Aims/priorities: The Partnership Grants Scheme offers funding once a year to not-for-profit organisations with projects that address one of the following themes:
- Built Environment projects should restore, modernise and improve facilities such as cultural, heritage or visitor centres. Applicants should be able to demonstrate regional or national significance and how the facility will be inclusive and how it will inspire creativity and participation amongst tourists and day visitors. The facilities must be open to the general public for a published period of at least 104 days each year.
- Natural Environment projects should support a variety of living things including all species of plants and animals, along with the habitats and natural processes that support them. It is important that species and habitats are protected and restored, that there are functioning natural processes, and that the environment can adapt to threats such as climate change. Projects should support the delivering of commitments within their country’s Environmental Improvement Plan, legally-binding targets from the Environment Act 2021 or priorities identified within Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
The project must not cross the two themes.
Preference will be given to projects:
- Where Biffa Award is recognised as the majority funder.
- Which work in partnership with other organisations.
- Which engage with the public.
- That demonstrate environmental sustainability and ways to mitigate impact during delivery and beyond.
- That demonstrate regional/national significance.
Who can apply? Not-for-profit organisations in England and Northern Ireland can apply.
Applicants must:
- Be a fully constituted, charitable or not-for-profit organisation with no share capital.
- Enrol with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body to access funding. An administrative fee of £100 is payable to ENTRUST for this.
- Be located within 15 miles of a significant Biffa Operation or active Biffa Landfill site.
- Be located within 10 miles of any licensed landfill site (not necessarily owned by Biffa Group Limited) in England and Northern Ireland.
- Have a project site open for a minimum of 104 days of full public access to the project per year.
- Have, if not the landowner, a signed landowner agreement in place agreeing to access for maintenance, surveying and monitoring for a period of not less than 25 years.
- Have a management plan in place for the key species/habitat(s) involved for each site, if applying for a Natural Environment themed grant.
- Have all planning permissions in place, if required.
Applicants should check their project location's eligibility using Biffa Awards Postcode Checker which can be found on the Biffa Award's website.
Groups and their projects must be eligible for enrolment and registration with the scheme regulator ENTRUST. There will be conditions of any grant approved.
Grant amount: Grants of between £250,000 and £1 million are available for projects that finish within one year.
The funding is for work starting in February 2026 and completed by February 2027.
Applications can be made for 100% of the projects costs; however, only 90% of the grant can be paid by Biffa Award using Landfill Tax Credits. The remaining 10% needs to be provided by another source (third party contribution).
The scheme remains highly competitive and receives a far higher number of applications than can be funded. Last year (2024) saw application submissions in excess of £8.4 million.
Application process: This is an annual grants programme.
Applications for 2025 are now open.
There is a two stage application process:
- The first stage is to complete the Expression of Interest form by the deadline. Notification of decisions by late July 2025.
- The second stage is for those who are invited to complete a full application form.
The Expression of Interest guidance notes can be found on the Biffa Award website and should be read first.
Contact Biffa Award Grants Team for further information.
Deadline: Friday 30 May 2025 (noon).
Contact information: Email: biffa-award@wildlifetrusts.org
Website: Home Page - Biffa Award