GrantRadar

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust

YDMT Grants (Community Grants: Project Grants and Unrestricted Grants)

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust's community grants scheme (launched June 2023) funds projects and organisations in and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale National Landscape that help deliver at least one of the Trust's three aims: people, landscape or wildlife. There are two types: Project Grants for specific projects (for example habitat restoration or helping underrepresented groups access the Dales) and Unrestricted Grants towards an organisation's revenue costs such as rent, insurance, staff and volunteer travel. Typical grants are £1,000-£5,000; the Trust says there is no set minimum or maximum and it will discuss bigger projects. Applications are accepted at any time, with a decision aimed for within six weeks.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000 – £5,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Public bodies, voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, charities (registered or not), partnerships, young people, individuals, landowners, farmers and businesses
  • Projects and organisations must be within the Yorkshire Dales National Park or Nidderdale National Landscape, or close to their boundaries; projects and organisations outside this area that clearly provide significant benefits to the area or its communities may still be considered
  • The applicant must be the person or organisation receiving the money, and the applicant name must match the bank account name
  • Only one application from an applicant is considered at a time, and a funded project generally has to be completed before applying again
  • Projects on someone else's land need the landowner's written consent (tenants need a lease of at least five years); projects working with children, young people or vulnerable adults need a written safeguarding policy
  • Unrestricted (revenue) grants are open only to charities and social enterprises

What it funds

Projects and organisations that help deliver at least one of YDMT's aims: People (supporting people to live in, visit and care for the area), Landscape (protecting and enhancing the landscape and culture of the area) and Wildlife (protecting and enhancing the area's wildlife).

  • Project Grants (per the April 2024 guidance) can pay for protection, restoration, enhancement and creation of natural, built and cultural heritage
  • Surveying, recording, interpretation and monitoring of that heritage
  • Maintenance of woodland projects
  • Improved public access including bridleways, cycling and walking tracks
  • Educational, training and recreational initiatives
  • Activities and resources to support community development

Project Grants are usually paid in arrears, with interim claims or an upfront payment possible (e.g. for community groups).

Unrestricted Grants pay an organisation's revenue costs such as salaries, rent, insurance and volunteer travel expenses, are paid upfront, and are available only to registered and non-registered charities and social enterprises (the 2024 guidance caps them at £4,000).

Depending on applicant type the grant covers up to 50% (businesses), 75% (parish and town councils, charities, social enterprises) or 100% (voluntary and community groups, individuals, landowners) of project costs.

Applications are scored on fit with the Trust's strategic aims and value for money.

Woodland creation and hedgerow planting go through the separate Woodland Grants scheme.

What it will not fund

  • Projects that don't help to deliver YDMT's aims
  • Projects with little or no public benefit
  • Projects that don't have the landowner's consent
  • Projects in which a significant proportion of costs could be met by other grant schemes
  • Statutory obligations
  • Party political activity
  • Religious activities that are accessible only to people of a particular faith
  • Costs spent before written permission to start is given
  • Volunteer time as match funding
  • Unrestricted grants for businesses, parish/town councils, voluntary and community groups, individuals or landowners (unrestricted grants are for charities and social enterprises only)
  • Woodland creation and hedgerow planting (handled by the separate YDMT Woodland Grants)

How to apply

  1. Contact the Grants Officer, Mike Appleton (015242 51002, grants@ydmt.org), to discuss your project idea
  2. Read the YDMT Grants Guidance and Standard Agreement and complete the YDMT Grants Application Form (project description, how it meets one main aim, up to three milestones, costs and income)
  3. Email the completed form and supporting information to grants@ydmt.org (or post to YDMT Grants, YDMT, Old Post Office, Main Street, Clapham, LA2 8DP)
  4. YDMT assesses fit with its strategic aims, value for money, need for YDMT funding, public benefit over private gain and lasting legacy; it may ask for more information or arrange a site visit
  5. If successful you receive a formal Grant Offer; start only after meeting conditions, securing match funding, supplying outstanding paperwork (e.g. quotes) and receiving written permission
  6. Report progress against agreed milestones and complete a short evaluation form before the final claim

Applications can be submitted at any time. The grants page itself links no form; the current guidance (April 2024) and form (March 2024) are linked from the YDMT young people grants page.

Young people's own small environmental projects (typically up to £1,000, up to 100% funded) are handled through the same YDMT Grants scheme via the Grants for young people page.

Have ready

  • YDMT Grants Application Form
  • Organisation's constitution or set of rules (where applicable)
  • Written quotes for Project Grant costs (one quote under £1,000; two for £1,000-£4,999; three for £5,000 or more)
  • Map showing the project location (where applicable)
  • Landowner consent form and/or lease agreement (if you are not the landowner)
  • Evidence of designations, consents and permissions (e.g. SSSI, common land, listed building or scheduled monument consent) where relevant
  • Safeguarding policy (if working with children, young people or vulnerable adults)

Quotes not supplied with the application must be provided before approval to start. Supporting material such as photos can be added.

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