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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.

External Funding Opportunities

The Alpkit Foundation make small awards to people, groups and schools that work to remove the barriers in getting outdoors and experience wild places. They give awards to tackle issues such as diversity and inclusion in the outdoors, participation, education, conservation and protection of our natural environment and health and wellbeing.

They want to support projects that encourage responsible outdoor activity; have long lasting benefits; introduce new people to get outdoors; and demonstrate value for money.

For example:

  • Diversity, Participation and Inclusion Projects that engage individuals and groups from a diverse range of backgrounds with the outdoors.
  • Environmental Projects that seek to support, rewild, conserve, or generate understanding of our environment and wild places.
  • Health and Wellbeing Projects enabling people to gain physical and mental wellbeing from the Great Outdoors.
  • Education Projects which encourage the development of outdoor skills and activities to be experiences by wider groups. Such as Hill and Moorland / Mountain Leader, First Aid, D of E, Community focused Forest Schools.

Apply here

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:

    1. Nature restoration
    2. Nature connectedness and pro-environmental behaviours
    3. Community cohesion and connection.

Deadline: Ongoing

Apply here

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

Apply here

Grants are available to deliver independent outreach, public engagement and science communication activities that engage public audiences with the excitement, importance and relevance of ecological science or enhance the experience and skills of others to communicate ecology with public audiences.

The grant will support diverse formats that reach and engage public audiences in innovative, creative and impactful ways, whether through in-person events, digital formats, or physical resources.

All Grants must be for projects that meet at least one of the top-level BES aims:

  • Communicate evidence-based messaging for what ecology is, how nature works, and the use of ecological science as a solution to local and global challenges.
  • Raise awareness and public understanding of ecological careers, their relevance and importance, breadth, and diversity, and show that anybody can become an ecologist.
  • Share how individuals can take action to benefit the environment, themselves, and society.
  • Increase the ability of others to deliver the above aims through outreach and engagement activities.

Deadline: 8 September 2026

Apply here

The scheme is aimed at providing loan funding for Scottish businesses that fall within the European Commission definition of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME), not-for-profit organisations and charities.

The SME Loan provides unsecured, interest free loans from for the installation of energy efficient measures such as lighting and heating upgrades, double glazing and insulation. The loan can be used to pay for:

  • heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades: from single improvements to controls to complete system replacement
  • lighting systems: fitting and controls
  • building fabric: including insulation, draft-proofing, double and secondary glazing
  • water saving: be it installing a grey water system, harvesting rain water or sampling installing water efficient taps
  • waste reduction: installation of equipment to improve handing and reduce waste at source.

Apply here

Cycling Scotland work with several Regional Transport Partnerships to support delivery of Transport Scotland funded People & Place programme. Funding is currently available to install or improve cycle facilities, provide equipment, and deliver initiatives that will support more people to cycle. A condition of the funding is that all necessary planning approvals are in place to complete the project before 31st March 2027.

With a third of Scottish households likely to be living in accommodation without access to suitable cycle storage, local authorities and registered social landlords can access support and funding to install secure cycle storage for their residents. This funding can also be used by local authorities and individual schools to increase access to cycle parking for pupils’ bikes.

Support is also available for workplaces to improve cycle storage facilities for their staff and visitors.

Increasing access to cycling facilities enables independent travel and provides opportunities for people to cycle, helping them and their country to have a happy and healthier future.

Apply here

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.

Apply here

The fund aims to build the capacity of the community energy sector and deliver impactful renewable energy projects. It seeks to demonstrate how a just transition to net zero can benefit everyone.

The priorities of the scheme are to support energy consumers in vulnerable situations, develop innovative products or services and empower consumers to reduce their carbon emissions.

The scheme will fund new projects in the following funding streams:

  • The Main Fund: aimed at projects that will support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
  • The Impact Fund: aimed at projects monitoring the impact to households, of energy advice and other interventions.
  • The Small Project Fund: aimed at projects that will support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
  • Innovation Fund: aimed at projects that will develop innovative products or services to benefit households.
  • Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund: aimed at projects that will reduce UK carbon emissions and empower households to reduce their carbon footprint.
  • Just Transition Fund: aimed at projects that will develop community renewable energy which will benefit vulnerable energy consumers.


Grant amounts vary depending on the funding stream:

  • Main Fund: £50,000 to £2 million
  • Impact Fund: £20,000 to £499,999
  • Small Project Fund: £20,000 to £49,999
  • Innovation Fund: £20,000 to £1 million
  • Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund: £20,000 to £1 million
  • Just Transition Fund: £20,000 to £250,000

The scheme can only fund projects lasting up to two years, can fund up to 100% of the project cost and can cover revenue and capital measures.

Deadline: Ongoing.

Apply here

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

Apply here

East Renfrewshire Renewable Energy Fund (ERREF) is money received from renewable energy projects in East Renfrewshire and is administered by East Renfrewshire Council Environment department. The fund combines contributions from ScottishPower Renewables Whitelee and Middleton windfarms.

Projects need to meet one of more of these priorities:

  • Community facilities and services such as hall refurbishment or buying equipment and vehicles
  • Community or local events such as summer fairs or special event
  • Environmental projects such as planting trees or building baths Heritage projects such as history trails or statue conservation
  • Skills and employment such as training equipment
  • Sport and recreation such as upgrading play areas or buying sports equipment
  • Youth and education such as clubs, Brownies or nursery and school projects. 

Projects that have a minimum cost of £20,000 can apply. A minimum of 12.5% match funding must be provided by the applicant. The biggest award to date is £30,000.

Deadline: 31 August 2026

Apply here

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

Apply here

These Research and Innovation grants support environmental organisations, academic institutions, individuals, and policymakers in advancing research and innovative ideas about Scotland’s native woodlands. Future Woodlands Scotland wants to improve our understanding of how these woodlands are impacted by — and in turn impact — climate change, biodiversity, and the environment.

They understand that the challenges facing our native woodlands can vary and change over time. They’re particularly interested in proposals that explore:

  • The role of native woodlands in tackling climate change.
  • The environmental, conservation, and community benefits of native woodlands.
  • Reducing plastic use and CO2 emissions during woodland establishment.
  • Establishing native woodlands without relying on deer fencing.
  • Innovative ways to manage non-tree elements in native woodlands, such as ground flora, fungi, and insects.
  • Controlling and managing invasive non-native species in native woodlands.
  • Fostering communication and collaboration among stakeholders interested in native woodland research.

Next Deadline: 23 August 2026

Apply here

The Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund seeks to inspire, encourage, and enable communities to explore and deliver ambitious ecosystem restoration projects locally. It also seeks to raise awareness about the importance of local ecosystem restoration and address barriers faced by community-led efforts.

They are most interested in funding the development stages and successful organisations will also receive professional fundraising support to move their projects from development stage to delivery.

Your project must focus on one (or more) parts of ecosystem restoration. These are:

  • Connecting nature corridors
  • Habitat and species restoration
  • Freshwater and wetland restoration
  • Coastal and marine initiatives
  • Control of invasive non-native species impacting on nature
  • Enhancing and connecting nature within villages, towns, or cities

This Fund is supported by the Carman Family Foundation, the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, which is managed by NatureScot, and others. Inspiring Scotland is administering this funding.

Community groups can apply for up to £13,500. Successful applicants will receive up to £1,500 in professional fundraising support.

Next Deadline: Ongoing

Apply here

The overall focus is on developing and promoting sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to the current consumerist and growth-based paradigm. Funding priorities are:

  • Better economics
  • Beyond consumerism
  • New voices

Due to a review of their grant making, the Trust ask that you read the guidelines carefully, along with the funding priorities and general exclusions, and speak with programme staff before writing a proposal.

Full guidance is available on the Trust website.

They are specifically interested in work:

    • From those who are actively building power amongst communities or with a track record of community organising around climate, economics, or environment
    • From those with a solid understanding of the causes of the climate and/or economic crises
    • From groups and organisations that effectively connect the intersecting harms of climate breakdown, racial injustice, economic inequality, and the legacies of colonialism
    • From groups and organisations who struggle to obtain funding elsewhere (for example, only one core funder, or no core funding) and are working on these issues
    • Which considers the needs and well-being of staff, volunteers, and other participants
    • For which there is a demonstrable need
    • Where it is clearly explained why you are the right organisation or group to carry out this project

Next deadline: 2 Sep 2026

Apply here

The CARES Community Buildings Fund provides grants to help community organisations reduce their building’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It does this by funding the installation of renewable technologies like heat pumps, battery storage, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as well as some energy efficiency measures.

CARES funding can be used to develop your project and install renewable measures in your community building. Examples include:

  • Development costs like building warrants, planning permission and grid connection applications
  • Installation costs: the costs to install the ‘core’ renewable energy measures and the ‘add on’ energy efficiency and energy storage measures.

The fund is primarily for renewable measures so the ‘development costs’ and ‘add on’ measures must be a minority part of the total requested costs.

The funding will decarbonise existing self-managed community buildings., i.e. you must install at least one of the following:

  • a heat pump (air source, ground source or water source)
  • a connection to heat network
  • solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
  • solar water heating.

In addition to installing a core measure(s), you can also apply for funding to install one or more of the following:

  • energy storage
  • insulation
  • secondary glazing
  • draught proofing
  • appropriate energy saving controls that are linked to new installations to ensure they operate efficiently.

Add-on measures must be a minority element of the overall funding requested.

Approved projects must be completed and all funding claimed by 15th March 2027.

Up to 80% of eligible costs can be funded up to a maximum grant amount of £80,000. Match funding of at least 20% is required

Next deadline: 31 Oct 2026
Apply here

The Community Buildings Fund, part of the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), provides grants to help community organisations reduce their building’s energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It does this by funding the installation of renewable technologies like heat pumps, battery storage, and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, as well as some energy efficiency measures.

Grants up to £80,000 for 80% of eligible costs are available to eligible community groups to help you reduce energy costs and make your building more sustainable. The funding can be used towards the cost of installing renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. It can also be used for costs like building warrants, planning permission and grid connection applications which are essential to install some measures.

What improvements will CARES fund?

1. Heating requirement

CARES funding is prioritised to buildings that have or will decarbonise their heating. Your building must have:

  • A heat pump (air source, ground source or water source).
  • A connection to a heat network.
  • Direct electric heating (including storage heating or electric boilers) biomass heating.

Or as part of your CARES project you will be installing:

  • A heat pump; or
  • A connection to a heat network.

2. Core measures eligible for CARES funding.

You must install at least one core CARES measures:

  • A heat pump (air source, ground source or water source).
  • A connection to heat network.
  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
  • Solar water heating.

3. Add-on measures

In addition to installing a core measure(s), you can also apply for funding to install one or more of the following:

  • Energy storage – heat/thermal or electrical. Insulation – any loft, underfloor or cavity wall insulation.
  • Secondary glazing.
  • Draught proofing.
  • Appropriate energy saving controls that are linked to new installations to ensure they operate efficiently.

Eligible community buildings include, but are not limited to:

  • Village halls.
  • Community centres.
  • Community hubs.
  • Sports facilities.
  • Faith buildings.

The building must be used by the local community or charitable organisation.

Grant funding is available for up to 80% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £80,000.

Next deadline: October 2026
Apply here

National Lottery Heritage Grants fund projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK. They fund projects that value, care for and sustain heritage for everyone across the UK, now and in the future. Heritage can include nature and habitats, historic buildings and environments, or cultures, traditions and people’s memories.

There are two grant levels available, £10k – £250k and £250k – £10m. Four investment principles guide their grant decision making under their 10-year strategy, Heritage 2033:

  1. saving heritage
  2. protecting the environment
  3. inclusion, access and participation
  4. organisational sustainability

Grants can support a broad range of activities and direct project costs, such as:

  • volunteer expenses, new staff posts and training costs
  • capital works, repair, maintenance and conservation
  • professional fees, event costs and activities to strengthen your organisation
  • acquisition of heritage and costs associated with the purchase
  • costs to join Fit for the Future, a UK-wide environmental sustainability network

Deadline: Ongoing
Apply here

Peatland Action (PA) is a peatland restoration project run by Scottish Natural Heritage and funded mainly by Scottish Government. The funding primarily supports on-the-ground restoration activities. This includes:

  • installation of peat dams in man-made ditches to increase water levels
  • allowing the peat-building mosses called sphagnums to re-establish.
  • more novel techniques such as peat hag re-vegetating by using the surrounding vegetation to stabilise the bare eroding peat

Next deadline: 30 Sep 2026

Apply here

The Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund seeks to inspire, encourage, and enable communities to explore and deliver ambitious ecosystem restoration projects locally. It also seeks to raise awareness about the importance of local ecosystem restoration and address barriers faced by community-led efforts.

They are most interested in funding the development stages and successful organisations will also receive professional fundraising support to move their projects from development stage to delivery.

Your project must focus on one (or more) parts of ecosystem restoration. These are:

  • Connecting nature corridors
  • Habitat and species restoration
  • Freshwater and wetland restoration
  • Coastal and marine initiatives
  • Control of invasive non-native species impacting on nature
  • Enhancing and connecting nature within villages, towns, or cities

This Fund is supported by the Carman Family Foundation, the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, which is managed by NatureScot, and others. Inspiring Scotland is administering this funding.

Community groups can apply for up to £13,500. Successful applicants will receive up to £1,500 in professional fundraising support.

Deadline: Ongoing
Apply here

The Rewilding Innovation Fund aims to help remove barriers to rewilding projects within Britain, whether they’re at the early planning stages or want to move a project one step wilder.

From business plans to feasibility studies, community engagement to trialling the latest technology, Rewilding Britain funds works that could potentially unlock further funding for you or move you up the rewilding scale.

They choose the projects they consider will have the highest impact on people and nature, on land and sea, with opportunities for shared learning with the Rewilding Network.

  • The fund aims to support works that could potentially unlock further funding or move your project up the rewilding scale, whether you are new to rewilding or have been going for some time. Examples of potential applications include: business plans and strategies, community engagement activities and co-design, feasibility studies, technology and innovation.
  • Funds can also be used to pay for direct interventions or expertise that your project requires.
  • Funding for up to £15,000* will be considered. We expect the majority of grants to be less than £10,000.

    The Rewilding Innovation Fund steering group will use the following assessment criteria to award the money, including:
    • funding – are there alternative options available
    • alignment with their rewilding principles
    • degree of innovation and learning
    • financial strategy
    • consideration of the business concept and long-term viability and sustainability
    • understanding of monitoring and evidence-building.

*The maximum level of funding has been set at £15,000 because the fund aims to support elements in a project that can remove barriers and unlock further funding. If your project requires higher investment than this to get off the ground, consider whether there are smaller elements of your grand vision, such as business plans or feasibility studies, which you can use the Rewilding Innovation Fund for, so helping you at least get started. Could initial funding from us help leverage further funds elsewhere in the future?

Deadline: 5 Sep 2026
Apply here

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.

Apply here

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

Apply here

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

Apply here

Small Eco Awards are grants of between £300 and £20,000 are now available for communities. 

This funding is not about asking communities to solve the climate crisis. But instead it’s about helping local people take manageable, practical steps that improve the places they know and care about. A small grant can help a group test an idea, improve a shared space, build confidence and create something visible.

The climate and nature emergency affects us all. But local action can make a real difference. We want to fund projects that have environmental sustainability as their main aim.

We’ll fund projects that meet at least one of our priorities:

  • help people connect with and care for nature in their are
  • make a positive difference to the environment
  • help people tackle pollution in their communities

You can use our funding to:

  • start a new activity or continue an existing one (if it meets our priorities)
  • help your organisation or community (or both) adapt to new challenges
  • run one-off events that have a clear environmental benefit

Deadline: Ongoing
Apply https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/small-eco-awardshere