Closing date late 2025

Large grants for partnership projects that involve more people in climate action in the UK and to inspire 'bold and exciting change'.

The funding is for formal partnership working across sectors, led by community and voluntary organisations or public sector organisations for projects that reach more people by either:

Linking climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities and inspiring them to take action.
Influencing communities at a regional or national level, for example by linking up groups across locations, or a campaign that inspires change across one country, or the whole UK.

The minimum grant is £500,000.

It is expected that most grants will be between £1 million and £1.5 million over three to five years.

A small number of larger or longer projects may be funded.

Applications will only be accepted from not-for-profit organisations working in a formal partnership.

This includes partnerships that:

Are based around a local area or region.
Cover one of the countries that make up the UK.
Cover the whole UK
Are based on a shared theme or identity rather than a place.
Are new or already work together.

To get funding, a partner organisation must be a:

Constituted voluntary or community organisation.
Registered charity.
Charitable incorporated organisation (CIO or SCIO).
Not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that is a registered charity or has a not-for-profit ‘asset lock’ clause in their articles of association.
Community Interest Company (CIC).
School, college, university (as long as their project benefits and involves the wider local communities).
Statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish or community councils).
Community benefit society.
Co-operative society with a not-for-profit ‘asset lock’ clause in their society rules and also be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.

It is not necessary to be a climate or environment-focused organisation to apply. However, at least one partner should have experience of climate or environment work.

Schools must have a project that involves and benefits the community outside of the school, not just teachers, pupils, and parents of pupils.

The funding is intended to reach people who are new to climate action by funding other types of organisations and by using other using people's everyday activities and interests as a starting point for climate action.

For example, a project might:

Involve people who have not had a say. This could be because they are new to climate action, or because they come from communities that experience poverty, disadvantage and discrimination.
Introduce a climate perspective to a group who came together around another interest or activity.
Test the best ways to engage different audiences in climate action.
Spread an exciting local approach to climate action by sharing it nationally.

There is particular interest in projects that involve people, places and communities experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.

The funding can be used for the following:

Staff costs
Volunteer expenses
General project costs
Engagement activities
Learning and evaluation, including sharing these with others
Communications and campaigns
Utilities or running costs
Organisational development and management costs
Costs to help engage with and support communities, or smaller partner organisations
Equipment
Delivering the project in other languages, such as Welsh.

Full guidance and the online application form can be found on the NLCF website.

In addition, previous recordings of the information sessions are available on the NLCF website.

Applications will be accepted until 'late 2025'. The final deadline will be provided when it is published.

It normally takes at least 12 weeks from the receipt of the first stage application to find out whether applicants will be invited to the second stage.

Contact the National Lottery Community Fund for further information

Climate Action Fund - Our Shared Future | The National Lottery Community Fund