Aims/priorities: The funding is for formal partnership working across sectors, led by community and voluntary organisations or public sector organisations for projects that reach more people by either:
- Influencing communities at a regional, national or UK level, for example by linking larger campaigns or projects that will inspire people to take action on climate issues, or helping communities to influence the people that make policies that affect them.
- Linking climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities and using people's day-to-day activities to inspire them to do things differently and work towards lasting impact.
NLCF is actively encouraging partnerships that are led by, or include, non-climate or environment-focused organisations.
Who can apply? Applications will only be accepted from not-for-profit organisations working in a formal partnership.
This includes partnerships that:
- Are based around a local area or region.
- Cover one of the countries that make up the UK.
- Cover the whole UK
- Are based on a shared theme or identity rather than a place.
- Are new or already work together.
To get funding, a partner organisation must be a:
- Constituted voluntary or community organisation.
- Registered charity.
- Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO or SCIO).
- Not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that is a registered charity or has a not-for-profit ‘asset lock’ clause in their articles of association.
- Community Interest Company (CIC).
- School, college, university (as long as their project benefits and involves the wider local communities).
- Statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish or community councils).
- Community benefit society.
- Co-operative society with a not-for-profit ‘asset lock’ clause in their society rules and also be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.
It is not necessary to be a climate or environment-focused organisation to apply. However, at least one partner should have experience of climate or environment work.
Schools must have a project that involves and benefits the community outside of the school, not just teachers, pupils, and parents of pupils.
Grant amount: A total of £30 million is available.
The minimum grant is £500,000.
It is expected that most grants will be between £1 million and £1.5 million over three to five years.
Consideration will also be given to larger or longer-term projects.
Application process: Full guidance and the online application form can be found on the NLCF website.
It normally takes at least 12 weeks from the receipt of the first stage application to find out whether applicants will be invited to the second stage.
There is high demand for this fund so only the strongest applications will be progressed to the next stage.
Contact the National Lottery Community Fund for further information.
Deadline: Applications will be accepted until 17 December 2025 when the fund closes.
Contact information: Email: general.enquiries@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Website: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/climate-action-fund-our-shared-future