Community Grant Funding for Sustainable Projects (UK)

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Community Grant supports charitable, not-for-profit organisations and local authorities delivering physical improvements to publicly accessible buildings and outdoor spaces. Grants of £10,000 to £75,000 can support projects that improve community wellbeing and accessibility while creating sustainable, carbon-neutral spaces and protecting or enhancing biodiversity. What Is the Community Grant? The Community Grant provides financial support for projects that improve publicly accessible community spaces and deliver long-term environmental and social benefits. Projects should demonstrate clear benefits for local communities while also improving the environmental performance of the site. Key Environmental Requirements Environmental sustainability is a central requirement of the Community Grant. Applicants should demonstrate that their project will: Increase biodiversity at the project site. Protect existing natural habitats. Avoid causing environmental damage. Reduce the site’s carbon footprint. Contribute towards creating a carbon-neutral community space. Encourage sustainable use of the site. Projects should therefore combine community development, environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation and climate action rather than focusing solely on construction or refurbishment. Community and Accessibility Requirements The programme encourages projects that are inclusive and accessible to people from different backgrounds and with different abilities. Enable people to use the facility regardless of background or ability. A strong application should clearly identify the community need and explain how the proposed physical improvements will address that need. Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

Charitable organisations. Not-for-profit organisations. Local authorities.

Organisations must generally:

Have been established for at least two years. Be properly constituted. Operate under appropriate governance arrangements. Ensure that directors or trustees do not financially benefit from the organisation. The applicant must also have an appropriate legal relationship with the project site. Land and Property Requirements

Applicants must either:

Own the project site; Hold a valid lease with at least seven years remaining; or Work in partnership with a local authority that owns the land. All necessary permissions must be secured before the application is submitted. This means applicants should confirm ownership, lease arrangements, planning requirements and other relevant permissions early in the application process. How Much Funding Is Available? The Community Grant provides funding between:

Minimum grant: £10,000

Maximum grant: £75,000

Maximum total project cost: £350,000

The requested grant should be proportionate to the overall project and supported by a realistic and well-evidenced budget. Project Timeline Successful projects must follow strict delivery requirements. The project must physically start within four months of receiving the grant. The project must be completed within 12 months of its start date. Applicants should therefore demonstrate that the project is ready to proceed and that permissions, planning and delivery arrangements are sufficiently developed. How to Apply Applicants should prepare their proposal around the programme’s environmental, community and accessibility objectives.

1. Confirm Eligibility

Check that your organisation:

Falls within an eligible applicant category. Has existed for at least two years. Has appropriate governance arrangements. Does not financially benefit its directors or trustees. Has the required ownership, lease or partnership arrangement for the site.

2. Identify the Community Need

Explain the problem the project will address.

Describe:

Who currently uses the site. Who is excluded or faces barriers to access. What improvements are needed. How the project will benefit local residents.

3. Develop the Project

Set out the proposed physical improvements and explain how they will improve both community outcomes and environmental performance. Underestimating the importance of carbon reduction. Applying for more than the £75,000 maximum grant. Proposing a project with a total cost above £350,000. Starting physical work before the required grant conditions allow it. Failing to demonstrate that the project can be completed within the required timeframe. Why This Grant Matters The Community Grant takes an integrated approach to community investment. Rather than supporting physical improvements alone, it encourages projects that simultaneously deliver community wellbeing, accessibility, volunteering, biodiversity conservation and climate action. This makes the programme particularly relevant to organisations seeking to transform community buildings, parks, gardens, sports facilities, woodlands and other public spaces into more inclusive and environmentally sustainable places. Community Grant at a Glance

Grant amount: £10,000–£75,000

Maximum total project cost: £350,000

Eligible applicants: Charities, not-for-profits and local authorities

Minimum organisation age: Two years

Lease requirement: At least seven years remaining where applicable

Project start: Within four months of grant award

Project completion: Within 12 months of project start

Key themes: Community wellbeing, accessibility, biodiversity, habitat protection, volunteering and carbon reduction

Frequently Asked Questions What is the Community Grant? The Community Grant provides funding for physical improvements to publicly accessible community buildings and outdoor spaces that improve community wellbeing, accessibility, sustainability and biodiversity. How much funding can an organisation request? Applicants can request between £10,000 and £75,000. The total cost of the proposed project must not exceed £350,000. Who can apply for the Community Grant? Eligible applicants include charitable organisations, not-for-profit organisations and local authorities that meet the