GrantRadar

Northampton Town Council

Climate Change Grant Scheme

Northampton Town Council's Climate Change Grant Scheme funds community groups, charities, CICs and schools for practical green projects that cut local carbon emissions or enhance biodiversity in the Town Council's area. Grants go up to £1,000 for small 'ready to go' projects and up to £5,000 for more ambitious ones, where applicants may be asked to contribute funding themselves. It is open all year until the annual budget (£10,000 in 2026/27) runs out, and groups are encouraged to email a short outline for informal feedback before applying.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £5,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Community groups and organisations, schools or educational settings, registered charities and Community Interest Companies with projects based in Northampton Town Council's wards
  • Not open to individuals or profit-making commercial organisations
  • The guidance says the scheme is only open to Northampton Town Council residents and excludes parts of the town that sit within other parish councils: Billing, Duston, Collingtree, East Hunsbury, Far Cotton and Delapre, Great Houghton, Hardingstone, Hunsbury Meadows, Kingsthorpe, Upton, West Hunsbury, and Wootton, Wootton Fields and Simpson Manor
  • Organisations may apply once per calendar year

What it funds

Practical green ideas that could make a meaningful and lasting difference to the carbon footprint of local communities and/or enhance biodiversity:

  • Reducing carbon emissions and household carbon footprints
  • Sustainable energy (low carbon or renewable installations, reducing energy use)
  • Sustainable transport (more cycling, walking and public transport)
  • Biodiversity and ecosystems
  • Climate change mitigation (urban heat, water use, flood risk, local sustainable food or goods)
  • Waste reduction, re-use and recycling

The Forum also looks for awareness and behaviour change, wider community involvement, spin-off benefits such as cleaner air or wellbeing, and longer-term environmental benefits.

Examples given include school cycling and walking activities, carbon footprint training, composting projects, active travel events, community planting, solar PV and LED lighting at community facilities, community food growing, and tree, hedgerow and wildflower planting.

What it will not fund

  • Individuals
  • Commercial organisations which aim to generate a profit
  • Costs already incurred
  • More than one application per organisation per calendar year
  • Residents of parts of Northampton covered by other parish councils (Billing, Duston, Collingtree, East Hunsbury, Far Cotton and Delapre, Great Houghton, Hardingstone, Hunsbury Meadows, Kingsthorpe, Upton, West Hunsbury, and Wootton, Wootton Fields and Simpson Manor)

How to apply

  1. Optionally, email a short description of your idea to the Chair of the Climate Change Forum (climatechangeforum@northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk) for initial feedback
  2. Read the Climate Change Grant Scheme Guidance Document
  3. Complete the online application form on the scheme page, or download the Word form (or request a posted copy on 01604 349320 / info@northamptontowncouncil.gov.uk) and return it to Northampton Town Council, The Guildhall, St Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE
  4. The Climate Change Forum makes a recommendation and the Environmental Services Committee decides
  5. If successful, sign the grant agreement; payment is made within four weeks of the council receiving it

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the annual budget is allocated; there is no deadline.

A smaller amount than requested may be offered. Grants must be taken up within six months, and recipients complete an evaluation; grants over £1,000 must carry the council's logo and 'supported by Northampton Town Council'.

Your name, position, email and address are shared with the committee, and other information on the form may be published in the committee agenda.

Have ready

  • Completed application form, including project costs, other contributions, outcomes and how impact will be measured
  • Bank details for payment

Quotations are normally required to show best value for any single item costing over £500.

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