Climate Action Fund

From Wednesday 27 March 2024 you can apply for funding from the Climate Action Fund.

The National Lottery community fund will support projects that reach more people by linking climate action to everyday lives. This may be in local communities or projects that influence communities regionally. 

The minimum you can ask for is £500,000. There is an expectation that most projects will be funded for between £1 million and £1.5 million over 3 to 5 years.

For more information on this fund, you can book to attend one of the webinar sessions:

• Wednesday 27 March 2024 1pm-2pm. 
• Thursday 16 May 2024 11am-12pm.
• Tuesday 21 May 2024 2pm-3pm.

Find out more and apply for the Climate Action Fund.

Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions

Grant for eligible state-funded education institutes to provide support towards the costs of the purchase, installation and infrastructure of electric vehicle chargepoints.

• Closing date: 31 March 2025, 11:59pm

Find out more and apply for the Education EV charging scheme.

Workplace charging scheme

Grant to provide support towards the costs of the purchase, installation and infrastructure of electric vehicle chargepoints at eligible places of work.

• Closing date: 31 March 2025, 11:59pm

Find out more and apply for the workplace EV charging scheme.

Local Authority Treescapes Fund (LATF) - Round 4

The LATF is the government offer for local authorities (LAs) to restore tree cover in non-woodland areas which may have been impacted by issues such as disease, habitat degradation or ageing tree stock. 

The LATF is now open all year and is inviting bids with a minimum value of £50,000 through competitive bidding. 

Local Authorities are encouraged to work with schools, other organisations, grass root organisations, community groups, NGOs and private individuals to deliver tree planting.

Borough, District and City Councils, as well as County Councils, Unitary and Metropolitan Boroughs may apply on their own or in groups.

Local Authorities may only apply for a one-year planting period (planting season (winter) 2024-25).

• Closing date: 30 June 2024 (final date for round 4).

Find out more and apply for the Local Authority treescapes fund.

VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme

Offering independent energy assessments (IEA) to help identify ways to save energy in buildings.

An IEA is a comprehensive evaluation of your building’s energy usage, efficiency and potential for energy savings. The assessment is conducted by a qualified and experienced independent energy assessor.

Assessment requests must be from a single applicant with charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes.

• Closing date: August 2024

Find out more and apply for the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme.

Free Trees for Schools and Communities

The woodland Trust are giving away free trees.

Open to nurseries, schools, universities, parish councils, sports clubs, guides, scouts and more.

Deadline anticipated to be August 2024 with trees delivered November 2024.

Find out more about the Woodland Trust free trees for schools and communities programme.

Barclays Green Loan

Open to SME’s who require funding and expert guidance to deliver green projects.

Loan to help you fund eligible green assets for your business, helping you explore ways to transition your business towards net zero. 

There is currently no closing date.

Find out more and apply for a Green Barclayloan.

HSBC – Supporting your sustainability transition

Guides, resources, and financing support available from HSBC to help support net zero objectives.

Information on the ‘Green SME Fund,’ ‘Green Term Loans,’ ‘Green Asset Finance’ and other sustainability based financial support.

Find out more and apply for HSBC sustainability support.

Schroder Charity Trust

The Schroder Charity Trust offers grants of up to £5,000 towards core and project costs to charities registered in the UK.

The trust supports grants for environment and conservation projects.

Groups can apply at any time. The Schroder Charity Trust operates a rolling programme. 

Find out more and apply to the Schroder Charity Trust.

Tesco Stronger Starts

Tesco Stronger Starts is open to charities and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £1,500. 

Grants will be awarded to:

• Schools.
• Voluntary or community organisations.
• Health bodies or NHS Hospital Trusts.
• Parish/Town Councils or local authorities.
• Social housing providers.

Many other organisations can also benefit from this funding.

Applications are open to all local good causes. Tesco are currently prioritising projects that support children’s food security and health and locally nominated good causes.

This is a rolling programme. Three projects from each local area will be shortlisted to go to the public vote every three months.

Find out more about Tesco Stronger Starts.

Aviva Community Fund (with Crowdfunding)

This is a match-funding initiative for charitable and community organisations. Funding is delivered in partnership with Crowdfunder.

Aviva will match each donation you receive up to £250. You can receive up to £50,000 in match funding and eligible causes can apply at any time.

The Aviva Community Fund also provides access to volunteers. As well as tools and resources they help build their capabilities to achieve long-term sustainable success.

Funding areas:

• Financial Wellbeing: helping people take control of their wellbeing by giving them the tools to be more financially independent.
• Climate Action: Promoting healthy, thriving communities by preventing, preparing for and protecting against the impacts of climate change.

There are currently no deadlines.

Find out more and apply to the Aviva Community Fund.

Local School Nature Grants Scheme

The Local Schools Nature Grants Scheme allows educational settings (Early years, infant, primary and secondary schools) to apply for £500 worth of outdoor resources, and a two hour training session.

The scheme is looking for settings whose learners are passionate about making environmental improvements for the benefit of their pupils, staff, and the community.

Applicants must be employed by the school.

Applications close on 26 April 2024.

Find out about Local School Nature Grants.

Net Zero Barnsley

Barnsley businesses keen to reduce carbon emissions are being offered free support and a possible grant worth up to £12,499 to invest in green innovation.

The SME criteria for grant support is a turnover of no more than £36 million, a balance sheet of no more than £18 million, and a total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees not exceeding 250.

Find out about Net Zero Barnsley.

Phase 5 Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund

Phase 5 of the Low Carbon Skills Fund has been confirmed for the financial year 2024/25.
The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and is delivered by Salix.

The application portal will open on Wednesday 17 April and close on Wednesday 1 May 2024.

Find out about the Phase 5 Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund.

Women in Green Business Awards 2024

The Women in Green Business Awards will showcase the companies committed to tackling gender inequities as they drive forward UK climate action, while celebrating the role women are already playing in building the UK’s green economy.

These awards are a celebration of the women working in the UK’s green economy, and the sustainability-focused companies taking strides to improve equity and inclusion across the industry.

Nominate by 12am on Friday 19 April 2024.

Find out about the Women in Green Business Awards 2024.

The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2024

The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award is granted annually to a professional female photographer towards the completion of a compelling and cohesive documentary photo essay, which addresses an important social, environmental, economic or cultural issue, whether local or global.

The overall winner is awarded a grant of £2,500.

Applications close: Friday 17 May 2024.

Find out about the Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2024.

Community Energy Fund

Applications for the Community Energy Fund Round 2 are now open. The Community Energy Fund (CEF) is a £10m grant scheme for urban and rural communities to develop energy services to benefit their local area.

The fund is for eligible community-based organisations in England with projects that will bring benefits to the local community.

Funding is for the development of projects from concept to investment-ready scheme.

Funding will be offered for a Stage 1 Feasibility Grant of up to £40k to produce a feasibility study to establish the technical and financial viability of a project, and/or a Stage 2 Development Grant of up to £100k for a more detailed investigation of the technology, for planning applications and to develop a business case.

Deadline: 5 May 2024.

Find out about the Community Energy Fund.

The Venturesome Impact Fund

This social investment fund supports organisations all over the UK, irrespective of cause area or geography.

They offer repayable loans between £50,000 and £1 million, with a 5.5% fixed interest rate that won’t change during the lifetime of the facility.

The loans are continuously open to applications.

Eligibility:

• Have a clear charitable purpose and social impact. You don’t need to be a registered charity.
• Incorporated and registered in the UK.
• Have been trading for at least one year and can provide evidence either from donations or trading.
• Have a minimum annual turnover of £75,000.

Find out about the Venturesome Impact Fund.

Amazon Sustainability Accelerator

The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is an equity-free programme supporting start-ups who are driving sustainable innovation.

The Amazon 2024 challenges are:

ClimateTech Pilot Challenge

For innovative climate-tech start-ups that can pilot their technology with Amazon.

Deadline: Friday 5 April 2024

Consumer Product Programme

Supporting early-stage start-ups developing sustainable and innovative physical consumer products that have recently launched or about to go to market.

Deadline: Wednesday 31 July 2024

Find out about the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator.

England Woodland Creation Offer

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) is open to owner occupiers, tenants, landlords and licensors who have full management control of the land in the application.

You could receive up to £10,200 per hectare, plus up to an extra £12,700 in stackable payments when delivering wider benefits to society, nature recovery and the environment, to support your woodland creation scheme.

Deadline: 30 June 2024.

Find out about the England Woodland Creation Offer.