Rising living costs see increase in National Lottery Funding limits

July has been a busy month for The National Lottery Community Fund with the launch of the new Small Eco Award and a big rise in the limit of the Sustainable Steps Wales - EGIN grant from £15,000 to £35,000.

The fund supports community groups in Wales that are taking action on climate change and aiming to live more sustainably, or helping them kick-start their ideas.

To be eligible for a grant your group must have received support from the Egin mentoring programme which provides support and mentoring to groups who are yet to have previous experience in delivering environmentally based projects.

Funding can be applied for a range of things across both capital (one-off or long-term costs) and revenue (ongoing or short-term costs) as outlined below:

Capital costs

• Buying equipment

• Refurbishing or developing land or buildings/ construction related work

• Electric vehicles

Revenue costs

• Staff costs

• Volunteer expenses

• Transport

• Translation costs

• learning and evaluation

The main aim of your project should be to help your community engage with climate change and take steps to live more sustainably.

The grant aims to fund groups that consider the impact of their activities on nature and, where possible, limit any potentially damaging practices.

Other key benefits your project could bring may include:

• improving people’s well being

• improving relationships between people and organisations

• improving biodiversity

With a focus to fund organisations that are open to learning and plan to share what they’ve learnt with others.

Projects the fund is keen to support

• clearly focus on climate action

• involve your community in shaping the idea

• are open to learning and sharing with others

Projects must be community led focusing on climate change and sustainable living through such initiatives as Growing or sharing food, Improving greener transport, using or generating energy more sustainably, reducing waste or changing how community consumes things.

The turn around with a decision on the funding is made within 4 weeks of submission.

To find out more about this grant and receive support please complete the form below to enable us to put you in touch with your local community development officer