Dedham Vale AONB & Stour Valley Project
nayland houses cut

The Project staff have extensive experience of assisting local people, groups and organisations in obtaining funding for a wide variety of projects. The sources below will hopefully be helpful to you, but please contact the Project team if you would like some assistance. Further information about sources of funding is available free from the GRANTnet website - click the link on the right of this page.

Heritage Grants

Heritage Lottery Fund - Awards for All

Open to communities to fund applications for sport, art, community, environment, heritage, education or health related activities. Grants for £3000-£10000 that are simple and straightforward apply for.  www.awardsforall.org.uk
Tel: 0845 600 20 40

Heritage Lottery Fund - Parks for People

Parks for People is the first joint programme from the Big Lottery Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund. Over the next three years, BIG is committing £90 million for Parks, which is being added to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s significant continuing investment in parks.

Grants in the ‘Parks for People’ scheme will range from £250,000 to £5 million.  These green spaces will usually be owned and managed by a local authority but to be considered for funding applications must actively involve and meet the needs of the local community.

Parks for People is being delivered by the Heritage Lottery Fund. www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/programmes/pages/programmes.aspx

Woodlands and Tree Planting

English Woodland Grant Scheme

Available to woodland owners or landowners wanting to create new woodlands.The English Woodland Grant Scheme is the Forestry Commission's suite of grants designed to replace the Woodland Grant Scheme (WGS). You can now apply for Woodland Planning, Assessment, Regeneration, Management, Improvement and Woodland Creation Grants. Grant size varies depending on size of project. www.forestry.gov.uk/planting  Tel 01233 346004

Tree Council Funds

 The Tree Council has funds available to assist community groups proposing to undertake well-planned tree planting projects during National Tree Week (end Nov - early Dec). The Tree Council is particularly concerned that children under the age of 16 are actively engaged in your project. This could be formal groups, such as cubs, guides or youth clubs; alternatively it could be a community team assembled for the purpose of the project.  Contact the Tree Council to find out more. www.treecouncil.org.uk/?q=grants  Tel: 020 7407 9992.

Essex County Council - Landscape Conservation Programme  - A grant scheme for tree and shrub planting within Essex.

To be eligible for grant aid, tree and shrub planting must, when mature, enhance the natural beauty of the countryside and be visible to the public. Planting and maintenance must be carried out in accordance with principles of good sylvicultural practice and the species planted must agree with the County Council's policy of planting native trees and shrubs. Grants towards the cost of pond or woodland restoration, or other landscape conservation projects will normally be considered only where the work is part of an overall landscape conservation plan for the farm. Grant aid of up to 40% of the costs may be given if the scheme meets the criteria of the Essex Landscape Conservation Programme.  For more information visit the Landscape Conservation Programme: http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/dis/guc.jsp?channelOid=17089&guideOid=20812&guideContentOid=20906

Involving the Community

BTCV Chestnut Fund

The Chestnut Fund is an independent charity, making grants available to encourage and enable community groups to carry out conservation activities. The grants are administered by BTCV. Groups must be part of the BTCV Community Network to qualify.

These are for groups who have no money when they are first set up and are available to groups in their first year of association or about to associate to BTCV. The grant will enable them to begin practical work and will cover administrative expenses, e.g. postage, publicity, hire of meeting rooms, telephone bills and/or the first year of BTCV Association plus Insurance fees. The maximum grant will be £100. £300 is also available towards tools or training. Tel: 01302 388834  http://www2.btcv.org.uk/display/community-network

Rural Community Council of Essex, Community Planning Fund

The Community Planning Fund offers grants of up to £2,500 and supports all types of Community Planning and Consultation Project, including: Parish Plans, Village Design Statements, Housing Needs Surveys, Transport Needs Surveys, Feasibility Studies (i.e for a village hall). Parish Councils, Parish Meetings, Town Councils, Constituted Steering Groups are all eligible for the fund. For more information contact:      Rural Community Council of Essex, visit: www.essexrcc.org.uk/   Tel: 0844 477 3938 

Rural Community Council of Essex, Rural Initiatives Fund

Available for new projects in rural areas that encourage voluntary activity and are beneficial to the wider community.  Maximum grant £500. www.essexrcc.org.uk/ 

Community Dividend - Suffolk/ Essex Co-Op

The Co-op is based on the values of self-help, social responsibility and caring for others. Thousands of community groups who share these important social values have benefited from the scheme. They include environmental groups, young people, people with disabilities, playgroups, elderly people, credit unions and education projects. For more information please visit their website: www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund/

The Charles Hayward Foundation

Grants available for the conservation of industrial heritage, gardens, purchase of land or reclaimation of recently purchased land to be used for nature reserves.  Apply by writing to the Foundation, using guidelines on the website.  Grants of between £1000 - £20,000 available.  Must be a registered charity.  www.charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk 

The Waterways Trust

Available to organisations, community groups and schools for waterway wildlife conservation. Grants of £1,000 given out each year.   www.thewaterwaystrust.org.uk/grants/index.shtml.

Conservation of the Built Environment

Architectural Heritage Fund

Grants for the regeneration and repair of  historic buildings.  Community groups can apply, but they must be a registered charity.  Grants of between £7,500 up to £15,000 are available, low cost loans are also available. www.ahfund.org.uk or Tel: 020 7925 0199.

The Pilgrim Trust

Registered charities can apply.  The Trust will fund projects concerned with the restoration of historic buildings and architectural features and the conservation of museum objects.  Grants from £5000 are available.  Guidelines and application form can be downloaded from the website www.thepilgrimtrust.org.uk  Tel: 0207 2224723

General

Suffolk Environment Trust (Landfill Tax Credits)

Available to communities where the work carried out is in Suffolk and within 10 miles of a landfill site. Grants of up to £25,000 available for projects as diverse as waste minimisation, building restoration, provision of public parks and biodiversity improvements. Projects usually need to be able to procure an independent third-party funder who can reimburse 10% of the amount requested to the landfill operator who is providing the funding from landfill tax credits. www.suffolkenvironmentaltrust.org.uk
Tel: 01394 675299 for further details.

Cory Environmental Trust (Landfill Tax Credits)

As above but for projects within Colchester Borough. Tel: 01206 282918 or sue.warrener@colchester.gov.uk for further details.

Essex Environment Trust(Landfill Tax Credits)

As above but for projects within Essex, except Colchester District. Tel 01245 265555 or info@essexenvironmenttrust.org.uk for further details.

Big Lottery Fund

Big Lottery Fund is a new organisation that will distribute half the money for good causes from the National Lottery. They make it easier to apply for Lottery money and will make it easier for you to see where the money goes. Big Lottery Fund was created by merging the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund. More information on the detail of the grants from  www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Big Lottery Fund's Community Wildlife Programme - This special programme celebrates 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, by allowing local groups and communities to get more involved with, enhance and protect their local wildlife.  Not-for-profit organistions, social enterprises, local councils and schools or health bodies may apply for support.  Grants of between £300 and £10,000 are being provided for one-year projects.  Community Wildlife was launched on the BBC's Springwatch show on Tuesday 8 June 2010.  For more information go to the website at http://www2.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_community_wildlife.htm?regioncode=-uk&status=theProg

BTCV

Grants available to encourage and enable community groups to carry out conservation activities. Groups must be associated to BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers). Funds administered by BTCV. Forms available from the Community Unit (Tel: 01302 388834). A number of local BTCV offices provide a specialised support service for schools. Please check the website for details of the local offices. www.btcv.org

Garfield Weston Foundation

The Garfield Weston Foundation supports a broad range of activities in the field of religion, education, the environment, the arts, health (including research) and other areas of general benefit to the community in the UK.
Weston Centre, Bowater House. Address 68 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7LR.
Tel 020 7589 6363

Grants for Young People

Volvo Young Environmentalist Award

Must involve groups of young people between 10 and 16 years of age working on an environmental project. (i.e. recycling, wildlife, energy, efficiency, conservation). Grants of £500. http://www.environmentawards.net/details.asp?cid=286   Tel: 0845 0207593

Heritage Lottery Fund - Young Roots

Groups or projects involving young people 13-20 years old. For innovative and creative projects that target directly the needs and interest of young people. Pre-application form can be completed and submitted online to see if your project is suitable or you can contact a local advisory. Grants of £5000 – £25000. www.hlf.org.uk Tel: 0207 5916000

Grants for Schools and School Grounds

Action Earth

Action Earth provides grants of up to £50 to assist groups in carrying out environmental projects. All projects must:
Be practical and visual
Have an immediate or lasting benefit to the environment
Involve volunteers (new/existing) 
 www.actionearth.org.uk

Children in Need

Application for grants by November annually for schemes primarily with an emphasis on special needs. Must be a good quality, carefully planned project that will make a positive difference to children’s lives.
www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants/

Learning through Landscapes

Learning through Landscapes is the National School Grounds Charity. They work with schools, early year’s settings, organisations and individuals across the country to help them improve and develop their grounds. Offers advice and publications on all aspects of school grounds development. Produces funding opportunities list. Since 1990, Learning through Landscapes has helped schools across the UK to bring lasting improvements to the environmental quality and educational use of their grounds.
Tel: 01962 846258
LTL, 3rd Floor, Southside Offices, The Law Courts, Winchester, SO23 9DL
www.ltl.org.uk

School Energy Programme

Schools can apply for a rebate of up to 50% (up to £3000) to invest in measures to reduce energy consumption and cut fuel bills. To receive a rebate schools must develop an energy policy and 3 year action plan, undertake an energy survey, identify match funding, reinvest part of the fuel bill savings and regularly monitor their energy consumption.
School Energy Programme, c/o CREATE, Kenley House, 25 Bridgeman Terrace, Wigan,WN1 1TT.
Tel: 0870 7000457
www.create.org.uk/funding

The Tree Council

Thanks to the generosity of several anonymous donors, the Tree Council has funds (£100 - £700) available to assist schools proposing to undertake well-planned tree planting projects  during National Tree Week each year (late November to Early December). The Tree Council is particularly concerned that the projects should actively engage children in the planting of the trees.   www.treecouncil.org.uk/2q=grants  

Eco-Schools

Eco schools are a great way to make sustainable development a part of the life and ethos of your school. Designed to fit it the curriculum, it's an award scheme that gets everyone in the school community involved in making the school environment better.
www.eco-schools.org.uk

Growing Schools

This comprehensive online directory supports the Growing Schools programme, which aims to reconnect young people with their environment, in both urban and rural settings, through the National Curriculum. Schools can use the site to find information on health and safety, funding sources, published research, training, resource materials and places to visit (with a helpful key to services offered), news and events. It also provides case studies on outdoor learning and school grounds development.
The site has been designed so teachers can search by subject and key stage and will soon feature a ‘schools network’ offering teachers the opportunity to tap into local community expertise and knowledge.
www.teachernet.gov.uk/growingschools

The Woodland Trust More Trees, More Good Campaign  aims to encourage everyone to plant more trees as the UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe with only 4% native woodland cover.  The Woodland Trust offer help and advice on tree planting projects plus Tree packs for schools and community groups.  Please visit the website for more information. http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/more-trees-more-good/Pages/about-the-campaign.aspx