National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment

What we fund to help nature and the environment

Climate change and the loss of nature are two of the biggest challenges we face.

Scientists say climate change is the greatest threat to people around the world. At the same time, the UK has lost much of its wildlife, and the condition of nature is declining.

We need a healthy planet to live well, stay safe, and build strong communities.

These are global problems – but local action makes a difference. That’s why we support community projects that protect nature and help the environment.

We fund projects that meet one or both of these aims:

• help people connect with and care for nature in their area
• make a positive difference to the environment.

Help people connect with and care for nature in their area

We want to fund projects that help people engage with good-quality, accessible nature close to home.

Under this aim, we will fund projects that:

• make a positive difference to local green spaces
• help connect local people to nature.

Make a positive difference to local green spaces

You could do this by:

• creating community gardens or shared spaces for growing food or plants
• rewilding or restoring neglected green areas
• running volunteer sessions to care for green spaces
• improving parks or playgrounds to support nature and wildlife.

Help connect local people to nature

You could do this by:

• running forest schools or outdoor learning activities to help people engage with nature and improve their wellbeing
• organising activities in nature for people who do not usually access green spaces
• creating or improving community allotment plots with wildlife-friendly features
• offering volunteering in horticulture or community farming and providing outdoor therapy that supports both people and the environment.

Projects and activities we’ve funded for this aim:

• Nature-based spaces for learning and play
  A community group set up bee hives to support pollination, boost biodiversity, and teach people about nature and food production. They also developed a forest school space with a small shelter and fencing to create a safe, welcoming area for bushcraft and nature play.

• Extending a community green space
  One organisation transformed a disused area by expanding a shared green space. This created more room for people to enjoy and connect with nature.

• Running outdoor activities
  Another group delivered regular activities like park and canal walks, gardening, and community picnics.

What we will not fund:

• Outdoor classroom and sensory garden in a school
  A school planned to create an outdoor classroom and sensory garden. The space would mainly benefit pupils, with very limited access for the wider community.

• Garden makeover by college students
  College students improved a garden as part of a course at an alternative education provider. The project supported learning but did not benefit the wider community.

• One-off community festival
  This one-off festival included a commitment to sustainability. But it had no environmental activities and did not align with the programme’s aims.

If your project involves animals, we can only fund the parts that benefit people and communities. We don’t fund activities or costs that only involve animals.

Make a positive difference to the environment

We want to fund projects that help care for the environment and respond to climate challenges.

Under this aim, we will fund projects that:

• deliver sustainable activities
• help people reduce carbon or save energy.

Deliver sustainable activities

This includes:

• running repair or reuse sessions – such as fixing bikes or furniture
• setting up a food growing projects
• redistributing food from supermarkets or shops that would otherwise go to waste
• using nature-based solutions to local climate risks – like planting trees to reduce heat in urban areas or using plants to help prevent flooding.

Help people reduce carbon or save energy

This includes:

• installing solar panels or other energy-saving features in well-used community buildings
• offering advice sessions or interactive workshops to help people make small, positive changes
• raising awareness about climate change, food choices, local growing, cooking or saving energy.

Projects and activities we’ve funded for this aim

These examples show the kinds of work we support to help improve the environment.

• Bringing local gardens back into use
  A group asked people who didn’t use their gardens to offer them for growing food. They then brought everyone together for a community feast using what they’d grown.
• Opening an environmental hub with community composting
  An organisation opened a new environmental education hub for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Volunteers also set up and ran a composting site to help reduce waste in the area.

Examples of projects we will not fund:

• Solar panels for a sports club
  A project to install solar panels on a sports venue that was not a well-used community space. It mainly benefited people involved in sporting activities, rather than the wider community.
• International skills challenge for young people
  A project involving an international competition where young people explored sustainability through game design. It did not show clear local benefit or impact for the wider community.
• In-school environmental education
  A project that delivered classroom-based environmental learning as part of the curriculum. It repeated content already taught in schools and did not go beyond standard lessons.

Understanding your community's needs

When applying for funding, we must understand your project and how it will benefit your community.

Communities know best what they need. When planning your project, involve local people from the start. This can help you create a project that’s relevant and effective.

Think about how your project will involve and benefit the community. Consider any barriers that might stop people from taking part and how you can make your activities more inclusive.

Here are some ways to involve your community:

• talk to people, have informal conversations or arrange group discussions
• run a survey, gather ideas and understand local priorities
• hold a meeting, share your ideas and invite feedback
• speak to local organisations or community leaders to understand their views

We’ll ask you to tell us how your community has helped shape your project so far

This could include:

• how many people you’ve spoken to about your project
• what your community has said about why the project matters to them
• how local people have helped plan the project, for example, by attending a planning event, joining a steering group

If your project involves a green space, tell us:

• how people will help deliver and look after it, for example, by volunteering
• how people will use or enjoy the space when it’s finished

Involving the people you support

Think about how the people who benefit from your project can also take part in running it. They could:

• volunteer with your organisation
• join your board or committee
• work for you in some way

Bank statements

We need a bank statement from the last three months to check the account where we will pay the grant. We can only assess your application if your bank account and statement meet our requirements. If you are unsure, contact us to check.

Your bank account must:

• meet the requirements in our Financial Controls and Financial Governance Guidance
• contain this information as shown in this example bank statement

Other documents we accept

If your bank account was opened in the last three months, you can send a welcome letter instead of a statement. It must show the date the account was opened and all account details.

We can also accept a transaction listing. It must include:

• bank logo
• your organisation’s legal name
• address used by the bank
• bank’s name
• account number and sort code
• date range covered

If you’ll be working with children, young people or vulnerable adults

You need to have a policy in place that explains how they’ll be safe. If you get funding you’ll need to follow our expectations on safeguarding children and adults at risk.

The NCVO website has child safeguarding advice and information services.

What you can spend the money on

We fund a variety of costs to help your project succeed. These include:

• running costs for your organisation
• help from a nature organisation
• equipment
• one-off events with a clear environmental impact
• staff and training costs
• transport and utilities
• volunteer expenses
• small land or refurbishment projects

We cannot fund:

• retrospective costs
• alcohol
• contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest
• paying someone else to write your application for you
• profit-making or fundraising activities
• VAT you can reclaim
• religious activities (we can fund religious organisations if their project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content)
• statutory activities
• activities that help children or young people with their schoolwork during school time
• overseas travel
• projects that take place outside of the UK
• activities that make profits for private gain
• activities or costs that only involve animals
• cash that will be given directly to individuals

If you're not sure if something can be funded, contact us and we will advise.

We encourage you to think about any costs that help your organisation and community cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

Funding for land or refurbishment projects

If you need funding for land or building work, one of the following must apply:

• you own the land or building
• you have a lease for at least five years
• you have a letter from the owner confirming a lease for at least five years
• you have permission from the owner or landlord to do the work

You may also need to check if planning permission is required.

You can apply using our online form

Our online form will be available from 25 June 2025. You can read our terms and conditions for applications now.

Apply early

Submit your application at least 16 weeks before you need the funding. We are receiving more applications than usual, so it may take longer to respond. Please wait for approval before starting your project or spending money.

What happens after you apply

1. We'll review your application, check your information and respond within 16 weeks. You can read more about the checks we carry out on your information.
2. We might contact you to discuss your project or ask for more details.
3. If successful, we will email you and deposit the funding into your account within 14 days. You can start your project as soon as you receive our email.
4. We may check in to see how your project is progressing.
5. Share your story. Let your community know about your grant and how it’s benefiting them. Your award email will explain how to publicise your grant and support your community. Learn more about promoting your project.

If you need help with your application

If you cannot complete the online form, we can offer different ways to tell us about your project. These include:

• an Easy Read version of the application form and guidance
• a PDF version of the application form
• sharing a video describing your project idea, rather than describing it in words
• a British Sign Language (BSL) version of the application form and guidance

Contact us if you need communication support.

How we use your personal data

To find out how we handle your personal data, please read our Data Protection Statement.