Environmental
BCCF Environmental Legacy Fund by BAVS
This award scheme aims to enhance sustainable development in Berwickshire, with a particular focus on environmental and community development. Applications to be assessed using set criteria to make decisions as objective as possible. Applications will be received throughout the year with awards in April and October.
Applications are invited to satisfy one or more of the objects set out below. Awards to be in the range of £1,000 to £5,000 per project with no multiple applications. Applicants will be provided with a suite of promotional materials that is in keeping with the organisation and its ability to promote BCCF and Bavs. Bavs will arrange for any physical promotional materials and invoice the applicant.
To be considered, the proposed project must fall into one of the following categories:
- Community based recycling, re-use, waste reduction and carbon reduction.
- To provide, maintain or improve a public park or other public amenity.
- The conservation or promotion of biological diversity through the provision, conservation, restoration or enhancement of a natural habitat or the maintenance or recovery of a species in its natural habitat.
- The maintenance, repair or restoration of a building, other structure or a site of archaeological interest which is a place of religious worship, or a site of historic or architectural or archaeological interest and is open to the public.
Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund by Inspiring Scotland
The Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund by Inspiring Scotland aims to inspire and support community-led ecosystem restoration projects across Scotland. This fund encourages communities to develop ambitious local projects, raising awareness about the importance of ecosystem restoration and addressing barriers faced by community efforts1.
Key details include:
- Funding Amount: Grants of up to £13,500 are available.
- Eligibility: Place-based community groups with an income of under £200,000 can apply.
- Supported Projects: Examples include ecological surveys, wetland restoration, pond excavations, peatland restoration, and biodiversity surveys.
- Application Deadline: The current round of applications closes at midday on Monday, March 3, 2025.
The fund is supported by the Carman Family Foundation, the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, and others, with Inspiring Scotland administering the funding.
The Naturesave Trust
The January – February funding window is now open and the theme is Sustainable and Active Travel.
The deadline for this window is 12 noon on 27th February 2025.
Sustainable and active travel options are more important than ever, as more people shift toward eco-friendly practices. The impact of travel on the environment has become a key focus, with consumers increasingly demanding greener options.
Transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, producing 26% of the UK’s total emissions in 2021. The majority (91%) of emissions from domestic transport came from road vehicles. The biggest contributors to this were cars and taxis, which made up 52% of the emissions from domestic transport, Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) (20% of domestic transport emissions) and vans (17% of emissions).
The Naturesave Trust are looking to support projects that actively promote sustainable and eco-friendly approaches to travel and transport:
- Vehicles: clean fuel, batteries, or both. This can include electric vehicles, hybrid power systems, and fuel cells.
- Infrastructure: such as public transportation systems.
- Energy source: Using renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels like coal.
- Activity: Walking, cycling, or using a scooter instead of driving.
Got a project that fits the bill?
Ian Findlay Path Fund
Please note this is a rolling programme, demand is likely to be high and the fund will close when it is fully allocated. You are advised to apply as soon as possible.
The Fund supports projects that clearly demonstrate that they will make it easier for people to travel actively. They must also meet at least one other of the program outcomes.
- To Improve the accessibility of existing paths
- To improve the resilience of paths
- To improve the use of existing local path networks through the development of new link paths
- To improve safety and increase community confidence
- To increase a community of core path and local path networks
Funding between £10,000 and £100,000 is available, with 30% match funding required (15% can be in kind). If you are at an early stage of your project, they can offer up to 100% of design costs. Open to charities and CICs.
Fallago Environment Fund
Completed applications must be submitted by 12 noon on 1st September and 1st March.
The Fallago Environment Fund offers two funding programmes, a Main Grants Programme and a Core Funding Programme. The main emphasis of the Fund will be on capital projects that leave a long-term legacy (Main Grants Programme). However, core funding support will be considered, in exceptional circumstances, to those organisations that can clearly demonstrate how their activities complement and deliver on the aim of the Fund (Core Funding Programme). The aim of the fund is to enhance the quality of life for local communities and visitors to the Borders through investment in the protection, enhancement and appreciation of the natural, built and cultural heritage of the Scottish Borders environment.
The SUEZ Communities Fund
The next closing date is 26 February 2025, decision by mid-May
The following closing date is 14 May 2025, decision by end of July
The fund supports community and environmental improvement projects through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. Applications for capital projects, i.e. those that focus on physical improvement at an identified site, will be considered. Projects must be located within 10 miles of a Landfill Site – projects in multiple sites cannot be considered. The maximum grant amount is £25,000 in Scotland both charities and CICs are eligible. Funding typically covers materials, equipment, and contractors for improvement work.
John Ellerman Foundation
Grants of between £10-50K are available under their 3 priority areas – Arts (creators and curators), Environment (People and Planet) and Social Action (Campaigning Change). They prioritise UK charities with a turnover of between £100K and £10mn, and their preference is to fund core costs though project costs will be considered.
EB Scotland - Scottish Landfill Communities Fund
EB Scotland will consider applications across all types of projects included in the SLCF Objects including land reclamation, community recycling, public amenities and parks, biodiversity and historic buildings. The fund gives between £1 million and £1.5 million annually. They don't operate any minimum or maximum application amounts. They do not operate strict timescales and assess based on demand. Once they decide on a meeting they will set a deadline for receipt of applications.
Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme
Registered Charities, Community Interest Companies, Co-operative Societies and Community Benefit Societies can apply for funds to deliver energy-related projects that meet the scheme priorities and benefit people. The core priority aims to help people who are most at risk from cold homes and high energy bills.
- Innovation Projects - 15% of Energy Redress funds can support the development of innovative products and services related to energy that have a realistic prospect of delivering benefits to existing and/or future energy consumers and that help to reduce the environmental impact of energy use
- Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund (CERF) - Up to 15% of Energy Redress funds can also be used to support energy-related activities aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from energy use. These projects must focus on energy generation, distribution or energy use
The Mushroom Trust
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for community groups / voluntary organisations to support the creation, maintenance and improvement of urban green spaces. Groups should demonstrate public involvement and community-based fundraising.
Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS)
Currently open for applications until 14 March 2025.
This grant scheme supports projects that shape and grow the use of private investment and market-based mechanisms to finance the restoration of Scotland’s nature. Grants of up to £240,000 will be offered to organisations and partnerships to help develop a viable business case and financial model, to attract investment in projects that can restore and improve the natural environment.
Friends Provident Foundation
Transforming financial systems - opening March 2025
New economy infrastructure – opening May 2025
The small grants programme is a rolling programme, aiming to support under-resourced or newer entrants to economic systems change work to develop their ideas for a 4D economy with grants of up to £10,000.
The Electricals Recycling Fund
The Fund aims to grow existing methods (up to £100K) or test new creative and practical ones (up to £50K) for recycling small household electricals through projects that make it easier for the public to repair, reuse or recycle their electricals.
The Martin Wills Wildlife Maintenance Trust
Grants of up to £2,000 are available to support the conservation and maintenance for the benefit of the public of the natural environment and its indigenous woodland flora and fauna with reference to the conservation and maintenance of the character and amenity of rural areas. Grants are made only to charities, which focus on the conservation of wildlife and the environment.