The support available to communities to tackle nature’s recovery where they live has tripled thanks to a successful pilot and increased roll-out of the Green Community Grants Programme.
The grant programme is now fully fledged and able to support community-led groups to restore nature, tackle climate change and improve access to green places in their local area. The grants award up to £25,000 to small charities and not-for-profit groups and will now be available at greater scale than ever before with three times the amount of community initiatives to be funded in 2026.
In the 2025 pilot 35 grassroots projects were awarded funding, with action for wildlife, natural spaces and communities already taking place as a result. These include:
- A youth group in Cardigan, Wales, where young people are learning new skills through species recording and habitat creation.
- The expansion of a carbon literacy programme to school children in the West Midlands and South East, enabling children to gain the confidence and motivation to take meaningful climate action and embedding sustainable behaviour change in local schools, homes, and communities.
- A community mushroom farm in North Edinburgh working to grow and distribute more locally grown mushrooms into the area, with foraging and ID courses to help people to connect with the world of mushrooms and fungi.
Cath Hare, head of grants at The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“From river restoration projects to community food growing efforts, it’s been brilliant to see how the Green Community Grants Programme is already creating lasting change for people, nature and climate in communities right across Great Britain. While the nature and climate crisis continues to have growing impacts on our daily lives, we’re delighted to be supporting people across the nation to take action where they live to tackle this challenge head on.
“We know that caring for and spending time in nature has immense benefits for people everywhere – from physical and mental health benefits to increased community cohesion and pride in local spaces. We’re excited to triple the level of investment in these community-led initiatives and, with thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, fund even more projects in 2026.”
The scheme is managed by The Wildlife Trusts on behalf of Postcode Green Trust and with thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The one-year flexible funding is offered to not-for-profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million. To be eligible for funding, a group must have been operating for a minimum of 12 months. To assist with decision-making and through the assessment process, priority will be given to organisations:
- that have an income of £250,000 or below
- that work in communities located in the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation
- whose main activities are focused on supporting marginalised groups. This could include, but is not limited to, disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity, and LGBT+ people.
- whose objects or purposes within its governing document relate to habitat or species restoration/protection
The fund will open on 25th March 2026 and the deadline for applications is 22 April.