Funding Opportunities for Eco Projects
Stay up to date with information on new funding opportunities for your eco project or activity. We will continue to add more information and other resources to this page over time.
If you have an idea for an eco group, project or activity but don’t know where to start, get in touch with our team at hello@eastrenclimatehub.org.uk for support and guidance on your funding requirements, identifying the right funding and making successful applications.
East Renfrewshire Climate Action Hub Small Grants
Applications now open
East Renfrewshire Climate Action Hub (ERCAH) is distributing small grants of between £100 to £500 to local community groups and 3rd Sector organisations to begin their climate action journey.
Projects must be delivered within the East Renfrewshire Local Authority area, by groups based within East Renfrewshire. We are specifically looking to fund new activities/projects that aim to achieve at least one of the following outcomes:
- Mitigate climate change by reducing emissions or other environmental damage
- Protect, enhance or increase local biodiversity
- Help communities adapt to and build resilience to climate change.
- Raise awareness of and prompt action on climate action
- Encourage sustainability through reusing, recycling and upcycling
You must be a registered member of ERCAH to apply for this funding. To become a member, just visit the Membership page and complete a short online form.
The application process is administered by Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire (VAER). To learn more about the fund, check eligibility, apply or see what previous recipients did, visit the Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire website. If you have an idea for a project or activity that you’d like to discuss first, contact VAER’s funding team at funding@va-er.org.uk.
Other funding opportunities
Aviva Community Fund - Climate Action
The Aviva Community Fund supports projects that are fighting climate change and building stronger, more resilient communities across the UK and are investing in two key areas:
- Climate Action: Promoting healthy, thriving communities by preventing, preparing for and protecting against the impacts of climate change
Any projects submitted should aim to:
- develop a new approach, product or technology; or
- implement a new initiative or pilot a new scheme; or
- expand existing services to a new area or beneficiary group; or
- adapt services to meet today’s needs without compromising those of future generations
If your Climate Action project is focused on action for nature you may be eligible for addition funding through the Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund. You must be working towards:
- Nature restoration
- Nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviours
- Community cohesion and connection.
Deadline: Ongoing
B&Q Community Re-Use Programme
The B&Q Community Re-Use Programme. donates surplus and display items go to those who need them the most, to help build a stronger community for all of us. They donate products to schools, charities and community groups to transform local spaces for the community.
The most common items donated are:
- Plastic plant pots and trays
- Plants that are past their best and other compostable materials
- Damaged or part filled cans of paint
- White pallets
- Broken tiles and slabs
- Ends of wallpaper rolls
- End of line stock
Deadline: Ongoing
Cycling UK - Cycle Access Fund
The Cycle Access Fund supports those least likely to have access to a bike and provides capital grants to organisations through four different funding strands: Individual Bike Ownership, Shared Use, Recycle, Repair.
Deadline: Ongoing.
EB Scotland - Scottish Landfill Communities Fund
The fund offers funding to projects through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF). It will consider applications across all types of projects included in the SLCF Objects including: land reclamation, community recycling, public amenities and parks, biodiversity and historic buildings.
Applications should demonstrate:
- Community need
- Value for money
- Viability
- Sustainability
- Added value
- Disamenity (proximity to landfill sites or waste transfer stations)
Next deadline: Ongoing
Faith in Community Scotland - Greener Spaces, Fairer Places
This small grants scheme supports the work of faith groups taking small scale local actions which address the link between climate change and poverty.
Grants of up to £500 are available for local action around the following themes:
- Community mobilising (e.g.. events in your community bringing people together on climate action; outdoor installations & recycling; banner/ poster-making to raise awareness)
- More effective use of community land (e.g. using land to grow food, create a community garden)
- Respecting the environment (e.g. organising a local clean up, using buildings in a more eco-friendly way)
- Local action on reducing fuel consumption (eg supporting sustainable energy use)
Next deadline: ongoing
Future Woodlands Scotland - Urban Forestry Challenge Fund
The Urban Forestry Challenge Fund provides grants of up to £100,000 for projects that support the 3-30-300 rule:
- 3: Everyone should be able to see at least three trees from home, school or work
- 30: Every neighbourhood should have at least 30% tree canopy cover
- 300: Everyone should live within 300 metres of quality greenspace
Future Woodlands Scotland will fund a range of projects over the next ten years with a strong urban focus that prioritise those areas most in need of well looked after trees and woodlands.
As well as tree planting, they will fund:
- Activities which enable long-term care and maintenance of trees and woodlands
- Urban forestry management research, education and skills development
- Engagement and awareness-raising activities
If your project is not yet ready for delivery, we will consider applications seeking funding for project development including:
- Technical or design consultancy
- Community engagement costs
- Staff time related to the project objectives
- Notes on award amounts:
two levels of funding:
- Projects from £2,000 up to £20,000.
- Projects over £20,000 and up to £100,000. Funds can be used over a maximum of 3 years. Your budget should clearly show how you plan to use the funds each year.
Applications for the current round close at 5pm on 23 January 2026.
Apply here
Local Energy Scotland - CARES Community Solar Fund
The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) is supporting community and faith organisations to install solar PV and battery storage in their buildings. This is a short-term pilot, funded by the Scottish Government and Great British Energy, with funds needing to be spent and claimed by 31 March 2026.
Demand is expected to be high for this funding, with many communities already in a position to mobilise projects very quickly. Funding will be allocated on a first come first served basis. If you are developing a new project, read the guidance and self-assessment checklist carefully and prioritise seeking a quote if you think you are eligible.
To be able to install within the pilot timescale, easier installation projects will be more suited to this funding. Therefore, while it is not a requirement, they suggest that the proposed project:
- Is not in a conservation area or within the curtilage of a listed building.
- Is under 50kW of solar PV.
- Is on an easily accessible roof, which is built after 1930s (as the roof will be more likely to meet structural requirements).
- Is not part of a more significant building renovation that would increase the risk of programme delays.
Apply here: https://localenergy.scot/funding/cares-community-solar-fund/
Pump House Trust
The Trustees can fund a wide range of charitable activity, but are particularly interested in supporting smaller, community charities based in Scotland and connected with community development, environmental, women’s and youth issues with a view to encouraging social inclusion at all levels.
Deadline: Ongoing. Applications reviewed on a quarterly basis.
Apply to the trust via the administrators, Turcan Connell, marked FAO the Pump House Trust.
Scottish Education And Action For Development - SEAD Fund
SEAD provides small grants for individuals or groups for positive action, and campaigning. They fund proposals where the grant will have the most impact, for example, helping a new campaign to get started, or funding a specific concrete action for a local community.
They are particularly interested in applications that focus campaign activity on the following areas: women’s rights, young people and their global rights, climate justice, inequality, poverty and health justice.
Deadline: Ongoing.
The National Lottery Community Fund – Climate Action Fund - Our Shared Futures
The Climate Action Fund will support communities in the UK to take local action on climate change.
The programme will fund formal partnership projects that reach more people by either:
- linking climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities. And inspiring them to take action.
- influencing communities at a regional or national level. Like linking up groups across locations. Or a campaign that inspires change across one country, or the whole UK.
They are particularly interested in projects that involve people, places and communities experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.
Deadline: 17 December 2025.
The National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland) - Community Action
This funding is for communities in Scotland: people who share an identity, interest or experience, or people living in the same place. They offer funding from £20,001 to £250,000 for up to 5 years.
They’re looking for projects that will help people connect more with each other, and will support projects that are open, inclusive and led by their community.
Your project must achieve at least 2 of these outcomes:
- build positive relationships
- support people’s health or wellbeing
- help people improve their access and connection to nature
- make a positive difference to the environment.
These are a few examples of projects that achieve their outcomes:
- a regular programme of activities that improve the wellbeing of the community. And help people to connect with each other.
- community kitchens, larders, pantries and advice or support activities
- community gardens or growing projects
- environment clear ups, waste reducing activities or mending, repairing and upcycling workshops.
Next deadline: Ongoing
The National Lottery Community Fund (Scotland) - Scottish Land Fund
The fund will help communities take ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects. It supports communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.
The Scottish Land Fund is open to organisations in both urban and rural Scotland which are community-led, community-controlled, and defined by a geographic area.
Next deadline: ongoing