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

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”.  For more information visit:  http://www.hlf.org.uk

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)  The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs may be able to advise and help with funding. For more information visit: http://ww2.defra.gov.uk or phone 08459 33 55 77

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

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

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

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

The Naturesave Trust has funding available to help communities start to undertake and set up community renewable energy projects. The community should retain as much control as possible over the operating income once the project has been successful. For more information: http://www.naturesave.co.uk/trust_naturesave.html

The Woodland Trust has tree planting packs available for community groups, schools and youth groups. The packs contain either 105 or 420 trees and you can choose the theme of your trees. For more information visit: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/plant-trees/help-advice/Pages/trees-for-communities.aspx or phone 01476 581135

FOOD

Allotments Regeneration Initiative Travel bursaries are available for groups of people involved in improving allotments to enable them to visit other allotment sites to learn good practise. Advice and support is also available at a local level. Examples of funding include an award of £300 for up to six people to visit a specified allotment site. For more information: www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/grants or phone 0117 963 1551.

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

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.org.uk/

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

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. For more information visit: www.treecouncil.org.uk or phone 020 7407 9992

Woodlands  The Woodland Improvement Grant funds capital investment in Ancient or SSSI 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 892853.

The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge aims to protect 2012 outdoor recreation spaces in communities such as pitches, woodland, children’s play areas, gardens, bicycle trails and parks. Local authorities, Parish and Town Councils, sports clubs and other private landowners can apply. The Volunteer Programme will make grants of up to £5,000 to fund projects where volunteers are extensively involved, the Major Works Fund will make grants of up to £25,000. For more information: http://www.qe2fields.com/ or phone 020 7427 2110.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The Countryside  The Country Land and Business Association Charitable Trust has funding 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 visit http://www.cla.org.uk/About_the_CLA/Charitable_Trust_Introduction/ or phone 01636 823835.

The British Ecological Society offers grants of £2,000 to schools, libraries and other organisations to support projects that raise awareness of the importance of ecology. For more information:  http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/grants/ or phone 0207 685 2500

DISADVANTAGED AND DISABLED COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Green money The Ashden Trust has fundinggrants 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 visit: http://www.ashdentrust.org.uk/index.html or phone 020 7410 0330 or e-mail ashdentrust@sfct.org.uk

The Andy Fanshawe Trust funds projects from organisations that give disadvantaged young people the chance to develop an interest in the great outdoors. They will not fund taster sessions or one-off residential trips. Grants are usually between £300 and £500. For more information: www.andyfanshawe.org

FARMING

Rural Funds  The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust has funding 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: http://www.nfumutual.co.uk/about/company-information/charitable-trust/

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

Page last updated on 6 January 2012