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Funding opportunities

If you have an idea for a local project to tackle climate change, there are a wide range of grants available across the UK to help you. Below is a non-exhaustive list of council, local and national funding opportunities. 

Council grants

No council grants for climate change initiatives are available at the moment. Check back here in future for updates. 

Local grants

  • Community Project Support (Lancashire County Council)
    Lancashire County Council's community projects team support projects to strengthen communities and improve wellbeing. They are particularly keen to work with organisations who support: health and wellbeing, improvements to green spaces, food-growing and healthy eating projects, training and development support.
  • Lancashire County Council 4 Community 
    Lancashire County Council have launched a new, free-to-use online search tool for grants and funding. This includes help and advice on making a funding application. 
  • Lancashire Climate Action Network (Lancs CAN) 
    Lancs CAN provides a list of local funding opportunities. 
  • Sustainability Fund; transforming local communities and environments (Veolia) 
    The Veolia Sustainability Fund provides in-kind resources, cash sponsorship or staff volunteers for community groups and not-for-profit organisations transform their local community. Successful projects will help to achieve one or more of the following: enhanced biodiversity, promotion of sustainable waster behaviours (reduce, reuse, recycle), protection or preservation of resources and the environment and the projects use of reused, recycled or reclaimed materials. Veolia will favour projects that have long term benefits for the community but will also consider them based on merit. Applications open on 22 May to celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity.  
  • Thrive Renewables Community Benefit Programme (Centre for Sustainable Energy) 
    The Centre for Sustainable Energy is encouraging communities to take local action on climate change by supporting them to make energy efficiency changes to buildings in their local community. The programme provides grants up to £4,500 for energy efficiency measures including insulation, LED lighting, draught-proofing and improvements to heating controls. Applications close 24 September 2024. 

National grants

  • Funding for sports projects which deliver both environmental and physical benefits (Sport England)
    Sport England are offering grants of upto £15,000 to support environmental sustainability projects. The projects will support inactive and less active people to get more active, whilst reducing environmental impacts. The key goals of this funding has been separated into 3 areas: reducing energy use, encouraging responsible travel and reducing waste/improving resource efficiency. Funding is available to voluntary community groups, local authorities and charities. There is no deadline, this is an open fund, however 12 weeks notice will be provided if the fund is to close. 
  • Funding to help communities tackle climate change (Climate Action Fund)
    Grants of up to £1.5 million are being provided to tackle climate action. This fund is open to organisations who are working in formal partnership across sectors. The partnership should inspire people to take action and influence communities at a regional or national level through linking climate action to everyday life and the interests of local communities. The fund is particularly interested in funding projects involving people, places and communities that are experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. Applications will be accepted until at least the end of 2024.
  • Forestry Training Fund (UK Government)
    £700,000 in funding is available through the government’s Nature for Climate Fund to cover the cost of short, practical forestry training courses. The fund will cover 100% of the funding for eligible courses which is expected to be between £150- £3,000. Applicants should be interested in working towards a career in forestry, those working in land-based sectors or those who work in the forestry sector. The fund is accepting applications until March 2025.
  • Energy for Tomorrow (Centrica)
    This scheme seeks to fund projects making a difference in the community. They support a range of projects, such as installing an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging point, through to funding transformational energy tools.
  • Free Trees for Schools and Communities (Woodland Trust)
    The Woodland Trust are giving away tree packs to schools and communities. Applicants are able to apply for the following tree packs: hedge, copse, wild harvest, year-round colour, working wood, wild wood, wildlife and urban trees. The scheme is currently taking applications for tree packs to be delivered in March 2025. Applications are due to close in January 2025. 
  • Funding to build healthier ecosystems in urban and rural environments (The John Ellerman Foundation)
    The John Ellerman Foundation is offering grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 per year for up to 3 years to UK registered charities with an income of between £100,000 and £10m. The funding will prioritise projects that can make a national impact or local initiatives that can be upscaled to a country level. Organisations that are eligible should take an evidence-based approach to improve the natural environment and understand the significance of habitats on both human wellbeing and the impact that people have on nature. There is no deadline to apply for this fund. 
  • Rewilding Challenge Fund (Rewilding Britain)
    The Rewilding Britain's 'Rewilding Challenge Fund' is offering £100,000 to support a large-scale (at least 1,000 ha/ 10km²) rewilding project, that provides both social and ecological benefits for the local communities. Expressions of interest are open until 11 October. 
  • Rewilding Innovation Fund (Rewilding Britain)
    Rewilding Britain's 'Rewilding Innovation Fund' is offering up to £15,000 to support rewilding across Britain. The fund aims to support projects that have a high impact on people and nature on land and sea, with a target to remove barriers to rewilding. Applicants must be a member of the Rewilding Network and the project must take place on over 40 hectares of land. Applications for funding are now closed but will reopen in spring 2025. 
  • Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions (UK Government)
    A grant for state-funded education institutes to provide support towards the costs of purchase, infrastructure and installation of electric vehicle chargepoints. Applicants can get 75% off the cost to buy and install chargepoints up to a maximum of £2500 per socket and up to 40 sockets across all sites (this includes any applications made previously through the Workplace Charging Scheme). Funding is confirmed until 31 March 2025.
  • Grant funding for community projects near landfill sites (Biffa Award)
    The Biffa Award has several grant themes Rebuilding Biodiversity, Community Buildings, Recreation and Cultural Facilities. Eligible organisations must be fully constituted, charitable or not-for-profit with no share capital. The application value must be between £10,000 and £75,000. Each theme has its own eligibility criteria and all must benefit the whole community.  
  • Funding for small organisations that will make a big impact on communities, people or the environment (Matthew Good Foundation)
    The Grants for Good Fund awards £60,000 per year to 20 charitable organisations. Funding is provided every 3 months, 5 shortlisted projects receiving a share of £15,000. The funding is unrestricted and therefore can go towards any of the organisations running costs. Applicants are welcome to apply year round.
  • Funding to rejuvenate rural community green spaces (DEFRA) 
    DEFRA has announced a fund of up to £7m to boost access to nature, supporting rural communities across England to get involved in green spaces. Grants of up to £75,000 will be provided to community projects such as see community orchards, kitchen gardens, and natural play areas. The fund is expected to open to applications in summer 2024. 
  • Grants for community and environmental improvement projects (SUEZ Communities Fund)
    The SUEZ Communities Fund is inviting not-for-profit organisations in England and Scotland to apply for funding for community and environmental improvement projects. Eligible organisations in England can apply for grants of up to £50,000, whilst organisations in Scotland can apply for grants of up to £25,000. The funding is usually awarded for the purchase of materials/equipment and the appointment of a contractor to undertake the improvement work. The next closing date for Scottish applicants is 7 August 2024. The next closing date for applicants in England is 20 November 2024. 
  • New Fund launched for community organisations to enhance energy efficiency (Crowdfunder)
    Community organisations in England can apply for a share of £250,000 of funding to reduce energy usage and carbon footprint. The funding is made available through the Energy Efficiency Sharematch fund. It can be used to install on-site energy generation measures like solar panels and heat pumps, improve building energy efficiency through insulation and LED lighting, and upgrade operational equipment to more energy-efficient alternatives. The application process requires an initial expression of interest, followed by a formal application through the Crowdfunder platform for eligible projects. The fund's application closing date is March 2025, and the goal is to allocate all funds before this deadline. 
  • Funding to retrofit buildings with energy-generating or saving technologies (Power to Change) 
    Community businesses can apply for financial support ranging from £10,000 to £150,000 to help stabilise or reduce energy costs, supporting the transition to more sustainable energy practices. The funding, made available through the Power to Change Energy Resilience Fund, can be used for various projects, including retrofitting buildings with energy-generating or saving technologies. Up to 40% of the total funding can be provided as a grant, with additional energy audit grants available between £500 and £2,500. The grant is available to community businesses in England that own a building or have a long-term lease of 12 years or more. The programme is funded by Power to Change and delivered by the Key Fund. Community organisations in England can apply for a share of £250,000 of funding to reduce energy usage and carbon footprint. 
  • Funding for projects that promote a better understanding of the environment and countryside (Niveveh Charitable Trust)
    UK based schools and not for profit organisations can apply for funding to the Nineveh Charitable Trust for a broad range of projects and activities that promote a better understanding of the environment and countryside, whilst facilitating improved access, education and research. Applications can be submitted at any time.
  • Funding to support schools to undertake research around climate change and biodiversity (The Royal Society)
    The Royal Society's 'Tomorrow's Climate Scientists' grant is inviting schools to apply for grants of up to £3000 to investigative STEM projects in partnership with STEM proffesionals from acedemia or industry. These projects must undertake research into a topic that links to climate change and biodiversity. Free online induction sessions are being held by the scheme to support with the application process. The deadline for applications is 30 November 2024. 
  • Heat Network Efficiency Scheme Round 8 to open to applicants (UK Government)
    The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme(HNES) opened to applicants in February 2023. It is a £32 million grant support scheme spanning 2023-2024 (Year 1) and 2024-2025 (Year 2). The scheme will provide funding to public, private and third sector applicants in England and Wales to support improvements to existing district heating or communal heating projects that are operating suboptimally and resulting in poor outcomes for customers and operators. Applications are open until 8 November 2024.
  • Funding available to retrofit buildings with energy-generating or saving technologies (Power to Change)
    Community businesses can apply for financial support ranging from £10,000 to £150,000 to help stabilise or reduce energy costs, supporting the transition to more sustainable energy practices. The funding, made available through the Power to Change Energy Resilience Fund, can be used for various projects, including retrofitting buildings with energy-generating or saving technologies. Up to 40% of the total funding can be provided as a grant, with additional energy audit grants available between £500 and £2,500. The grant is available to community businesses in England that own a building or have a long-term lease of 12 years or more. The programme is funded by Power to Change and delivered by Key Fund. 
  • Funding for community-led sustainability projects (Stobart)
    The Stobart Sustainability Fund is providing funding to support the transformation of local communities through projects that tackle climate change, reduce emissions or protect and enhance the environment. Applications are welcomed from non-profit organizations, community groups, small businesses and educational facilities. There is no deadline. 
  • Funding for people taking action in marine conservation (Sea Changers)
    Sea Changers offer one-off grants to UK based charities and other organisations (this includes schools) who are taking part in marine conservation related activities. The projects which will be funded meet one or more of the following objectives; to address the root causes of marine conservation threats and challenges in the UK, to prevent or reduce negative impacts on UK coastal and marine environments and/or species, to add to the body of knowledge about marine conservation threats and challenges in the UK. For main grants between £500 and £2500, there are two grant round per year. The deadline for main grants are 31 March and 30 September. For small grants up to £500, applications are welcome any time. 

Useful links

  • Find a Grant - a service to help you find government grants and check if you are eligible to apply. You can sign up to get alerts when new grants are available.
  • My Community - helps you to search for grants to deliver your projects
  • Grant Finder - a funding database in the UK covering local, national and international sources of funding
  • Energy Saving Trust - list of grants and loans for saving energy
  • Community Energy England - a comprehensive list of updated grants for community energy schemes
  • North West Net Zero Hub - free strategic and technical support for local community groups to develop net zero projects. 

Check our disclaimer before applying

Please get in touch if you have any funding opportunities you wish to promote, or to inform us if your project has been successful.

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