The Community Environment Fund has launched, with £1m of grant funding available to support communities in delivering initiatives that improve the environment and people’s lives.
The Government has awarded £70 million from the recent Commonwealth Games to help communities in the West Midlands. Some of these funds will help improve the environmental sustainability of the region by community action, through the Community Environment Fund.
The Community Environment Fund was launched in October 2023 by West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Approximately thirty small grants of up to £25,000 and five large grants of up to £100,000 will be awarded for projects under the following project themes:
- Natural environment – to protect, restore and enhance nature and wildlife.
- Access to green space – to provide better access to and community use of green space for health and wellbeing.
- Climate adaptation – to make communities more resilient and prepared for the impacts of climate change.
- Circular economy – to reduce waste and keep resources and materials in use for as long as possible.
- Environment awareness – to improve knowledge of environment issues and support behaviour change.
Key dates:
- Large projects up to £100,000 must be delivered by 31 December 2024. It is unlikely that applications for large projects will be accepted after June 2024 due to delivery timescales.
- Small projects up to £25,000 must be delivered by February 2025. It is unlikely that applications for small projects will be accepted after October 2024.
Which types of organisations can apply?:
- Registered charities
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation
- Constituted Community groups
- Companies Limited by Guarantee with charitable aims
- Community Interest Companies
- Co-operatives – registered Community Benefit Societies and registered Industrial and Provident Societies
- Social Enterprises
Where must projects be delivered?:
- Birmingham
- Wolverhampton
- Coventry
- Dudley
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- Walsall
WMCA has appointed Heart of England Community Foundation (HoECF) to support with the delivery of the Community Environment Fund and the application process will be managed using HoECF’s website.
If you have any queries regarding this funding opoortunity, please contact communityenvironmentfund@wmca.org.uk.
