Deadline: 15-Jul-2026
The Green Community Grants Programme provides one-year flexible funding for not-for-profit organisations in England, Scotland and Wales working on environmental sustainability, nature recovery and improved community access to nature-rich spaces. Grants of up to £25,000 are available for eligible organisations with annual income between £10,000 and £1 million.
The programme prioritises organisations whose core purpose is directly linked to nature, sustainability, habitat restoration, species protection and climate action. Priority is also given to smaller organisations, groups working in highly deprived communities, and organisations supporting marginalised communities.
What is the Green Community Grants Programme?
The Green Community Grants Programme supports not-for-profit groups working to protect nature, respond to the climate emergency and improve access to green and nature-rich spaces.
The programme provides one-year flexible funding to organisations whose main objectives and day-to-day activities align with environmental sustainability and nature recovery.
It supports both coastal and marine-focused organisations and organisations working in inland communities.
Main Purpose of the Programme
The main purpose of the programme is to support community-based environmental action that protects nature and increases access to nature-rich spaces.
The programme aims to:
- Support nature recovery
- Respond to the climate emergency
- Improve nature-rich spaces
- Increase access to green and natural places
- Support environmental sustainability
- Strengthen community-led climate action
- Encourage habitat and species protection
- Support organisations working with marginalised groups
- Promote citizen science and environmental monitoring
Geographic Focus
The programme supports organisations working in:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
Applicants must be not-for-profit organisations operating in one or more of these areas.
Funding Amount
Grants of up to £25,000 are available.
Funding is provided for one year.
Funding requests must not exceed 25% of the organisation’s annual income as shown in its latest signed accounts.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be not-for-profit organisations.
Applicants must:
- Be based or working in England, Scotland or Wales
- Have annual income between £10,000 and £1 million
- Have been operating for at least 12 months
- Have governing documents that align with one of the programme’s funding themes
- Request funding that does not exceed 25% of annual income
- Demonstrate that their core purpose and main activities relate to nature and sustainability
Priority Applicants
The programme gives priority to organisations that meet one or more priority criteria.
Priority may be given to:
- Organisations with income between £10,000 and £250,000
- Organisations working in communities within the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation
- Organisations supporting disabled people
- Organisations supporting communities experiencing racial inequity
- Organisations supporting LGBT+ people
- Organisations whose governing documents focus on habitat restoration
- Organisations whose governing documents focus on species restoration
- Organisations whose governing documents focus on habitat or species protection
Funding Themes
The programme supports organisations working under key environmental themes.
Funding themes include:
- Nature recovery
- Response to the climate emergency
- Improvement of nature-rich spaces
- Access to nature-rich spaces
- Environmental sustainability
- Habitat restoration
- Species protection
- Community access to nature
- Coastal, marine and inland environmental action
What Types of Activities Are Supported?
Funding can support a wide range of sustainable community activities.
Supported activities may include:
- Recycling initiatives
- Litter picking
- Beach cleans
- Sustainable transport initiatives
- Nature recovery activities
- Habitat improvement
- Species protection activities
- Community access to green spaces
- Environmental monitoring
- Citizen science activities
- Work that improves nature-rich community spaces
Coastal, Marine and Inland Focus
The programme supports both coastal and inland environmental work.
Eligible organisations may include:
- Coastal conservation groups
- Marine-focused organisations
- Inland community nature groups
- Environmental sustainability organisations
- Local nature recovery groups
- Habitat and species protection organisations
- Groups improving access to green and blue spaces
Core Purpose Requirement
Applications are expected to come from organisations whose core purpose directly relates to nature and sustainability.
This means the organisation’s main objectives and activities should already focus on environmental protection, nature recovery, climate action or access to nature.
The programme is not mainly intended for organisations working in unrelated areas that want to run a single environmental project.
Income and Funding Request Rule
Eligible organisations must have annual income between £10,000 and £1 million.
However, funding requests must not exceed 25% of the organisation’s annual income shown in the latest signed accounts.
For example, an organisation with annual income of £60,000 should not request more than £15,000.
Citizen Science and Monitoring Data
The programme encourages funded organisations to share citizen science and environmental monitoring data.
Where relevant, organisations should share data with:
- National reporting schemes
- Local Environmental Records Centres
- Relevant biodiversity or environmental monitoring platforms
This helps improve wider understanding of species, habitats, environmental change and local nature recovery progress.
Key Concepts Explained
Nature Recovery
Nature recovery refers to activities that restore, protect or improve natural habitats, wildlife populations, ecosystems and biodiversity.
Climate Emergency
The climate emergency refers to urgent environmental challenges caused by climate change, including extreme weather, habitat loss, biodiversity decline and community vulnerability.
Nature-Rich Spaces
Nature-rich spaces are places where people can experience wildlife, plants, trees, water, habitats and natural environments. These may include parks, woodlands, wetlands, coastlines, community gardens and restored habitats.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability means using resources responsibly and protecting the natural environment so that current and future generations can benefit.
Index of Multiple Deprivation
The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a measure used to identify areas experiencing high levels of disadvantage, including income, health, education, housing, employment and access barriers.
Citizen Science
Citizen science involves community members collecting, recording or sharing environmental data that can support research, monitoring and conservation.
How the Programme Works
Eligible not-for-profit organisations apply for one-year flexible funding.
The organisation must show that its main purpose aligns with the programme’s nature and sustainability themes.
Applications should explain the organisation’s environmental work, funding need, planned activities, community benefit, target groups and expected outcomes.
Funded organisations may use the grant to support practical sustainability, nature recovery and access-to-nature activities.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that demonstrates eligibility, environmental purpose and community benefit.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the organisation is not-for-profit.
- Confirm that the organisation works in England, Scotland or Wales.
- Check that annual income is between £10,000 and £1 million.
- Confirm that the organisation has been operating for at least 12 months.
- Review the organisation’s governing documents to ensure alignment with a funding theme.
- Check that the funding request does not exceed 25% of annual income.
- Explain how the organisation’s core purpose relates to nature and sustainability.
- Describe the activities that will be supported during the one-year grant period.
- Identify community benefits and environmental outcomes.
- Highlight any priority criteria, such as work in deprived communities or with marginalised groups.
- Include plans for citizen science or monitoring data sharing where relevant.
- Submit the application according to the programme requirements.
Assessment Considerations
Applications may be assessed based on eligibility, environmental alignment, community benefit and priority criteria.
Assessment may consider:
- Not-for-profit status
- Annual income eligibility
- Length
For more information, visit The Wildlife Trusts.
