Request for Applications: FCC Community Action Fund (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 18-Nov-2026

The FCC Community Action Fund, administered by FCC Communities Foundation and supported by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund, provides grants to not-for-profit organisations for projects that improve public amenities or conserve and promote biodiversity in communities located within 10 miles of eligible FCC Environment waste facilities in England. Eligible organisations can request between £10,000 and £100,000 for projects with a maximum total cost of £250,000. Applicants must also secure a Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment equal to 10.75% of the grant requested, which is paid directly to FCC Environment and does not count as match funding.

About the FCC Community Action Fund

The FCC Community Action Fund supports projects that create lasting benefits for communities and the environment around eligible FCC Environment sites. The fund operates through the Landfill Communities Fund and focuses on two eligible categories:

- Object D: Improvements to public amenities.

- Object DA: Conservation or promotion of biodiversity.

Projects should demonstrate a clear community or environmental need and deliver positive outcomes for local people, public spaces or biodiversity. What Types of Projects Can Be Funded? Projects must fall within either Object D or Object DA of the Landfill Communities Fund. Eligible projects may involve improvements to publicly accessible facilities or activities that conserve and enhance biodiversity.

Potential project locations include:

- Village halls. - Community centres. - Public play areas. - Sports clubs. - Nature reserves. - Public gardens. - Parks. - Woodlands. - Museums. The project site must be open and accessible to the public. Public Amenity Projects – Object D Object D focuses on improving public amenities. Projects under this category should improve facilities or spaces that provide benefits to the wider community. Applicants should demonstrate how the proposed improvements will enhance the public amenity and create meaningful local benefits. Biodiversity Projects – Object DA Object DA supports the conservation or promotion of biodiversity. Projects should demonstrate a clear environmental need and explain how the proposed activities will contribute to biodiversity conservation or enhancement. Nature reserves, woodlands, parks, public gardens and other appropriate publicly accessible sites may be suitable locations for projects under this category. How Much Funding Is Available? Applicants can request grants ranging from: £10,000 to £100,000

The maximum total project cost is:

£250,000 The amount requested should be appropriate to the project’s scale, need, deliverability and expected outcomes. Contributing Third Party Payment Applicants must secure a Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment equal to 10.75% of the grant requested.

This payment is:

- Equal to 10.75% of the requested grant. - Paid directly to FCC Environment. - Not considered match funding. Applicants should take this requirement into account when planning their project finances. Who Can Apply? The fund accepts applications from eligible not-for-profit organisations, including: - Registered charities. - Churches. - Parish councils. - Town councils. - Management committees. - Local authorities. - CASC-registered sports clubs. Applicants must have an appropriate legal or management relationship with the project site. Project Site Requirements Applicants must own, lease or hold a long-term management agreement for the site where the project will take place. There must be at least five years remaining on the lease or management agreement at the time of application. This requirement helps demonstrate that the applicant has sufficient control of the site to deliver and sustain the proposed project. Geographic Eligibility Projects must be located within 10 miles of an eligible FCC Environment site in England. Applicants should therefore establish that the proposed project site falls within the required geographical area before preparing their application. The project must also be situated at a location that is open and accessible to the public. What Makes a Strong Application? Applications should clearly demonstrate why the project is needed and how it will create lasting benefits.

Key considerations include:

- Clear community or environmental need. - Evidence of consultation. - Evidence of community or stakeholder support. - Sustainability. - Value for money. - Deliverability. - Positive community or environmental outcomes. Applicants should provide clear evidence rather than simply describing the proposed activity. Demonstrating Community or Environmental Need Applicants should explain the specific problem or opportunity the project is addressing. For community projects, this could involve demonstrating how improvements will benefit local residents and users of a public facility. For biodiversity projects, applicants should explain the environmental need and the expected biodiversity benefits. Consultation and Community Support Evidence of consultation and support is an important consideration. Applicants should demonstrate that relevant members of the community or stakeholders have been involved in developing the project or support the proposed improvements. This can help show that the project responds to genuine local priorities. Sustainability and Long-Term Benefits Projects should demonstrate how benefits will continue after the funded work has been completed.

Applicants should consider explaining:

- How the project will be maintained. - How the improved facility or site will continue to serve the public. - How environmental benefits will be protected. - How ongoing costs will be managed. - How the project contributes to long-term community or environmental outcomes. Value for Money Applicants should demonstrate that the proposed expenditure is reasonable and proportionate to the expected benefits. The project budget should clearly explain the main cos