Environmental project funding and grants

There are lots of funding and grants available for businesses, charities, and voluntary organisations across the borough. 

Browse through the list to find ones suitable for you. 

Latest environmental funding and grants

Last updated 7 August 2024.

Net Zero Barnsley

Barnsley businesses keen to reduce carbon emissions are being offered free support and a possible grant worth up to £12,499 to invest in green innovation.

The SME criteria for grant support is a turnover of no more than £36 million, a balance sheet of no more than £18 million, and a total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees not exceeding 250.

Find out about Net Zero Barnsley.

American Express - Community Giving Programme

This foundation provides support to not-for-profit organisations whose work aligns with its priorities. One of their priorities is 'Backing Low-Carbon Communities' and includes programmes around community-led climate projects focused on nature-based or clean energy initiatives.

The foundation does not actively solicit applications. Interested organisations are invited to submit details about their work at any time by email. Submissions will be reviewed each year between November and January.

The funding value is discretionary.

Find out more about the American Express Community Giving Programme.

Arnold Clark - Our Communities Support

Applications to the 'Our Communities Support' fund are eligible within the following categories: animal welfare (benefiting humans), arts and culture, community development, disability, education, recreation, relief support and mental health support.

Funding is available up to £2,500.

Funding will continue on a rolling monthly basis. However, we'd recommend you apply as early as you can once the fund is open, as applications could be paused due to high demand.

Find out about Arnold Clark community support funds.

Aviva Community Fund (with Crowdfunder)

This is a match-funding initiative for charitable and community organisations. Funding is delivered in partnership with Crowdfunder.

Aviva will match each donation you receive up to £250. You can receive up to £50,000 in match funding and eligible causes can apply at any time.

The Aviva Community Fund also provides access to volunteers. As well as tools and resources they help build their capabilities to achieve long-term sustainable success.

Funding areas:

  • Financial Wellbeing: helping people take control of their wellbeing by giving them the tools to be more financially independent.
  • Climate Action: Promoting healthy, thriving communities by preventing, preparing for and protecting against the impacts of climate change.

There are currently no deadlines.

Find out more and apply to the Aviva Community Fund.

Barclays Green Loan

Open to SMEs who require funding and expert guidance to deliver green projects.

Loan to help you fund eligible green assets for your business, helping you explore ways to transition your business towards net zero. 

There is currently no closing date.

Find out more and apply for a Barclays Green Loan.

Climate Action Fund

The National Lottery community fund will support projects that reach more people by linking climate action to everyday lives in local communities or projects that influence communities regionally.

The minimum you can ask for is £500,000. There is an expectation that most projects will be funded for between £1 million and £1.5 million over three to five years.

The Community Fund plan to close this opportunity to applications in early 2025.

Find out more and apply for the Climate Action Fund.

Delamere Dairy Foundation 

The Delamere Dairy Foundation aims to benefit the public through:

  • The advancement of agriculture and environmental protection.
  • The advancement in life of young people (under the age of 25) by developing their capabilities so that they may mature as contributory members of society.
  • The relief of financial hardship.
  • The advancement of education.
  • The relief of sickness.

Local charity organisations, community groups and social enterprises are eligible to apply.

Funding is available from a minimum of £1000 up to £5000. 

Deadline: 31 August 2024.

Find out more about Delamere Dairy Foundation.

Electricals Recycling Fund

Funding is available for two types of projects:

  1. Projects to grow existing collection methods for small electricals. Organisations can apply for up to £0.50 per household receiving the service. This is capped at £100,000 per applicant.
  2. Projects to innovate new approaches to repairing, reusing and/or recycling electricals. Funding is expected to be up to £50,000 per project.

The fund is open to charities, local authorities, waste partnerships, private waste contractors, other private companies, and compliance schemes.

Funding applications are currently open on a rolling basis.

Find out more about Electricals Recycling Fund.

Energy Efficiency Share Match 

Energy Efficiency Share Match is a pilot fund to support communities raising investment through community shares to pay for energy efficiency measures.

The Share Match will provide grant funding to match money raised in community shares. Most grants awarded will be between £10,000 and £15,000. The minimum grant is £5,000 and the maximum grant is £30,000.

Applications are welcome from all interested communities. Although, the fund is seeking to particularly reach underrepresented communities and less affluent areas.

Applications will be accepted from:

  • Co-operative societies
  • Community benefit societies
  • Charitable community benefit societies

Applicants should initially complete the expression of interest form on the Crowdfunder website. Eligible projects will be invited to apply.

The fund will run until March 2025.

Find out more about Energy Efficiency Share Match. 

Free trees for schools and communities

The Woodland Trust are giving away free trees.

Open to nurseries, schools, universities, parish councils, sports clubs, guides, scouts and more.

Deadline anticipated to be August 2024, with trees delivered November 2024.

Find out more about the Woodland Trust free trees for schools and communities programme.

HSBC – supporting your sustainability transition

Guides, resources, and financing support available from HSBC to help support net zero objectives.

Information on the Green SME Fund, Green Term Loans, Green Asset Finance and other sustainability-based financial support.

Find out more and apply for HSBC sustainability support.

International Tree Foundation (ITF) UK community tree planting grants 

ITF provides financial support for community tree planting projects, equivalent to £1.95 per tree. All of the projects take place on public or publicly-accessible land. 

Community-based organisations, such as a school, community group, social enterprise, non-governmental organisation, or parish council, can apply. 

Applications for the 2024/25 season are open until Friday 13 December 2024.

Find out more about UK community tree planting grants.

King's Awards for Enterprise

Open to businesses, non-profit organisations or the public sector.

Each of the award categories have additional entry criteria.

Winners will be:

  • Invited to a royal reception.
  • Presented with the award by one of The King’s representatives - a Lord-Lieutenant.
  • Able to fly The King’s Awards flag at their main office, and use the emblem on their marketing materials (for example, on packaging, advertisements, stationery and website).
  • Given a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative crystal trophy.

The deadline for entries to the 2025 awards is 12 September 2024.

Find out about The King's Awards for Enterprise.

Major Capital Grants Programme

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is delivering the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund. Grants are available between £75,000 and £500,000 towards new builds and significant refurbishment, including extensions, of rental accommodation offering high quality support for veterans with a housing need.

The funding is open to registered charities that can show they work with veterans or registered social housing providers.

Round three is open to expressions of interest until 8 January 2025.

Fund out more about the Major Capital Grants Programme.

Neat Streets

The Neat Streets grant fund will support five new projects to run campaigns that aim to support litter reduction, and may also boost recycling. Grants of £10,000 are available to be used for supporting the purchase of new bins and signage, events and the development of a campaign.

The fund is asking for applicants to co-invest £5000 into a campaign, to create a project budget of £15,000.

This funding opportunity is open to:

  • Local authorities
  • Business Improvement Districts
  • Major property owners or those who manage public space
  • Transport hubs eg train stations

Round one applications close on 13 September 2024.

Find out more about the Neat Streets grant fund.

npower Business Solutions Foundation

This fund aims to support not-for-profit and educational institutions within 50 miles of npower Business Solutions' offices in Solihull (B91 3ES) and Leeds (LS15 8ZA).

Three levels of funding bands are available - up to a maximum grant of up to £100,000, depending on the size and turnover of your organisation.

The fund supports projects that; improve the environment, forge stronger community bonds, support local educational institutions, encourage responsible business and improve places and spaces.

Find out about npower Business Solutions Foundation.

Rewilding Britain - Rewilding Innovation Fund 

The Rewilding Innovation Fund aims to remove barriers to rewilding across Britain. Funding will be awarded to projects with potential for the highest impact for people and nature.

Grants of up to £15,000 are available.

Applicants must be a part of the Rewilding Network (includes community, private and public landowners, and managers of rewilding areas) and rewilding at scale (more than 40 hectares).

Applications are open until 30 August 2024.

Find out more about Rewilding Innovation Fund. 

Schroder Charity Trust

The Schroder Charity Trust offers grants of up to £5000 towards core and project costs to charities registered in the UK.

The trust supports grants for environment and conservation projects.

Groups can apply at any time. The Schroder Charity Trust operates a rolling programme. 

Find out more and apply to the Schroder Charity Trust.

Sky Zero Footprint Fund

Sky Zero Footprint Fund: Local Heroes will be awarding businesses who have a strong focus on sustainability £20,000 of media value to spend on a TV campaign to advertise in their local area through AdSmart from Sky. Winners will also receive up to £2500 towards ad creation from a local production agency.

The top 10 most voted businesses per region will move forward to a live/virtual pitch with the judges.

Deadline: 29 October 2024.

Find out more about the Sky Zero Footprint Fund: Local Heroes scheme.

Tesco Stronger Starts

Tesco Stronger Starts is open to charities and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £1500. 

Grants will be awarded to:

  • Schools
  • Voluntary or community organisations
  • Health bodies or NHS Hospital Trusts
  • Parish/town councils or local authorities
  • Social housing providers.

Many other organisations can also benefit from this funding.

Applications are open to all local good causes. Tesco are currently prioritising projects that support children’s food security and health and locally nominated good causes.

This is a rolling programme. Three projects from each local area will be shortlisted to go to the public vote every three months.

Find out more about Tesco Stronger Starts.

The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation 

Funding is available to charities for projects that advance the Christian faith, promote the protection of the environment including areas of social and economic deprivation, and relieve sickness within Yorkshire. 

The grants tend to range from smaller grants of around £1000 to a few larger grants of above £275,000.

Applications are considered on a quarterly basis January, April, August and November. 

Find out more about the The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation.

Venturesome Impact Fund

This social investment fund supports organisations all over the UK, irrespective of cause area or geography.

They offer repayable loans between £50,000 and £1 million, with a 5.5% fixed interest rate that won’t change during the lifetime of the facility.

The loans are continuously open to applications.

Eligibility:

  • Have a clear charitable purpose and social impact. You don’t need to be a registered charity.
  • Incorporated and registered in the UK.
  • Have been trading for at least one year and can provide evidence either from donations or trading.
  • Have a minimum annual turnover of £75,000.

Find out about the Venturesome Impact Fund.

Warburtons Community Grants

Warburtons Community Grants provides small grants up to £400 to support charitable organisations towards broader activities which improve health, place or skills for families in their community.

Only open to not-for profit organisations with charitable purposes.

Quarterly deadlines in November, February, May and August.

Find out more about Warburtons Community Grants.

Workplace Charging Scheme

Grant to provide support towards the costs of the purchase, installation and infrastructure of electric vehicle charge points at eligible places of work.

Closing date: 31 March 2025, 11.59pm.

Find out more and apply for the workplace EV charging scheme.

Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions

Grant for eligible state-funded education institutes to provide support towards the costs of the purchase, installation and infrastructure of electric vehicle charge points.

Closing date: 31 March 2025, 11.59pm.

Find out more and apply for the Education EV charging scheme.