GrantRadar

South Oxfordshire District Council

South Oxfordshire Nature and Climate Action Fund 2026/27

Grants of £250 to £10,000 from South Oxfordshire District Council for community-focused projects that tackle or adapt to climate change, or restore nature, in the district. Town and parish councils, parish meetings and local not-for-profit groups can apply for capital and one-off revenue costs, up to 100% of the project. This year's money is split roughly equally between climate and nature projects, and applications close at midday on 20 November 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£250 – £10,000
Deadline
28 days left
20 November
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Town and parish councils and parish meetings, and local not-for-profit organisations (including a company limited by guarantee that does not distribute surplus to members) whose primary purpose is to benefit residents of South Oxfordshire
  • Town and parish councils can apply on behalf of local unconstituted groups
  • Projects must take place within South Oxfordshire district for the benefit of its residents
  • Organisations need a bank account in their own name (a statement no more than two months old goes with the application), named officers or trustees, and on request their governing document and latest financial records
  • Not eligible: other local authorities and public bodies, schools, colleges and universities (though projects can involve them), PTAs and similar groups raising funds for ineligible organisations, individuals, private businesses, political and lobbying groups, and nationwide organisations without a local constitution or bank account
  • Grant-making organisations are considered case by case

What it funds

Projects which take action to:

  • Address climate change and avoid or reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (mitigation projects)
  • Adjust to the current and future effects of climate change (adaptation projects)
  • Support nature recovery and biodiversity

capital items and revenue costs (excluding recurring revenue costs) are eligible, up to 100 per cent of the total project cost; the project must complete within 12 months of the award. Projects could focus on energy, waste and consumption, transport and travel, adaptation, nature recovery, or community access to nature.

examples include a community EV charging point, a repair café or swap scheme, a nature recovery project linked to the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, an energy audit and efficiency measures, a community wildflower garden, community woodland restoration, a community emergency or flood plan, and cycle racks with wayfinding.

What it will not fund

  • Retrospective funding for work/projects that will complete before the decision is made (started projects are considered, but not retrospective costs)
  • Projects that do not demonstrate a clear benefit to the community in which they are taking place
  • Statutory activities/requirements that the council or another public-sector organisation is responsible for, such as schools, public highways, public rights of way and road safety measures
  • Projects where the carbon emissions released through delivery would outweigh the potential benefit
  • Energy efficiency measures for buildings that are not used by groups within the community
  • Litter picking activities
  • Recurring revenue costs, like salaries, rent, rates and maintenance (salaries for a one-off project of no more than six months, and room hire for the project period, are considered)
  • Costs that relate to other council services, e.g. planning applications or building regulation fees
  • Alcoholic refreshments (other refreshments case by case)
  • Clothing such as uniforms (safety kit such as high-visibility clothing is considered)
  • Equipment which could be rented or borrowed
  • Projects that specifically benefit private businesses
  • Political activities, lobbying or campaigning
  • Projects that don't align with the council's equalities objectives and/or the Equality Act 2010

How to apply

  1. Read the 2026/27 funding guidance
  2. Apply through the council's online grants system (Flexigrant) by midday on 20 November 2026
  3. Officers check eligibility, including governance and financial documents for every fifth applicant and anyone not funded by the council in the last 12 months
  4. The director of service decides with the cabinet member; decisions are final
  5. Accept the grant offer and conditions online; payment is made by BACS to the organisation's account

the grant must be spent within 12 months; unspent or surplus money may have to be returned.

Have ready

  • Recent bank statement in the organisation's name (no more than two months old)
  • On request: detailed financial records for the most recent complete year, or projections for new organisations
  • On request: governing document (not asked of parish meetings)

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