Find funding for your project
Want to get funding to support your community group to decarbonise, improve energy efficiency, and benefit people and the planet? We’ve collated opportunities that are available across the region and beyond.
Midlands-based funding opportunities
The WMCA Community Green Grants will fund projects that tackle green deprivation whilst also improving the local environment, by:
• Increasing or improving green/blue spaces close to where people live
• Connecting people to nature, especially communities experiencing green deprivation
• Enhancing the local environment
Small Grants £3,000 – £25,000
Large Grants £25,000 – £100,000
The Community Energy Warwickshire Fund is a grant programme for projects in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull looking to improve their energy efficiency.
There are grants of up to £2,000 available and aims to fund projects that:
• Support the development and installation of renewable energy projects
• Encourage the sustainable use of energy and reductions in carbon emissions
• Promote public awareness of environmental issues and support educational initiatives
• Encourage the implementation of sustainable initiatives to community buildings
The Community and Environment Fund was created to add benefit to communities along the route that are demonstrably disrupted by the construction of Phase One of HS2 from London to West Midlands and Phase 2a from the West Midlands to Crewe.
Find out more about the funding and take the eligibility quiz
Severn Trent Community Fund supports new projects by local charities and community groups in the Severn Trent region, helping to make a real and tangible difference in communities. The fund is overseen by a Community Fund Panel made up of Severn Trent’s customers who review applications and so, ultimately, it’s their customers who decide where the money goes.
The Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants programme will fund practical projects which benefit both people and planet health, with priority given to regeneration of green spaces for community use.
Application deadline: 30/6/23
Funding amounts: £250 – £2,500
The Rural Development Fund supports rural communities across Staffordshire through the allocation of small grants to community groups that are committed to strengthening their community and tackling issues faced by rural communities. The Fund awards grants of up to £2,000 to small rural community groups across Staffordshire and Stoke, where they have a specific need.
Find out information from your Local Authority about community-based funding and grants for projects.
National funding opportunities
This funding aims to help communities across the UK to address climate change.
The National Lottery is looking for projects that focus on the link between nature and climate. They want to fund projects that use nature to encourage more community-led climate action. They expect these projects to bring other important social and economic benefits. Like the creation of strong, resilient and healthy communities or the development of ‘green’ skills and jobs.
Closing date for applications: 30/6/2023
This funding aims to inspire and support communities across the UK to address the energy and climate crisis. The National Lottery is looking for projects that show how communities can address climate change while tackling the energy challenges through community-led climate action.
They want to fund projects that:
• Encourage communities to use energy in an environmentally friendly way
• Bring communities together so that they can explore ways to promote energy efficiency
• Enable communities to understand and engage with opportunities for clean energy generation, which do not use fossil fuels.
Projects can apply for up to £1.5 million over 2 to 5 years, with most projects awarded £1 million. Minimum grant £500,000.
Closing date for applications: 28/7/2023
To apply for the Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund, your project needs to be focused on taking action for nature in one of the following three ways:
1. Nature restoration – activity that boosts local biodiversity, by protecting or restoring habitats, creating space for nature, connecting green spaces and/or addressing activities that directly impact biodiversity.
2. Nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviours – action that supports greater connection to nature and promotes pro-environmental behaviours at the community level that will benefit nature.
3. Community cohesion and connection – nature positive activity that encourages collaboration in the local community, by connecting people of diverse backgrounds, generations, and abilities to nature and one another.
The fund will give you £2 for every £1 you raise, to help your project reach its fundraising target quicker.
The Aviva Community Fund backs the clever ideas that move communities forward and provides even more causes with vital support and resources.
Every three months, £250,000 will be shared among Aviva’s UK employees to donate to the projects that matter to them most. Each charity can apply for funding of up to a maximum of £50,000.
England’s Community Forests offer one of the most competitive grant schemes for tree planting. They can support a range of woodland creation schemes, whether it be large scale planting, or a low density or mixed habitat scheme, hedgerows, orchards or woodland pasture. As well as grants that cover up to 100% of costs, your local Community Forest can provide 15 years of maintenance payments, to ensure that any planting continues to deliver long term value for you.
After successfully distributing £500 grants to 2,650 charitable organisations in 2022, Localgiving are incredibly excited to announce that 2023 is going to be even bigger and better than ever before… you won’t want to miss out!
• Organisations must either be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000.
• Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work.
• Applications will be open from 1 March until 31 October 2023.
Veolia’s Environmental Trust supports community and environmental projects across England across England through the Landfill Communities Fund. Next funding window opens 31 August 2023.
