The National Lottery Community Fund (UK Wide) Climate Action Fund - Nature and Climate

Overview

This funding is 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.

They are interested in projects that can do at least one of the following:

• show how creating a deeper connection with nature will lead to changing people’s behaviours and greater care for the environment
• show how by bringing nature back into the places we live and work, we can help communities to reduce or adapt to the impacts of climate change.

You can read our blog for examples of projects they’re likely to fund.

All projects should be creative, include everyone and try out new things. Projects also need to show how they can achieve longer-term, larger change that goes beyond the communities they're directly working with.

They plan to fund between 12 and 15 projects.

They accept applications from either:

• local partnerships
• UK-wide partnerships which are delivered across at least two UK countries (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales).

You can also apply for energy and climate funding, find out more and apply.

Up to £1.5 million over 2 to 5 years, with most projects between £300,000 and £500,000. Development grants of £50,000 to £150,000 over 12 to 18 months.
Application deadline - Ongoing

Who can apply

They will fund partnerships that are made up of a mix of organisations from different sectors. They can fund both new partnerships and partnerships that have already been set up. At this stage, They’re looking for the organisation who is best placed to speak on behalf of the partnership.

This organisation must be either a:

• constituted group or club
• voluntary or community organisation
• registered charity
• charitable incorporated organisation (SCIO/CIO)
• community interest company (CIC)
• not-for-profit company limited by guarantee - you must be a registered charity or have a not-for-profit 'asset lock' clause in your articles of association
• school, college, university (providing your project benefits and involves the wider local communities)
• statutory body (including, town, parish and community council)
• community benefit society.

If you’re a school or an organisation working in a school your project needs to strengthen the community outside of the school too. It should benefit and involve more than just teachers, pupils or parents of pupils.