GrantRadar

Inspiring Scotland

Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund

Grants of up to £13,500 for grassroots, community-led not-for-profit groups in Scotland with an income under £200,000 to design, plan and prepare local ecosystem restoration projects (development stage, not physical works). Successful projects also get up to £1,500 of professional fundraising time to help secure funding for the next stage. Open on a rolling basis through a short expression of interest, then an invited full application.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £13,500
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Not-for-profit, community-led organisations based in a specific place in Scotland, with an income of less than £200,000 in the last year and their own bank account
  • The fund aims at grassroots community groups who may find it difficult to access funding for ecosystem restoration
  • You must have permission to use the land for your project
  • Businesses that make money cannot apply

What it funds

Development stages of local ecosystem restoration (design, planning and preparation) on one or more of these themes:

  • Connecting nature corridors: linking areas of habitat or patches of greenspace so wildlife can move and thrive
  • Habitat and species restoration, including restoring unused and derelict land or farmland
  • Freshwater and wetland restoration, including planning work such as pond creation or river restoration
  • Coastal and marine: improving Scotland's coasts and seas to support nature and resilience to environmental change
  • Control of invasive non-native species, including early-stage planning for their control
  • Urban nature: creating and connecting natural spaces in towns and cities, such as pollinator-friendly habitats
  • Costs can include specialist consultancy and technical expertise, community activities, new staff posts and training placements, and core costs

Successful projects also receive up to £1,500 of professional fundraising time to help apply for funding for the next stage.

Local people must be involved in planning the project, and the project must finish within 18 months of receiving the money (Easy Read guide).

What it will not fund

  • Physical work such as planting or building (Easy Read guide)
  • Capital costs such as purchasing equipment, land or buildings: funding should generally be used for day-to-day (revenue) costs
  • Businesses that make money

How to apply

  1. Read the Guidance Notes (also available in Easy Read) on the fund page
  2. Submit the short online Expression of Interest form at any time (about 15-20 minutes); you will get a confirmation email
  3. Inspiring Scotland reviews expressions of interest regularly and usually replies within 2-3 weeks on whether the project is a good fit
  4. If selected, complete the full application form, which asks for more detail and documents
  5. Full applications are assessed by a Steering Group with ecosystem restoration expertise; decisions are made every three months

Check your spam folder for the confirmation email and contact the fund team if it does not arrive.

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