Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future opens for UK applications

The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) has launched its new £20 million ‘Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Values’ as part of its wider Climate Action programme.

The funding is for formal partnership working across sectors, led by community and voluntary organisations or public sector organisations for projects that reach more people by either:

• Linking climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities and inspiring them to take action.
• Influencing communities at a regional or national level, for example by linking up groups across locations, or a campaign that inspires change across one country, or the whole UK.

The funding is intended to reach people who are new to climate action by funding other types of organisations and by using other using people's everyday activities and interests as a starting point for climate action.

For example, a project might:

• Involve people who have not had a say. This could be because they are new to climate action, or because they come from communities that experience poverty, disadvantage and discrimination.
• Introduce a climate perspective to a group who came together around another interest or activity.
• Test the best ways to engage different audiences in climate action.
• Spread an exciting local approach to climate action by sharing it nationally.

There is particular interest in projects that involve people, places and communities experiencing poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.

A total of up to 25 projects is expected to be funded. The minimum grant is £500,000. It is expected that most grants will be between £1 million and £1.5 million over three to five years. Some exceptional projects of up to £3 million, for up to seven years, may be funded.

There are currently no deadlines for funding applications.

Applications will be accepted until at least 31 December 2024. NLCF plan to close to applications in early 2025.