Environmental projects

Environmental projects are a growing part of the voluntary and community sector’s activities with funding available for specific areas. The headings below are:

  • General Environmental Funding and Advice
  • Food
  • Green and open spaces
  • Environmental Education
  • Disadvantaged and Disabled Communities and the Environment
  • Farming

GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING AND ADVICE

Young people and the environment  GreenPrints has grants and practical support available for environmental projects designed and delivered by groups of volunteers aged 16 to 25. For more information: http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/apply/greenprints or phone 01454 269090

Natural England  You may like to visit the website for Natural England which brings together the Countryside Agency, English Nature and the Rural Development Service. You can visit the regional pages of their website on: www.naturalengland.org.uk

Nature on the map  You can type in your post code and identify designated sites near you on an interactive map. This type of factual information may be useful to support your funding application. You can locate national nature reserves, areas of semi-natural habitat and other protected sites by visiting: http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)  The Heritage Lottery Fund also funds projects that “conserve and enhance the UK’s diverse heritage”. A full list of the Heritage Lottery Fund grant giving programmes is available at: www.hlf.org.uk/English/HowToApply/OurGrantGivingProgrammes/
You can find the regional page at www.hlf.org.uk/english/InYourArea/SouthWest/

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)  You can find comprehensive information, including an A-Z of all DEFRA grant and funding schemes at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/funding/index.htm

Improving access to nature  Natural England have grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 to help encourage people from all backgrounds to understand, access and enjoy the natural environment. For more information please see: www.naturalengland.org.uk

Environmental Grants from DIY Retailer  Through their One Planet Living (OPL) scheme you can apply to your local B & Q store for funding to support community projects around the environment, energy saving, natural habitats, wildlife and local culture or heritage. The scheme provides £50 to £500 of B & Q materials. To apply contact the store manager at your local B & Q store.

Broad range of funding  The John Paul Getty Junior Charitable Trust has funding available for a wide range of projects including social welfare, the arts, conservation and the environment. Funding is not given to individuals. For more information: www.jpgettytrust.org.uk

The Future of Nature  Naturesave have grants available from £100 to £10,000 to help projects that deal with the root of a specific environmental or conservation problem, and projects that encourage the business sector to develop sustainably. Voluntary organisations, companies and entrepreneurs can apply. For more information: http://www.naturesave.co.uk/naturesave_trust.html

Funding available for charities  The Dulverton Trust has grants of up to £25,000 available for the following; Youth and education; General welfare; Conservation;  Religion; Preservation; Peace and Security; Africa. Registered charities and organisations with charitable status can apply. For more information: www.dulverton.org

All sorts of causes  The Garfield Weston Foundation has grants available of between £3,000 and £1million. They support a wide variety of good causes including: education, the arts, welfare, youth, community, environment, mental health, health, religion (especially church restoration) and others. For more information: www.garfieldweston.org or phone 02073 996565

Repairing outdoor facilities: Bovril has grants of £20,000 available to small projects that repair outdoor facilities. For example a dishevelled stone wall, a broken stile on a nature trail or a campsite in need of repair. Buy a promotional jar of Bovril to nominate a project. Projects can be nominated up to 28 February 2010. For more information: www.bovril.co.uk/revival

You can also vote for which projects should be supported on the same website!

Foundation Funding: The Waterloo Foundation has funding available of up to £100,000 to registered charities and not for profit organisations with charitable purposes. Grants are awarded for child development and the environment. For more information: www.waterloofoundation.org.uk

Biodiversity: SITAs Enriching Nature Programme has grants of up to £120,000 available to not for profit organisations. Projects must focus on a species or habitat that has been identified as a priority by the UK Biodiversity Action Planning Process. The funding will run until 2012 with three funding rounds each year. Projects must be within 10 miles of a landfill site. For more information: www.sitatrust.org.uk

Children and young adults- environment: The Mark Leonard Trust has funding available to projects that involve children and young adults in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. Projects supported in the past include an environmentally friendly classroom and food growing activities. For more information: www.sfct.org.uk/mark_leonard.html

Climate change:  The Low Carbon Communities Challenge has funding available of up to £500,000 for local authorities, charities and social enterprises to help their communities fight climate change. Projects could range from a biomass plant to electric car charge points. For more information:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/lc_communities/lc_communities.aspx

FOOD

Local Food  A new £50million grants programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund to fund local food projects. Grants from £2,000 to £300,000 will be awarded to not-for-profit groups and organisations to deliver projects such as growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food, composting and raising awareness of the benefits of local food. Applications for grants can be submitted anytime. Further details: www.localfoodgrants.org or phone 08453 671671.

Funding for Food  The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has a new £3million funding stream available to promote understanding of the role of food in enhancing quality of life. The Foundation are interested in work that influences policy and practice across a range of food-related areas, enabling as many people in the UK as possible to access, prepare and eat nutritious, sustainable food. For more information: www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk

Home Grown, Community Owned: Home Grown- Community Owned (HogCO) is run by the Community Council of Devon (CCD) and supports local food projects. It prioritises community food growing groups that involve a diverse range of people, creates partnerships and are innovative in some way. Participating groups can access a range of support including: advice, training, professional help and information. For more information phone CCD on 01392 383423 or e-mail info@hogco-devonrcc.org.uk

GREEN AND OPEN SPACES

Parks and Open Spaces  Parks for People, run by the Heritage Lottery Fund have grants of between £250,000 and £5million available for projects involving urban or rural green spaces designed for informal recreation and enjoyment. This can include public gardens, walks, promenades, squares etc. Priority will be given to schemes that the community value, and actively involve local people. For more information: www.hlf.org.uk/English/howtoapply/ourgrantgivingprogrammes/parks+for+people

Waterways  The Waterways Trust has funding of up to £1,000 available to community groups and schools for waterway wildlife conservation projects. In particular they would like to fund ponds linked to canals, and community based projects to improve facilities on canals and waterways. For more information: http://www.thewaterwaystrust.co.uk/

Community Spaces  Groundwork UK has grants of over £10,000 available for community groups that want to make their neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. This includes improving and creating play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas, ponds, courts and village greens.  For more information: http://www.community-spaces.org.uk/ or phone 0845 671671

Forestry Commission  You can also find information on Forestry Commission grants and licences at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5ygfbu

Woodland  The Woodland Trust has grants available for community woodland groups in their work in managing and conserving woodland. Funding is primarily for items that will help with the long-term sustainability of the woodland group such as training, tools and activities and events. For more information: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk or phone 01476 581135

Waterways training  Waterways have funding available to individuals and societies to help with the cost of training in skills associated with inland waterways restoration. Awards are for up to £750, some match funding will be required. Deadlines are 31 March and 30 September 2010. For more information visit: www.waterways.org.uk or phone 01923 711114

Tree planting  The Tree Council has funding available for community groups, including Parish and Town Councils, throughout the UK proposing to undertake well-planned tree planting projects starting in National Tree Week which usually takes place in November or December each year. The deadline for applications is 31 May 2010. For more information visit: www.treecouncil.org.uk or phone 020 7407 9992

Woodlands  The Woodland Improvement Grant funds capital investment in woodlands to create, enhance and sustain an increase in the quantity and quality of public benefits delivered. For more details about the funding in East Devon contact Richard Preston, richard.preston@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or phone 01626 890666

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The Natural World  East Devon District Council's Natural Environment Awareness Grant Scheme offers grants of up to £10,000. This funding is to help fund projects that aim to increase awareness and understanding of the natural world. In particular we are looking for schools, local community groups and local interest groups that are looking to teach people about the natural environment. For more information: www.eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside or phone 01395 517557 for help and advice.

The Countryside  The Country Land and Business Association Charitable Trust has grants of up to £2,000 available. This funding is to help provide facilities for the disabled to take part in country sports and recreation and training in agriculture and horticulture, also promoting education in the countryside for disadvantaged children and young people. Applications should be for a specific project or item of capital equipment. For more information: www.clacharitabletrust.org.uk or phone 01636 636171

DISADVANTAGED AND DISABLED COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Ecominds  The Big Lottery Fund has set up an Ecominds project which aims to help people with direct experience of mental distress become involved in environmental projects that improve mental and physical health and local communities. The programme has £7.5 million to distribute to around 125 new and existing projects focusing on mental health and the environment around England over the next five years. For more information: www.ecominds.org.uk or phone 08453 671671

Green money  The Ashden Trust has grants of up to £20,000 available to organisations focusing on climate change, sustainable development and improving the quality of life in poorer communities. Your organisation must have a track record of delivering innovative and effective projects. For more information phone 020 7410 0330 or e-mail ashdentrust@sfct.org.uk

The Countryside  The Country Land and Business Association Charitable Trust has grants of up to £2,000 available. This funding is to help provide facilities for the disabled to take part in country sports and recreation and training in agriculture and horticulture, also promoting education in the countryside for disadvantaged children and young people. Applications should be for a specific project or item of capital equipment. For more information: www.clacharitabletrust.org.uk or phone 01636 636171

FARMING

Rural Funds  The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust has funding of up to £235,000 available to community and voluntary groups. In particular work in the areas of agriculture, rural development and insurance in the UK will be considered. For more information: www.nfumutual.co.uk

FURTHER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
If you need further assistance or advice, please contact: Jamie Buckley, Engagement and Funding Officer, East Devon District Council. Tel no: 01395 517569  email:jbuckley@eastdevon.gov.uk