GrantRadar

East Suffolk Council

Nature First small grants scheme

Small grants from East Suffolk Council on behalf of the East Suffolk Greenprint Forum for projects that enhance local biodiversity or the community's understanding and enjoyment of it. A typical application is expected to be between £250 and £1,000, though larger sums will be considered where the project outcomes justify them. Applications can be submitted at any time and are considered first come, first served until the funding runs out.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£250 – £1,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Any constituted not-for-profit community or voluntary group; registered charities; voluntary organisations and social enterprises; a local branch of a national community or voluntary sector organisation; town and parish councils; and village hall or recreation ground committees
  • Statutory organisations working across East Suffolk or several community partnership areas can apply, but only for activity supporting an area's priorities and delivered in that area
  • Payments direct to individuals cannot be supported, but a small group without a bank account is still welcome to apply if its town or parish council agrees in advance to hold the money on its behalf
  • The project must take place within the district of East Suffolk

What it funds

  • Restoring or creating habitats
  • Hedgerow planting and restoration
  • Wildflower planting
  • Tree planting
  • Equipment or training so volunteers can carry out conservation work effectively
  • Nesting and roosting places for bats, birds and other animals
  • Community gardens and orchards
  • Community-based local awareness raising campaigns
  • Projects that boost learning opportunities for young people

Every application must contribute to the Greenprint Forum's Nature First goal, and ideally to one or more of its other eight goals.

Applications judged most favourably are innovative, sustainable beyond the grant period, contribute to the vision in multiple ways, involve a cross-section of the community, and can share what they learn with other groups.

What it will not fund

  • Applications from businesses for profit or that do not benefit the community
  • Applications from individuals
  • Reclaimable VAT
  • Total organisation running costs and core staffing costs
  • Projects unable to start within 12 months of the award
  • Activities promoting political or religious beliefs
  • Costs or activities already incurred, and retrospective funding
  • Endowments, deficit funding and loans
  • Overseas travel, trips abroad and hospitality to other organisations
  • Sponsored or fundraising events
  • Repeat funding for the same activity previously funded by East Suffolk Council, the Greenprint Forum or an East Suffolk Community Partnership
  • Loss of income or profits

How to apply

  • Complete the Nature First application form downloaded from the scheme's page and submit it with, where relevant, a plan, diagram or sketch of the project
  • There is no deadline: the panel convenes roughly once a month as needed and considers applications on an ongoing, first come first served basis until the funding is allocated
  • Anyone unsure whether the scheme fits their project is invited to ask first

Have ready

The application form, and where applicable a plan, diagram or sketch showing what would be done, where, and how it would fit its surroundings.

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