Bristol Airport

Bristol Airport Local Community Fund (Airport Environmental and Amenity Improvement Fund)

Bristol Airport's Local Community Fund, formally the Airport Environmental and Amenity Improvement Fund (AEAIF), is set up under the airport's Section 106 agreement to mitigate unforeseen adverse environmental impacts or impacts on the amenity of local communities arising from the airport's development. Grants are mainly for capital projects such as biodiversity schemes, renewable energy or energy reduction for non-residential buildings, noise mitigation and traffic measures. Most grants are expected to be no more than £12,000, though larger sums can be considered in exceptional circumstances. A quarterly committee of airport staff and North Somerset Council members decides.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Community groups, charities and other not-for-profit organisations whose project mitigates environmental or amenity impacts on their local community that can be attributed, wholly or partly, to the operation and development of Bristol Airport; the benefit to the local community must be clearly established
There is no strict boundary: locations in North Somerset, particularly close to the airport, are likely to have the strongest case, but reasonably close areas in neighbouring council areas can be considered if they can show the need (past grants include projects in Bristol and the Chew Valley)
Schools can be funded in line with the criteria
Individuals are considered on their merits if the project shows wider community benefit
Churches and places of worship may be ineligible if they exclude users on grounds of religion and must show benefit to the wider community
Commercial and for-profit organisations, political parties, and statutory bodies meeting their own statutory duties cannot apply
Contractors or products should be chosen through a competitive tender

What it funds

Mitigation of unforeseen adverse environmental impacts or adverse impacts on the amenity of the local community arising from the airport's development. Schemes likely to be viewed positively include:

Schemes which improve, enhance, protect and conserve the natural environment within the vicinity of the Airport
Schemes which generate renewable energy or are designed to reduce energy consumption within the vicinity of the Airport (non-residential buildings only)
Noise mitigation for non-residential buildings (residential buildings can apply to the separate Noise Mitigation Scheme)
Measures addressing traffic implications of an increase in passengers using the Airport
Any other projects or schemes which can demonstrate they will help mitigate an environmental and/or amenity impact that can be attributed to the Airport expanding

Grants are intended primarily for capital projects. Priority goes to projects worth less than £15,000, to projects with detailed costs and funding from other sources, and to local groups rather than national organisations.

What it will not fund

Political parties
Commercial organisations or those working for profit
Organisations with statutory responsibilities, where the grant would be used to meet those responsibilities
Projects already carried out and paid for
Recurrent expenditure and running costs
Salaries and expenses
General repair and maintenance
General sponsorship
Office costs and office equipment
Administration
General medical costs
Uniforms and individuals' sports kit
Out of school clubs
Purchase of land or buildings
VAT the applicant can reclaim
A similar project in the same location within 24 months of a successful bid

How to apply

Check the criteria and, if unsure, contact the Fund Administrator about eligibility and the next committee deadline
Complete the online application form, choosing Bristol Airport's Local Community Fund from the drop-down: project location (parish and postcode), how it meets the criteria, who benefits in North Somerset and Bristol, timeline, an itemised cost estimate, other funding sought and secured, and organisation details
Attach quotations or estimates, and your constitution and annual report or financial statement if you have them
Submit at least two weeks before a quarterly committee meeting; the next meeting is Monday 7 December 2026, so apply by 23 November 2026 (later bids go to the following quarter)
The committee decides and applicants are told within 5 working days of the meeting; the committee may defer for more information
If successful, spend the grant normally within three months and send original invoices or receipts to the Fund Administrator, plus a short summary report

Small donations (usually up to £1,000) for projects that do not meet these criteria go to the separate Diamond Fund, which is closed until early January 2027.

Committee decisions are final; a rejected bid can only be resubmitted if significantly amended.

Have ready

Itemised estimate of project costs with quotations or estimates
Constitution or set of rules (if the group has one)
Annual report or financial statement (if available)
Evidence that contractors or products were selected through a competitive tender

A maintenance plan may be required for projects creating physical assets, such as a biodiversity project.

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