Grants for Community & Environmental Projects (England & Scotland)
Not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to deliver projects that improve communities and the environment.
The funding is made available through the SUEZ Communities Fund for projects that improve public amenities, repair religious or historic buildings, or support biodiversity in areas surrounding Suez landfill sites.
The maximum grant amount is:
- £50,000 for projects in England
- £20,000 for projects in Scotland
Funding typically covers:
- Materials
- Equipment
- contractors for improvement work
The application deadline is the 14th May 2025 for applications in both Scotland and England.
Useful Links:
Grants of up to £150,000 Available to Protect Water and Land Environments
UK charities and non-profit organisations working to protect, restore, or sustainably manage the natural world are eligible to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 per year, for up to three years from the John Ellerman Foundation's People and Planet funding scheme.
Launched to promote a healthier environment for both people and nature the Foundation awards funding under two main headings:
- The Ocean – protection, restoration and sustainable use of the ocean, through more and effectively and equitably managed protected areas; ocean recovery; engaging coastal communities; reducing overfishing and addressing other harmful effects of human activity on, and in the ocean, such as pollution.
- Land and fresh waters– building healthier ecosystems in urban or rural environments, through effective and sustainable management including implementing evidence-based interventions conservation and restoration; connecting fragmented habitats; and landscape-scale work to protect and restore places of special significance. The Foundation will also support work to reduce or prevent the damaging impacts of human activities, particularly climate change, and air, land and water pollution from chemicals and other pollutants.
The focus is on the UK and UK waters. However, the Foundation are also keen to support land and marine-based work in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). For work in the UKOTs, the Foundation welcome applications from UK charities working in partnership with local Territory-based NGOs and from charities based in the UKOTs. UKOTs-based charities can apply either directly or through a charity in the UK.
Applications are particularly encouraged from organisations that:
- Recognise the link between healthy ecosystems and human well-being.
- Integrate the needs of local communities into their environmental solutions.
- Collaborate with other stakeholders and take an evidence-based approach.
There are no deadlines and applications can be submitted at any time
There are, however, three main stages to the assessment process:
- Eligibility Check
- Review of First Stage Application
- Review of Second Stage Application.
Useful Links:
Funding for Rural Community and Education Projects
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust offers grants for initiatives that support charities in the UK working in agriculture and rural development. The Trustees are particularly interested in initiatives that meet the following criteria:
- Advance the education of the public using research and dissemination of information about agriculture, a key area of interest for the Trustees.
- Advance the education of young people within rural areas
- Relieve poverty within rural areas
- Promote the benefit and social welfare of rural community inhabitants by associating with the inhabitants and local authorities, voluntary and other organisations to advance education and leisure.
- Promote research into agriculture-associated activities
- Advance the education of the public using research and dissemination of information in relation to insurance provided that the charity may also promote, facilitate and support any such other purposes as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales
Grants range from £1,000 to £ 50,000. Larger donations are specifically aimed at supporting organisations that have a significant impact on rural communities at a national level.
The next closing date for applications is the 23rd May 2025.
Useful Links:
Funding for Youth-Led Climate Justice Initiatives
A new fund has been launched to support youth-led organisations fighting for climate justice in England.
The Roots & Routes Fund aims to empower young people aged 18 to 30, particularly those from underrepresented groups who are most affected by climate injustice, to drive systemic change.
For this fund, underrepresented groups are defined as:
- Communities experiencing racial injustice
- Disabled communities
- LGBTQIA + communities
- Working class communities
- Women
In its pilot phase, the fund offers unrestricted funding of up to £20,000 to five organisations, as well as resources and networking opportunities.
Projects may include advocacy, research, training, or activities aimed at achieving lasting impact.
The fund is delivered by the Blagrave Trust, in partnership with the Co-op Foundation, the Energy Saving Trust Foundation, OVO Foundation, and Impatience Earth.
Insights from these organisations and beneficiaries will help shape future iterations of the fund.
Organisations with an annual income of between £10,000 and £500,000 are eligible to apply.
Applications close on the 2nd June 2025.
Useful Links:
Funding for Community Energy Projects
Community energy groups across the UK are invited to register their interest for funding to support projects that deliver positive social and environmental outcomes within local communities.
Funded by Younity in partnership with Your Co-op Energy, the Powering Communities Fund aims to help groups and organisations deliver social impact projects, such as creating community resources, running events for young people, or starting a community garden.
Grants of up to £3,750 can be used to cover the costs of:
- equipment
- local events or workshops
- staff costs
- volunteer training
- additional activities to expand an existing project
- support for an organisation to achieve a quality or other standard, relevant to their activities
- developing a local service or venue
To be eligible, organisations must have a current or upcoming Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Younity or have utilised their Kickstart Loan facility.
Useful Links:
Free Trees for Schools & Community Groups (UK)
Hundreds of thousands of trees are being given away to help the UK reach its 2050 carbon net-zero target. Schools, nurseries, colleges, universities, outdoor learning centres, and other groups such as resident associations, sports clubs, parish councils, scouts and guides from across the UK are among the organisations eligible to apply for up to 420 saplings to improve their local environment. Tree packs include hedging, copse, wild harvest, year-round colour, working wood, wild wood, wildlife, and urban trees. The closing date for applications is the 13th January 2025.
Funding Available to Retrofit Buildings with Energy-Generating or Saving Technologies (England)
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. To find out more please contact Sarah Dennis on 07889 881459 or email Sarah.Dennis@thekeyfund.co.uk