Support for community-led environmental action across Great Britain is being expanded, with the Green Community Grants Programme increasing its funding threefold following a pilot phase in 2025. Applications are now open for the 2026 round, with more projects set to receive financial backing for work focused on nature restoration, climate action and improving access to green spaces.
The programme, managed by The Wildlife Trusts on behalf of Postcode Green Trust and funded by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, offers grants of up to £25,000. It is aimed at small charities and not-for-profit organisations working at a local level, with a significant increase in the number of initiatives expected to be supported in the coming year.
The expansion follows a pilot in 2025 that awarded funding to 35 grassroots projects. These initiatives are already delivering activities linked to wildlife conservation, habitat creation and community engagement, providing early evidence of the programme’s reach.
Projects supported during the pilot include a youth group in Cardigan, Wales, where young people are developing skills through species recording and habitat creation. Another initiative has extended a carbon literacy programme to schoolchildren in the West Midlands and South East, with a focus on building confidence and encouraging practical climate action in schools and communities.
In North Edinburgh, funding has supported the development of a community mushroom farm. The project aims to increase the availability of locally grown produce while offering foraging and identification courses designed to reconnect people with natural systems.
The grants are positioned within a broader policy and environmental context, as the UK continues to address biodiversity loss and climate pressures. Community-led action is increasingly recognised as a key component of national and regional strategies, particularly in areas where local knowledge and engagement can accelerate delivery.
Cath Hare, head of grants at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “From river restoration projects to community food growing efforts, it’s been brilliant to see how the Green Community Grants Programme is already creating lasting change for people, nature and climate in communities right across Great Britain. While the nature and climate crisis continues to have growing impacts on our daily lives, we’re delighted to be supporting people across the nation to take action where they live to tackle this challenge head on.
“We know that caring for and spending time in nature has immense benefits for people everywhere – from physical and mental health benefits to increased community cohesion and pride in local spaces. We’re excited to triple the level of investment in these community-led initiatives and, with thanks to players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, fund even more projects in 2026.”
The funding is offered as flexible, one-year support for organisations operating in England, Scotland and Wales. Eligible groups must have an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million and must have been active for at least 12 months.
Priority will be given to organisations with an income of £250,000 or below, as well as those working in areas within the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The programme also places emphasis on groups supporting marginalised communities, including disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity and LGBT+ groups.
Applications that focus on habitat or species restoration and protection are also expected to be prioritised. This reflects the programme’s alignment with wider environmental targets linked to biodiversity recovery and ecosystem resilience.
The increase in funding comes at a time when access to green space and community involvement in environmental projects are being linked more closely to public health and social outcomes. Local initiatives such as those supported by the programme often combine environmental goals with education, skills development and community cohesion.
The Wildlife Trusts, which manages the scheme, is a long-established conservation movement in the UK. Its involvement provides an administrative framework and sector expertise to support the distribution of funds and the evaluation of projects.
The role of lottery-funded initiatives in environmental programmes has also grown in recent years, with funding streams increasingly directed towards grassroots action. These schemes are designed to complement larger-scale infrastructure and policy measures by enabling local participation.
Applications for the 2026 funding round opened on 25 March and will close on 22 April. Organisations can access further information and apply through the programme’s website.
The expansion of the Green Community Grants Programme signals an increased focus on locally driven environmental action. With more projects set to receive funding, the initiative is expected to broaden its reach across communities addressing nature recovery and climate challenges at a local level.
