, and what it will take for the sport to adapt as extreme heat becomes an increasingly familiar part of the season.

How a Lincolnshire builder is preparing for a warmer, wetter future

In this story we meet Chris Carr, managing director of Carr & Carr Builders, a family-run housing company that has been building homes in Northern Lincolnshire for more than 110 years. We visited a construction site near Grimsby to talk about how climate change is beginning to reshape the realities of building in the UK. Chris, who also serves as president of the Federation of Master Builders, reflects on the pressures facing the construction industry as extreme weather, changing regulations, and rising costs begin to alter how homes are designed and built. From heavier rainfall and flood risk to the need for more resilient materials and infrastructure, he explains why adapting the UK’s housing stock will be one of the defining challenges for builders in the years ahead. We also hear from Richard Parrott, a carpenter at the company, about the changes he’s seeing on the job - from working through more intense summer heat to the growing awareness of risks like overheating and skin cancer for those spending long days outdoors - and how builders are beginning to adapt to a changing climate.

The Stockport family learning to live with the rising risk of flooding

In this story we hear from Abi and Steve Churchley, whose family home in Stockport, where they live with their two daughters, has been flooded twice in recent years, first in 2019 and again in 2025. They describe the shock of seeing their home submerged for a second time, the emotional toll of rebuilding, and the growing sense of uncertainty that comes with living in a changing climate. Almost a year on from the most recent flood, Abby and Steve are still repairing the damage and looking to install property flood protection measures to safeguard their home. But their story is also one of community and resilience. After enduring the trauma of repeated flooding, they’ve turned their experience into action, creating a website and support network to help others through what can be an exhausting and isolating process. Together, they reflect on what it means to adapt, to rebuild, and to stay hopeful as climate change reshapes life in their neighbourhood.

How changing weather is putting pressure on Britain’s beekeepers

In this story we speak with Ian Campbell, a beekeeper and spokesperson for the British Beekeepers Association, at his apiary near Newcastle. Ian has been keeping bees for decades, witnessing firsthand how a changing climate is reshaping their behaviour and the environment they depend on. He explains how extreme weather, unpredictable seasons, and shifting ecosystems are making it harder for colonies to thrive, from disrupted flowering patterns to food shortages and disease. We talk about the crucial role bees play in global food security, the mounting challenges facing beekeepers across the UK, and Ian’s reflections on what the future might hold for an industry so closely tied to the rhythms of nature.

How a village pub is feeling the pressure of floods, rising bills, and climate change

In this story we visit The Royal Oak in Brandon, just outside Coventry, a pub that flooded 12 times during the winter of 2023/24. Owner Khara Schrijvers describes the devastation caused by Storm Henk, when brown floodwater forced the pub to close for four months and left behind burst pipes, cracked floors, damaged roofs, and a repair bill of around £180,000. Faced with uncertainty about whether the business could survive, Khara considered closing the doors for good. Instead, she chose to invest in protecting the building - installing custom-made aluminium flood gates on new brick walls surrounding the pub, designed to slow the rate of water entering and give drains a chance to cope. We talk with Khara about the toll repeated flooding takes on a small business, and how climate change is not only driving more extreme weather but also pushing up food prices and energy bills - creating multiple challenges for pubs like hers. Since reopening, The Royal Oak has extended its opening hours to make up for lost revenue, and Khara credits the local community for their loyalty and support. While the risk of flooding remains, she says the new defences offer reassurance and a chance to keep the pub’s doors open in the face of increasingly extreme weather.