Grant News

The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) has announced that the Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future is open for applications.  This fund is part of a broader, ten-year £100 million commitment to supporting climate-related activities at the community level and aims to support projects that integrate climate action into everyday community life, particularly targeting groups and individuals who have not previously engaged with environmental issues.

A central aim of the initiative is to increase participation among communities that have historically faced barriers to involvement, including those experiencing poverty, discrimination, or other forms of disadvantage.

Grants available through the programme range from £500,000 to £1.5 million for most projects, with the possibility of up to £3 million for exceptional initiatives running over a period of up to seven years.

The fund anticipates supporting up to 25 projects, prioritising formal partnerships between community, voluntary, and public sector organisations.

Organisations eligible to apply include:

• Voluntary and community organisations
• Registered charities
• Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs or SCIOs)
• Schools, colleges, and universities (provided the project benefits and involves the wider local community)
• Statutory bodies (including local authorities, town, parish, or community councils)
• Other not-for-profit organisations

Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until at least 17 December 2025

Prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with the NLCF prior to submission to ensure alignment with programme objectives.

Projects previously supported through this programme include:

Climate Action Leeds (CAL)
Climate Action Leeds is a five-year initiative to make Leeds a zero-carbon, socially just city by the 2030s. Led by a partnership of local organisations, the project hosts climate assemblies, youth events, and arts activities across the city to engage diverse communities. It builds grassroots capacity and strengthens collaboration between civil society and local institutions to embed climate action in everyday life.

Communities Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Edinburgh)
This project, led by ELREC and partners, promotes climate justice among ethnic minority communities in Edinburgh. It offers carbon literacy training, waste reduction workshops for local businesses, and redistributes surplus food through community fridges and shared meals. The programme integrates cultural relevance into climate action by including traditional recipes, cooking workshops, and language-accessible resources tailored to diverse audiences.

Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees (Gateshead)
Led by North East Young Dads and Lads, this project engages young fathers in green skills training—such as beekeeping and horticulture—while collaborating with five local schools. Around 150 pupils take part in hands-on nature activities, and up to 30,000 students benefit through annual school tours and workshops. Partners include the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and Newcastle University, linking creative engagement with environmental awareness.

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