Community Nature Grants
What Is It?
The Leven Catchment Collective is offering small grants to community organisations, initiatives and individuals in the Leven Catchment to further nature-related upskilling, action and engagement in the area. We take a broad and inclusive view of what “nature-related work” can look like. This can include everything from habitat restoration and conservation activity to wellbeing through nature, environmental education, and improving access to nature.
The grants can be used for three types of activity: attending courses and training, delivering events, and developing project ideas. Below you will find more information on each, along with typical grant sizes. Please note these are average figures, and you are still encouraged to apply if your needs differ.
Courses & Trainings
Get funding to access courses and training opportunities connected to nature-related skills and activities. This could include practical conservation skills, outdoor learning, community facilitation, wellbeing approaches, project development, and more.
If you are unsure what course or training would be most useful, feel free to get in touch.
Events
Small grants are available to help people organise nature-related events and activities. Funding can support things like venue hire, materials, catering, promotion, and time to organise and deliver the event.
Project Development
Do you have a nature-related project idea that you would like to develop? We can provide funding and advice to help shape ideas, test feasibility, and get projects ready to apply for funding.
This funding supports project development only and not project delivery. Grant sizes vary depending on the needs of the project.
We ask that those who benefit from these grants share some of the learning or experience with others involved in the community network, so the benefits can reach beyond a single individual or group. This could include writing a short article about what the grant enabled you to learn, sharing reflections at a community catchment meet-up we are organising in September, or another approach that feels suitable to you. Via email or a phone call we can figure out what might work best for you. If this requirement feels like a barrier, please get in touch. We are happy to discuss and take a flexible approach where possible.
If you are an organisation or community initiative and think this support could benefit the people you work with or help develop projects you are involved in, please get in touch. We would be happy to explore how we can collaborate.
How to Get Funding
To apply for funding, please complete a short application form using the button below. You can also find a simple step-by-step overview of the process and eligibility criteria below.
Eligibility Criteria
Place-based community organisations, initiatives and individuals within the Leven Catchment are eligible to apply for this funding (see image below for Leven Catchment boundaries). You do not need to be a constituted organisation to access support.
The funding must be used to build skills, take action, and engage others in nature-related work and activities. We take a broad and inclusive approach to what nature-related work means, which may include habitat restoration, conservation, environmental education, wellbeing through nature, improving access to nature, creative engagement, and other activities that support both people and nature.
If you are unsure whether you or your project are eligible, please get in touch using the contact button.
(Coming Soon) Find Courses & Events
We will soon be sharing a regularly updated overview of nature-related courses, training opportunities and events taking place across Scotland, alongside links to other useful platforms and event listings.
Join the Community Springboard
If you would like to be part of the Community Springboard, then sign up to learn more or get involved.