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Sustainability prize pots for 2026

Looking for financial support for your next sustainability project?

Wondering how to kick-start a new venture requiring additional equipment or staff time?

Thinking of investing in green energy or large items where an upfront cost leads to long-term savings?

Then read on! Here are our top tips for applying for funding.

Remember:

And finally, please let us know if you do apply for any – particularly if they help tackle a Greener Practice QIP!

Activity

Funding to Help People with Parkinson’s to Become & Stay Active (UK)
Community groups and organisations across the UK can apply for grants of up to £3,000 to help people with Parkinson’s become and stay active. The funding supports new activities that encourage people affected by Parkinson’s, particularly those from marginalised or underrepresented communities, to participate in physical activity and sports. Activities could include walking groups, dance classes, or more accessible initiatives such as arts-based programmes or gardening activities. The funding is delivered through the Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grants Programme and can be used to cover costs such as equipment, facility hire, coaching fees, training, and equipment maintenance. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funding has been allocated.

Up to £15,000 Available for Water-Based Projects Supporting Disadvantaged Children (UK)
The Children’s Alliance has introduced a grant to enhance children’s physical and mental well-being through water-based activities. Non-profit organisations, including schools, registered charities, community interest companies, and community groups, are invited to apply for funding up to £15,000, with most grants awarded being under £10,000.

The grant aims to support grassroots initiatives that provide disadvantaged children under 18 with access to water environments, fostering essential life skills and confidence.

Eligible projects may include swimming lessons, hydrotherapy sessions, surf therapy, and the provision of swimwear or transport to aquatic activities. Applications can be made twice per year in September and March. Interested organisations should complete the grant application form available on the Children’s Alliance website and submit it to info@childrensalliance.org.uk. Applicants must demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes related to children’s development and ensure their projects align with the grant’s objectives. A safeguarding or child protection policy is also required as part of the application process.

Grants of up to £15,000 Available to People to Get Active (England)
Sports clubs, charities, local authorities, schools, and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £15,000 to tackle inequalities in accessing sport and help get more people active. The funding is being made available through Sport England’s £160 million Movement Fund which, which aims to enhance physical activity opportunities for communities in greatest need. Eligible projects may receive funding to cover a wide range of costs aimed at delivering positive change, particularly for individuals facing barriers to activity, such as those living on low incomes, disabled individuals, older adults, culturally diverse communities, pregnant women, etc. The Movement Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any time.

Grants to Support Disadvantaged Young People through Educational & Sporting Activities (UK)
UK charities, Schools and Further Education Colleges as well as NHS Trusts seeking funding to support those under the age of 18 who are living with a mental health condition, disability or growing up in poverty can apply for funding through the Hargreaves Foundation. The Foundation aims to help children and young people to fulfil their potential and improve their wellbeing, self-esteem, and independence through educational and sporting activities. This could include initiatives that improve academic engagement and attainment, develop skills to aid future employment, improve life skills, and ensure sport is accessible. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount. Applications can be made at any time.

General Wellbeing/Community/Multiple Projects

Grants to Promote Wellbeing & Reduce Social Isolation (England)
Charities, community groups and social enterprises in England can apply for up to £2,500 in seed funding to support initiatives aimed at reducing social isolation and enhancing wellbeing for vulnerable people in their local areas. The funding is provided by health and social care organisation Turning Point, through its Community Innovation Fund. Eligible activities should focus on promoting physical activity, fostering social connections, learning new skills, encouraging volunteering, and practising mindfulness. Previously funded projects include a community crafting club, a sensory garden, a pottery course, and a storytelling club for men recovering from addiction. Groups can apply through nominations from Turning Point teams in the areas where Turning Point operates. Applications can be submitted at any time.

Funding of up to £200,000 Available for Community & Environmental Projects (East Midland, West Midlands, South West England)
Local charities, volunteer and community groups, schools, colleges and local authority or parish councils in the Severn Trent Water region can apply for grants of between £2,000 and £200,000 to support new local community projects. The funding is being made available through the Severn Trent Water Community Fund. It will support projects that help people lead healthier lifestyles, gain new skills, create better places to live in and use, and protect the natural environment. Match funding is required for applications over £10,000. 

Grants of up to £6,000 Available to Charities Advancing Arts, Health, and the Environment (UK)
Grants are available for UK registered charities seeking to enhance and improve people’s lives through advancing the arts, health and medical welfare, and the environment. The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust typically awards grants of between £500 and £6,000 for projects and core costs, with a preference for small-scale, locally based initiatives. Community services could include promoting access to the arts, conservation activities, music and art therapy to improve mental health and wellbeing, and providing breaks for carers. There are three grant-making meetings held annually. Projects should have a start date of at least three months after the meeting date.

Grants of up to £7,500 Available for Community Projects (London, the South & South West of England)
Housing association Sovereign is inviting applications to its Thriving Communities Fund – Strengthening Place, to support projects that benefit its residents and communities in London, the South, and the South West of England. Charities, community groups and other not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £7,500 to deliver projects and activities that promote community cohesion, sustainability, safety, health, wellbeing, and social inclusion. Priority will be given to initiatives that complement existing local services, address identified gaps, and encourage collaboration. This includes those supporting diverse, marginalised, underrepresented, or vulnerable groups, as well as projects focused on young people or ageing well. Applications are reviewed quarterly.

The Clare Milne Trust – Grants for Disability Charities throughout Devon & Cornwall Open to Registered charities but they will occasionally consider applications from CICs and other not-for-profit organisations. The minimum grant is £2,500. There is no upper limit for a registered charity. A CIC or not-for-profit organisation can apply for up to £14,999. All projects must benefit children, young people or adults with a disability who live in Devon or Cornwall. This includes physical, learning, mental and sensory disabilities. They fund a wide range of projects. The trustees review applications four times per year.

Vinehill Trust Grants – Empowering Music, Heritage and Health Projects (UK)
The Vinehill Trust offers grants ranging from £10,000 to £100,000 to charitable, educational, and ecclesiastical organisations based in the UK. In exceptional circumstances, grants of up to £100,000 per year may be awarded for up to three years. These grants are intended for projects focusing on music, heritage, and health.

Eligible applicants are registered UK charities or equivalent organisations. The Trust does not consider funding for retrospective projects, capital appeals for buildings, unrestricted reserves, campaigning costs, or individual expenses. All projects must demonstrate sound governance, robust financial management, and a lasting positive impact on the community.
There is no application deadline. To apply, applicants need to complete an outline application form and email it along with the latest audited accounts to info@vinehilltrust.uk

Funding to Support Animal Protection, Environmental & Social Justice (UK / International)
Grants of ranging from £100 to £10,000 are available to organisations working in the areas of animal protection, environmentalism, and social justice. The grants are funded by Lush, the British cosmetics company, and are made possible by sales of the Charity Pot hand and body lotion. The grants can be used to fund a wide range of projects, such as animal rescue and rehabilitation; environmental conservation, social justice initiatives; and educational programmes. Since its inception in 2007, the Charity Pot grant has funded over 13,000 projects in 37 countries. Applications for funding can be submitted at any time.

Grants to Promote Mental Health & Wellbeing for Young People (UK)
Registered charities focused on mental health-related matters can apply for funding to support the mental health and well-being of children and young adults in the UK. The funding is made available by the Pixel Fund, which awards grants of between £2,500 and £5,000 for specific projects that will provide a measurable difference to children and young adults under 26 years old. Potential applicants must attend a Pixel Fund Q&A Drop-in Meeting to apply. This will enable potential applicants to access the application process. There are no application deadlines.

Funding for Projects that Strengthen Local Communities (England, Scotland & Wales)
Grants of £1,000 – £5,000 are available for local projects that help strengthen communities across England, Scotland and Wales. The Delamere Dairy Foundation will support charities, community groups, social enterprises, and other not-for-profit organisations delivering projects that benefit communities through the advancement of agriculture and environmental protection, improving the lives of young people, promoting education, and alleviating financial hardship and sickness. Applications will be considered at regularly scheduled panel meetings.

Garden/Biodiversity

Grants of up to £5,000 Available to Promote Horticulture and Public Gardens (UK)
Organisations involved in horticulture, gardening, or botany can apply for grants of up to £5,000 from the Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust. Established in 1970, the Trust has awarded over £3.2 million to more than a thousand recipients, supporting projects that promote horticulture, conserve the environment through biodiversity, develop public gardens, and advance horticultural education. Eligible projects include the restoration of historic gardens, creation of new public garden spaces, horticultural research, publications, and plant study expeditions. Applications are currently open, and the next application deadline is the 15th August 2026.

Grants for Community & Environmental Projects (England & Scotland)
Not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to deliver projects that improve communities and the environment. The funding is made available through the SUEZ Communities Fund for projects that improve public amenities, repair religious or historic buildings, or support biodiversity in areas surrounding Suez landfill sites. The maximum grant amount is £50,000 for projects in England and £20,000 in Scotland. Projects need to be located in a funding zone surrounding a qualifying site owned by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK. Funding typically covers materials, equipment, and contractors for improvement work. Four funding rounds each year.

Grants to Encourage Young People to Connect with Nature (Gloucestershire, Swindon & Bristol)
Charities and not-for-profit organisations in Gloucestershire, Swindon, and Bristol can apply for grants of £500 to support projects that encourage young people aged 11 to 19 (or up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) from underserved communities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. The grants can be used to:
• Create outdoor learning spaces and enhance biodiversity locally through projects like wildflower meadows, raised beds, allotment gardens, ponds, woodland areas, or sensory gardens .
• Purchase outdoor learning resources that engage young people with the environment such as bird boxes, nature ID charts and natural craft equipment and materials.
• Support travel and transport costs to outdoor learning resources.
• Fund outdoor clothing to enable young people to learn outdoors.
The funding is made available through the Ernest Cook Trust’s Communities Grant scheme, which will close to applications when a sufficient number have been received. Early applications are encouraged.

Free Trees for Schools & Community Groups (UK)
Schools, clubs and community groups across the UK can now apply for free tree packs from the Woodland Trust to encourage nature recovery and community wellbeing. Eligible applicants include schools, sports clubs, faith groups, Scouts and Guides, local councils and residents’ associations, with packs of 15, 30, 105 or 420 saplings available for delivery in March 2026. Trees are UK- and Ireland-sourced, and guidance on planting and aftercare is provided, though sapling protection is not included. Applicants must secure landowner permission and provide a six-digit grid reference of the planting site. The funding is being made available through the Woodland Trust’s Free Trees for Schools & Community Groups programme. Applications are expected to close in August 2026.

Energy

£1 Billion Investment for Community Clean Energy Schemes (UK)
The UK government and Great British Energy have announced a £1 billion investment to support community-owned renewable energy projects as part of a new Local Power Plan. The funding will help communities develop and manage their own clean energy schemes, such as installing solar panels on local buildings including libraries, leisure centres, social clubs and places of worship. Funding will be provided through grants, loans and capacity-building support to help organisations at every stage — from early feasibility studies to construction and long-term management. Led by communities and local authorities, the programme aims to support around 1,000 locally owned projects by 2030, helping to reduce energy bills and generate income for typically underserved communities. Further details are expected later in 2026.

Food

Funding Available for Large-Scale Projects to Reduce Food Insecurity (UK)
Not-for-profit organisations working in partnership, such as charities, community interest companies (CICs), charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), schools, universities, and public bodies can apply funding to help people access healthy, affordable food in environmentally sustainable ways. The National Lottery Community Fund is inviting applications to its Climate Action Fund – Food Systems, offering grants of between £2.5 million to £7 million for long-term projects that aim to improve the UK’s food system and reduce food insecurity. Projects should address the root causes of food insecurity by making lasting changes to how food is produced, distributed, and accessed. Grants typically range from £3 million to £5 million, last between three and seven years, and can cover costs such as staff, transport, utilities, equipment, and community support. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Waste

Grants of Up to £100,000 Available to Set up Electrical Recycling Pilots (UK)
Community sector organisations, including registered charities and local authorities can apply for grants of up to £100,000 to run one year pilot projects that make it easier for households to recycle small unwanted electricals. A total of £1 million is available to support activities such as installing on-street bring banks, creating indoor community drop-off points in places like libraries and community buildings, and refurbishing existing recycling banks. The fund can also cover related costs including containers, installation, vehicle rental, staffing, events, battery safety equipment and promotion. Grants are worth up to £0.50 per household served, and projects must show long-term potential beyond the funded period. The funding is made available through the Material Focus Electricals Recycling Fund 2026 and closing date for applications is 31 May 2026.