Aims/priorities: The Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund will help Greater Manchester to become greener, fairer and more prosperous, by giving small grants to communities in greatest need to create or enhance green space. The fund is focused on three principles:
- To benefit communities in greatest need of quality green spaces
- To tackle our biodiversity emergency
- To encourage and empower communities to get involved with nature
The grants will be available for communities experiencing inequalities who want to create new green spaces or improve existing ones in their area. These might be unused areas that people want to open up for wider access, a community garden, greening a street, or creating a small park or parklet. We are particularly interested in hearing from communities in greatest need, to ensure the fund is used to empower those facing inequalities.
Examples of the type of projects the Green Spaces Fund could support include:
- Enhancing or creating publicly accessible green spaces for people and wildlife and engaging communities with these new spaces
- Permanently greening streets or turning unused viable land into green community spaces
- Creating new permanent parklets or pocket parks and engaging people with these new spaces
- Cleaning up and restoring green spaces, streams, rivers, canals or ponds with local communities
- The development of green corridors linking parks, community gardens or other green spaces
- Projects that significantly improve the biodiversity of the area
Essential screening criteria
- Project must focus on the creation and/or enhancement of green space
- All applicants must be able to provide proof that they have the landowner’s permission for the project.
- Projects must be on land which is freely accessible to the public, not just to the group applying. We expect projects to replicate the accessibility of public parks, which are commonly accessible to the public either at all times or at least dawn to dusk. Confirmation must also be provided that the land will remain accessible to the public after the project is completed.
- If planning permission is required for your project, then this must be obtained before applying to the fund.
- Projects must be able to be completed within 1 year of the start date
Who can apply? Applications are open to:
- Community Groups, associated or unincorporated community associations
- Registered charities, including Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
- Social Enterprises or Community Benefit Societies
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Tenant and or Resident Associations or groups of residents
- Schools and academy trusts
Organisations, such as registered housing provides, local authorities or local parish councils, can act as accountable bodies to support an application from a community group or organisation: By acting as an accountable body, these organisations will take on the legal responsibility for the project and would be financially accountable for any grant that is distributed to their partner organisation. More details can be found in our terms and conditions
Grant amount: The fund has two types of grants available.
- Small grants up to £15,000
- Large grants between £15,000 to £40,000
Application process: Applications can be made on the funders website. Please read the Guidance Notes before applying.
Deadline: No later than noon on Friday 27 January 2023.
Contact information: Their advisors can help you better understand the application process. Simply get in touch with your local advisor:
- Manchester & Trafford: kieron@sowthecity.org
- Rochdale: lydia.marshall@groundwork.org.uk
- Stockport & Tameside: katie@cityoftrees.org.uk
- Bolton & Bury: ethompson@lancswt.org.uk
- Oldham & Salford: ninaagnew@rhs.org.uk
- Wigan: stephen.hodges@groundwork.org.uk
Website address: Greater Manchester Environment Fund (gmenvfund.org)