GrantRadar

Ernest Cook Trust

Communities Grant

A £500 grant for charities and non-profits that help young people aged 11-19 (up to 25 with SEND) from underserved communities enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. It can pay for 'nature on the doorstep' improvements, transport to outdoor learning sites, or wellies and waterproofs. This round is only for organisations in certain postcodes in Cumbria (CA, LA5-LA23) and Gloucestershire/Wiltshire/Avon (GL, SN, BS). There are 40 grants for 2026/27, and the round stays open until the money runs out.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£500
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • UK registered charities, CICs, CIOs or other non-profits whose vision fits the Trust's
  • They must be located in postcode prefixes CA or LA5-LA23 (Cumbria) or GL, SN or BS (Glos/Wilts/Avon)
  • They must work with young people aged 11-19 (up to 25 with SEND), with priority for those from underserved communities
  • They need an up-to-date safeguarding policy, a bank account in the organisation's name, a constitution or memorandum of association, and a board or committee of at least three unrelated people

What it funds

Three options.

  1. Nature & Nurture: local 'nature on the doorstep' improvements for outdoor learning and biodiversity (wildflower meadows, raised beds, allotments, ponds, woodland areas, sensory gardens) and outdoor learning resources (bird boxes, nature ID charts, natural craft materials)
  2. Transport & Travel: travel to outdoor learning sites, forest schools, country parks, woodlands, national parks, farms and city farms, coasts. Trips to adventure centres may be considered if nature connection is the main focus.
  3. Wellies & Waterproofs: outdoor clothing so young people can learn outdoors

The grant must be spent within one year.

What it will not fund

  • Capital infrastructure such as playground equipment or storage sheds
  • Schools, nurseries, pre-schools, colleges or universities
  • Applicants outside the stated postcodes
  • Individuals
  • Retrospective costs
  • Local authorities
  • Political campaigns
  • Organisations based outside the UK
  • Sole traders
  • Anyone applying on behalf of another organisation
  • Organisations without at least three unrelated people on the board or committee
  • Profit-distributing organisations
  • Promotion of religion (faith organisations may apply if there is a clear benefit to the wider community)

How to apply

  • Apply through the online Communities Grant application form linked from the grant information PDF on the Trust's grants page
  • The round opens once a year and stays open until all funding is allocated
  • Successful applicants complete a short monitoring report after one year

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