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What you can spend the money on

We can fund fully developed projects, or projects that are still in development.

Projects can apply for up to £1.5 million for a period of 2 to 5 years. We expect most of the funding to go to projects that request between £300,000 and £500,000.

If your project idea is still in development, we can offer a grant from £50,000 up to £150,000 for a period of 12 to 18 months. You can apply for more funding later but we cannot guarantee we’ll award more money.

You can spend your funding on:

  • staff costs
  • volunteer expenses
  • general project costs
  • engagement activities
  • learning and evaluation
  • utilities or running costs
  • organisational development and management costs
  • some capital costs - this could be for buying equipment or buying, leasing, refurbishing or developing land and buildings, or other construction-related work

While we can fund capital elements of your project, you should be able to provide evidence of ownership or lease with guaranteed access to the land for a minimum of 5 years. You must meet our specific terms and conditions if you are buying, refurbishing or developing land or buildings with our funding.

You may need help from a legal professional to make sure you meet our requirements. If your project involves capital funding, tell us about it at your early-stage application form and our team will be in touch to provide further information should your project progress to the next stage.

We expect to mostly fund revenue costs

Our focus on increasing participation with climate action and supporting behavioural change means we expect that most of our funding will go towards revenue costs. We’ll consider funding capital costs if the partnership can show how:

  • it might facilitate lifestyle and behavioural change
  • it'll broaden participation
  • it'll be financially sustainable (for example, where our funding might unlock more financial investment from other sources)

What we cannot fund

We cannot fund:

  • political activities that promote a particular political party, political belief or any targeted action to influence elections
  • alcohol
  • items which will only benefit an individual or family, rather than the wider community
  • contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
  • electricity generation
  • religious activities (although we can fund religious organisations if their project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content)
  • profit-making or fundraising activities
  • VAT you can reclaim
  • statutory activities
  • costs that have already been incurred
  • activities that improve educational attainment - personal, social, health and economic (PHSE) education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), English
  • overseas travel or projects that take place outside of the UK

Considering your environmental impact

We're committed to helping you protect the environment. You can read our guidance on reducing your environmental impact.

Our Climate Action Hub also has information about our approach to tackling the climate emergency, including learning and insights, stories and funding.

Delivering your project in Wales

If one of the countries you’ll be working in is Wales, you'll need to deliver your services bilingually (in Welsh and English). This is part of our grant condition. You can read our guidance on managing your project bilingually (PDF, 125 KB).

If your project works with children, young people or vulnerable adults

You need to have a policy in place that explains how they'll be safe. We might ask to see this policy if we decide to give you funding. Get more information in our safeguarding policy for grant holders.

UK’s subsidy control commitments

Our grants come from public funds and successful applications will be asked to comply with the UK’s International Subsidy Control Commitments listed on the GOV.UK website. You should seek independent legal advice if you need more guidance.

Our funding must be additional and distinct from public funding

This means we cannot substitute or replace public funding. We cannot fund anything that is the statutory, or legal, responsibility of government or the public sector, such as direct education and healthcare. However, we can potentially fund work that complements or adds value to public funding.