CFPs: Community Climate Action Grant (UK)

Deadline: 03-Jul-2026

The Community Climate Action Grant supports community-led projects that promote climate action, environmental sustainability, and local engagement across Tunbridge Wells Borough. The grant helps local groups, organisations, and non-profits start or expand small-scale initiatives that encourage sustainable behaviour and community participation.

A total of £15,000 has been allocated under the scheme. Eligible applicants may request up to £1,500 to support projects that engage communities and deliver environmental benefits such as reducing emissions, improving air quality, enhancing biodiversity, and strengthening climate adaptation.

What is the Community Climate Action Grant?

The Community Climate Action Grant is a local funding opportunity for community groups and organisations in Tunbridge Wells Borough.

The grant supports practical projects that help residents understand climate change, take environmental action, and participate in local sustainability initiatives.

The scheme is designed to help small-scale climate and environmental projects get started, grow, and reach more people in the community.

Main Purpose of the Grant

The main purpose of the grant is to support community-led climate action and environmental sustainability.

The programme aims to:

• Promote local climate action
• Encourage sustainable behaviour
• Improve understanding of climate change
• Reduce pollution
• Reduce emissions
• Improve air quality
• Enhance biodiversity
• Strengthen local climate adaptation
• Increase community participation in environmental projects

Geographic Focus

Projects must be located within Tunbridge Wells Borough.

Applicants should demonstrate that their activities will benefit local communities within the borough.

Funding Amount

The scheme has a total funding allocation of £15,000.

Individual applicants may request up to £1,500.

Funding is intended to support eligible small-scale community climate action projects.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Local community groups
• Local organisations
• Non-profit organisations

Applicants must be located within Tunbridge Wells Borough.

Projects must engage communities on environmental issues and achieve at least one of the programme’s environmental outcomes.

What Types of Projects Are Supported?

The grant supports community-led initiatives that promote sustainability, environmental awareness, and practical climate action.

Example activities include:

• Tree planting
• Micro forest planting
• Wildflower meadow creation
• Rain garden creation
• Litter-picking initiatives
• Repair cafés
• Sewing clubs
• Libraries of things
• Community gardens
• Community fridges
• Community composters
• Local environmental fairs
• Carbon literacy training

Environmental Outcomes

Projects should contribute to at least one of the programme’s environmental outcomes.

Eligible outcomes may include:

• Improved community understanding of climate change
• More sustainable local behaviour
• Reduced pollution
• Reduced carbon emissions
• Improved air quality
• Enhanced biodiversity
• Stronger local climate adaptation
• Increased community involvement in environmental action

Key Concepts Explained

Community Climate Action

Community climate action refers to local activities led by residents, groups, or organisations to reduce environmental impact and respond to climate change.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity means the variety of plants, animals, insects, habitats, and ecosystems in a local area. Projects such as wildflower meadows and tree planting can help improve biodiversity.

Climate Adaptation

Climate adaptation means making changes that help communities respond to the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather, flooding, heat, or biodiversity loss.

Sustainable Behaviour

Sustainable behaviour means everyday actions that reduce waste, save resources, lower emissions, or protect the environment.

Carbon Literacy

Carbon literacy means understanding the carbon impact of daily activities and learning how to reduce emissions through informed choices.

Eligible Project Activities

The grant can support activities that are practical, locally relevant, and community-focused.

Eligible activities may include:

• Environmental education
• Community workshops
• Local planting projects
• Food waste reduction projects
• Reuse and repair initiatives
• Community growing projects
• Waste reduction activities
• Climate awareness events
• Biodiversity improvements
• Local sustainability training

How the Grant Works

The Community Climate Action Grant provides small grants to local groups and organisations that want to deliver environmental projects.

Applicants must submit their proposal using the official application form.

Completed applications must be returned to the council by email.

Applications are assessed against the scheme’s objectives and requirements.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the project idea, community benefit, environmental outcome, budget, and delivery plan.

Suggested Application Steps

1. Confirm that the applicant is a local group, organisation, or non-profit in Tunbridge Wells Borough.
2. Identify the environmental issue the project will address.
3. Choose at least one environmental outcome the project will achieve.
4. Design a community-led activity or initiative.
5. Prepare a realistic project budget of up to £1,500.
6. Explain how the project will engage local residents.
7. Complete the official application form.
8. Submit the application to the council by email.
9. Ensure the project is practical, achievable, and clearly linked to climate action.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed against the objectives and requirements of the Community Climate Action Grant scheme.

Assessment may consider:

• Community engagement
• Alignment with environmental outcomes
• Contribution to local climate action
• Environmental awareness benefits
• Feasibility of the project
• Value for money
• Local relevance
• Practical community benefit
• Clarity of the project plan

Expected Results

Successful projects are expected to deliver community and environmental benefits within Tunbridge Wells Borough.

Expected results may include:

• Increased local awareness of climate change
• More residents taking part in sustainability activities
• Improved local green spaces
• Reduced waste or pollution
• Stronger biodiversity
• Improved community understanding of emissions reduction
• Better local climate resilience
• Stronger community connections around environmental action

Why It Matters

Local communities play an important role in responding to climate change.

Small-scale projects such as planting, repair cafés, community gardens, and carbon literacy training can help residents take practical action while strengthening local connections.

The Community Climate Action Grant helps local groups turn sustainability ideas into action and build wider participation in environmental projects across Tunbridge Wells Borough.

Tips for Strong Applications

A strong application should clearly show how the project will engage local people and deliver environmental benefits.

Applicants should focus on:

• Clear alignment with climate action
• Strong community participation
• A practical and realistic project idea
• Clear environmental outcomes
• Local benefit within Tunbridge Wells Borough
• Simple and well-justified budget
• Evidence of planning
• Activities that can be delivered effectively
• Awareness-raising or behaviour-change potential
• Long-term community value

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should carefully follow the scheme requirements before submitting.

Common mistakes include:

• Applying from outside Tunbridge Wells Borough
• Proposing a project without clear community engagement
• Failing to link the project to environmental outcomes
• Requesting more than £1,500
• Submitting an unclear budget
• Proposing activities without a realistic delivery plan
• Not using the official application form
• Forgetting to return the application by email
• Focusing only on general awareness without practical local benefit

FAQ

What is the Community Climate Action Grant?

It is a local grant scheme supporting community-led climate action and environmental sustainability projects in Tunbridge Wells Borough.

Who can apply?

Local community groups, organisations, and non-profits located within Tunbridge Wells Borough may apply.

How much funding is available?

The scheme has a total allocation of £15,000, and individual applicants may request up to £1,500.

What types of projects can be funded?

Eligible projects may include tree planting, wildflower meadows, rain gardens, litter-picking, repair cafés, community gardens, community composters, local fairs, and carbon literacy training.

What outcomes should projects achieve?

Projects should engage communities and contribute to outcomes such as reducing pollution, reducing emissions, improving air quality, enhancing biodiversity, or strengthening climate adaptation.

How should applications be submitted?

Applications must be completed using the official application form and returned to the council by email.

What will applications be assessed on?

Applications will be assessed on their alignment with the scheme’s objectives, community engagement, and contribution to environmental outcomes.

Conclusion

The Community Climate Action Grant provides small-scale funding for local groups, organisations, and non-profits working to promote climate action and sustainability in Tunbridge Wells Borough. With grants of up to £1,500, the scheme supports practical projects that engage communities, improve environmental awareness, and deliver local climate benefits.

Strong applications will be community-led, clearly planned, locally relevant, and focused on measurable environmental outcomes such as reduced pollution, improved biodiversity, lower emissions, better air quality, or stronger climate adaptation.

For more information, visit TWBC.