CFAs: National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment (United Kingdom) – fundsforNGOs

Deadline: 31-Dec-2026

The National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment programme provides grants for community-led projects that improve the local environment and help people connect with and care for nature. Eligible organisations can apply for £300 to £20,000 to support activities such as energy saving, food growing, repair and reuse, community energy, carbon reduction, nature-based solutions, and environmental education.

About the Environment Programme

The programme supports community organisations and groups across England that want to create positive environmental change.

Projects should address at least one of two main priorities:

• Helping people connect with and care for nature in their local area.
• Making a positive difference to the environment.

The programme encourages practical, community-led approaches that create environmental benefits while involving local people.

Key Focus Areas

Funding can support projects related to:

• Environmental protection.
• Nature connection.
• Climate change awareness.
• Carbon emission reduction.
• Energy efficiency.
• Community energy.
• Food growing.
• Food redistribution.
• Sustainable food choices.
• Cooking and food education.
• Repair and reuse.
• Nature-based solutions.
• Local climate resilience.
• Environmental advice and education.
• Community sustainability initiatives.

Types of Activities Supported

Examples of potentially eligible activities include:

• Community food-growing projects.
• Projects that reduce energy consumption.
• Community energy improvements.
• Repair and reuse initiatives.
• Environmental workshops and advice sessions.
• Activities helping residents understand climate change.
• Projects promoting sustainable food choices.
• Nature-based solutions to local climate risks.
• Small environmental improvement projects.
• Community events with a clear environmental impact.

The project should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed activities and the programme’s environmental priorities.

Funding Available

Applicants can request grants ranging from:

• Minimum grant: £300.
• Maximum grant: £20,000.

Funding can support eligible project costs including:

• Running costs.
• Equipment.
• Staff costs.
• Training.
• Transport.
• Utilities.
• Volunteer expenses.
• Support from nature organisations.
• One-off events with clear environmental benefits.
• Small land projects.
• Small refurbishment projects.

Land and Refurbishment Projects

Projects involving land or refurbishment must demonstrate that the organisation has appropriate rights to carry out the proposed work.

Applicants should have:

• Ownership of the relevant property or land; or
• A suitable lease; or
• Permission from the owner or landlord.

Applicants should secure the necessary permissions before starting the project.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants can include:

• Constituted voluntary or community organisations.
• Constituted community groups.
• Clubs.
• Registered charities.
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs).
• Not-for-profit companies.
• Community Interest Companies (CICs).
• Schools where the project benefits the wider community.
• Local authorities and councils.
• Other eligible statutory bodies.
• Community benefit societies.

Applicants must have at least two directors or committee members who are not related to each other.

School Eligibility

Schools can apply where the project provides benefits beyond the school community.

The project should benefit the wider local community rather than being designed only for:

• Pupils.
• Teachers.
• Parents.

For example, a school-based environmental project may be relevant if community residents can participate or benefit from the environmental improvements.

Political Activity and Campaigning

Political activity may be eligible only where it is:

• Non-party political.
• Designed to benefit the public.
• Consistent with the programme requirements.

Party-political activity is not supported.

Sports, Arts and Heritage Projects

Projects involving sports, arts, or heritage may potentially receive funding where they demonstrate broader community and environmental benefits.

Simply providing a sporting, artistic, or heritage activity may not be sufficient.

Applicants should clearly explain the wider environmental or community impact created by the project.

What the Programme Does Not Fund

The programme does not support:

• Costs already paid before the application or award.
• Activities involving only animals.
• Alcohol.
• Loans.
• Contingency costs.
• Fundraising activities.
• Reclaimable VAT.
• Statutory services.
• Overseas travel.
• Projects delivered outside the UK.
• Activities designed to create private profit.
• Direct cash payments to individuals.

Applicants should ensure that the proposed budget contains only eligible costs.

Important Application Restriction

Organisations that already have an Awards for All grant cannot apply for another grant through this programme while that restriction applies.

Applicants should check their existing National Lottery funding before submitting an application.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare their project around the programme’s environmental priorities.

Step 1: Define the environmental problem

Explain the specific environmental or climate-related issue affecting the community.

For example:

• High energy use.
• Poor access to nature.
• Food waste.
• Lack of community growing opportunities.
• Local climate risks.
• Limited environmental knowledge.

Step 2: Describe the proposed solution

Clearly explain what the project will do and how the activities will address the identified problem.

Step 3: Explain community involvement

Show how local people will participate in the project.

This could include:

• Volunteers.
• Residents.
• Community groups.
• Local schools.
• Environmental organisations.
• Local businesses or partners.

Step 4: Demonstrate environmental impact

Explain the measurable change the project expects to create.

Possible indicators include:

• Number of people participating.
• Amount of food grown or redistributed.
• Energy saved.
• Carbon emissions reduced.
• Number of community spaces improved.
• Number of people receiving environmental advice.
• Number of repair or reuse activities completed.

Step 5: Prepare an eligible budget

Make sure requested funding is directly connected to project activities.

Exclude costs that the programme does not support.

Step 6: Apply before funding is needed

Applications should be submitted sufficiently early because funding should not be spent before approval.

Why This Programme Matters

Environmental challenges are increasingly affecting local communities through climate risks, energy costs, food insecurity, waste, and reduced access to nature.

The programme provides relatively small-scale grants that allow community organisations to test and implement practical local solutions.

Supported projects can help communities:

• Reduce environmental impacts.
• Save energy.
• Reduce waste.
• Grow food locally.
• Improve access to nature.
• Build climate resilience.
• Increase environmental awareness.
• Strengthen community participation.

Strong Project Characteristics

A strong application should demonstrate:

• A clearly identified local environmental need.
• Community involvement.
• A practical and achievable solution.
• Clear environmental benefits.
• Realistic project costs.
• Appropriate organisational capacity.
• Measurable outcomes.
• Long-term or sustainable benefits where possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying for costs that have already been paid.
• Proposing activities without a clear environmental benefit.
• Requesting funding for private profit.
• Including ineligible costs in the budget.
• Focusing only on animals.
• Designing school projects solely for pupils or staff.
• Starting the project before funding approval.
• Failing to obtain permission for land or refurbishment work.
• Providing unclear evidence of community benefit.
• Applying when the organisation already has an Awards for All grant.

Application Assessment and Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed through the programme’s assessment process.

Applicants should ensure that their project:

• Meets the eligibility requirements.
• Addresses one or both environmental priorities.
• Has a clear community benefit.
• Includes an appropriate budget.
• Provides realistic project plans.

Applicants can expect a decision within 16 weeks.

Successful applicants must use the funding according to the approved project and comply with the programme’s requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding can organisations receive?

Eligible organisations can apply for between £300 and £20,000.

What is the main purpose of the programme?

The programme supports community-led projects that help people connect with nature and create positive environmental change.

Can funding support energy-saving projects?

Yes. Eligible activities can include projects that reduce energy use, improve community energy efficiency, or contribute to carbon reduction.

Can food-growing projects apply?

Yes. Food-growing, food redistribution, sustainable food choices, and related community activities can be supported where they meet the programme’s priorities.

Can schools apply?

Yes, but the project must benefit the wider local community, rather than only pupils, teachers, or parents.

Can funding be used for refurbishment or land projects?

Yes, small land or refurbishment projects may be eligible. Applicants must have ownership, a suitable lease, or appropriate permission from the owner or landlord.

How long does the application decision take?

Applications are expected to receive a decision within approximately 16 weeks.

Conclusion

The National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment programme offers grants of £300 to £20,000 for community-led environmental projects across England. Organisations can use the funding for practical initiatives involving nature connection, climate action, energy efficiency, food growing, repair and reuse, environmental education, community energy, and other activities that create measurable environmental and community benefits.

For more information, visit The National Lottery Community Fund.