Deadline: 25-Jan-23
Apply to become a facilitator to bring together groups of farmers, foresters and other land managers to improve local environmental outcomes.
The Facilitation Fund supports individuals who act as facilitators to bring together groups of farmers, foresters and other land managers to improve environmental outcomes in their local area.
The CS Facilitation Fund is administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Natural England provides technical advice in support of the scheme. The Forestry Commission and Environment Agency provide technical advice as part of the application process.
Focus Areas
CS Facilitation Fund groups will support the 25-year environment plan by focussing on:
- air quality (by reducing the emission of damaging air pollutants, such as ammonia)
- increasing biodiversity and supporting priority species
- advice to manage beaver activity on sites where they are already present
- water management
Funding Information
- You can apply for:
- up to £10,000 per year for activities such as field trips, training sessions, and sampling or testing of soil and plants, plus one-off consumable items such as binoculars and field guides
- £500 per member to cover costs of administration and management of the group
- Agreements will run for 3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Countryside Stewardship (CS) Facilitation Fund supports facilitators (either individuals or organisations) who work with farmers, foresters, and other land managers to improve and protect the local natural environment through agri-environment schemes, supported by training.
- If you’re an individual or organisation from the farming, forestry or other land management sector or service provider, with environmental land management experience and suitable facilitation skills, you can apply to become a CS facilitator.
- You must have land management experience and suitable facilitation skills, with expertise in at least one of the following:
- agriculture
- forestry
- water management
- ecology
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/facilitation-fund-2023-countryside-stewardship
