Small Eco Awards
The National Lottery Community Fund
Award
£300 – £20k
Deadline
Rolling — apply any time
Where
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
Summary
We fund community-led projects that tackle the climate and nature emergency, improve the environment, and help people connect with and enjoy nature locally.
Who can apply
You can apply if your organisation is a: • constituted voluntary or community organisation • constituted group or club • registered charity • charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) • not-for-profit company • community interest company (CIC) • schools, if the project helps the local community, not just the school • sports groups, if the project is open to the wider community • statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish, and community councils) • community benefit society Requirements for board or committee members You must have at least 2 directors who are not related. We consider people related if they’re: • married or in a civil partnership • in a long-term relationship or living together • related by blood or through a partner Schools and organisations working with a school We can fund schools or organisations working with a school if your project clearly benefits the wider community. Your project should not only benefit the school’s pupils, teachers, or parents. We’re looking for projects that: • bring the local community and school together • use school spaces or resources for community activities outside of school hours • help people in the wider community connect, learn, or take part in something meaningful Projects must go beyond the school’s usual responsibilities. For example, we cannot fund: • curriculum-based activities or anything that should happen during the school day • improvements to school buildings, outdoor areas, or equipment unless they’re available for use by the wider community • training for school staff or education-focused support • school trips, after-school clubs or alternative learning environments If you’re unsure whether your idea is eligible, check with us before you apply.
Full details
• Project location: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales • Amount: £300 to £20,000 • A decision in: 12 weeks • Programme status: Open to applications 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 area • 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 This funding is for projects based in one of the following countries: • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales You have up to 24 months after award to spend the money. You cannot use the same funding to run projects in more than one country. Learn more about environmental funding for projects that run in England.