Communities are environmentally sustainable

We want communities across the UK to take action for a healthier, more sustainable planet. 

This mission supports projects that protect and improve the local environment, help people connect with nature, and enable communities to respond to the impact of climate change. 

The projects we fund should support local action - whether that’s making community spaces greener, reducing environmental harm, or helping people understand and tackle climate challenges together. 

Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing our planet. While many of the challenges are global, communities have the power to make a real difference locally. That’s why we’re supporting environmental action through all our funding, and investing in projects focused specifically on sustainability. 

Outcomes that help people communities be environmentally sustainable 

Outcomes are the changes or benefits we expect to see from the projects we fund. They help us understand the difference you make. 

We want to fund projects that: 

• help community organisations improve their impact on the environment – this could include your own organisation
• enable people to improve their community’s impact on the environment
• help communities adapt to changes in the climate
• improve access to nature for people 

Choosing missions and outcomes when you apply 

Before applying check your chosen programme to see how many missions or outcomes they want you to include in your project. It varies across programmes.

As part of your application, we’ll ask you to choose the mission and outcomes that closely align with the work you are doing in your community. 

This helps us understand the wider impact your project may have and ensures we can support your work in the right way.  

It is important that you only choose the missions and outcomes that best reflect your plans. Choosing more will not increase your chances of success.

Next steps

Check our funding programmes to see what support is available and find the right fit. 

Read our full missions framework to understand how some outcomes relate to more than one mission. This means your project may contribute to more than one mission at the same time – even if you only focus on a few outcomes.  

Contact us - we’ll help you refine ideas, connect with others, and apply for funding. 

Case study

A country park’s renewed commitment to the environment 

Karen Healey from Creggan Country Park in Derry-Londonderry talks about the impactful environmental activities and education the project provides to support the local community, and why our renewed focus of environmental sustainability in our strategy is vital. Watch the YouTube video.