is a funding program aimed at supporting community groups in Wales that are beginning to take action on climate change and want to live more sustainably. The program is designed to help groups that have received mentoring from the Egin mentoring service and have completed an action plan to kick-start their ideas.
Objectives:
- Support community-led climate action and sustainable living initiatives.
- Encourage projects that engage with climate change issues such as food, transport, energy, waste, and consumption.
- Promote additional benefits like improving wellbeing, community relationships, and biodiversity.
- Fund projects that consider and minimize negative impacts on nature.
- Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge with similar groups.
Target Beneficiaries:
- Community groups in Wales who have received Egin mentoring and completed an action plan.
- Eligible applicants include registered charities, voluntary/community organizations, charitable incorporated organizations, co-operative societies (not-for-profit), companies limited by guarantee (not-for-profit), community interest companies, community benefit societies, unregistered voluntary/community organizations, town/community councils (with strong community support), schools (benefiting local communities), and faith-based groups.
- Groups must have at least two unrelated people on their management committee and a UK bank account in the organization's name.
Application Process:
- Contact the fund via email (sustainablestepswales@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk) or phone (0300 123 0735) to request an application form.
- Applicants must have completed Egin mentoring and an action plan.
- Applications are reviewed within approximately four weeks, including information checks and possible follow-up calls.
- Successful applicants receive funding after submitting a bank statement.
- Projects must start within three months of the funding offer and adhere to agreed spending plans.
- Fund recipients agree to terms and conditions and may be subject to progress checks.
- Funded groups are encouraged to share their project stories publicly.
Key Features:
- Funding size ranges from £100 to £15,000.
- Total funding available is £3.75 million over five years.
- Projects can be funded for up to 24 months.
- Funding covers capital costs (equipment, land/building refurbishment, electric vehicles) and revenue costs (staff salaries, volunteer expenses, transport, translation, learning, and evaluation).
- Requires evidence for land/refurbishment projects including ownership documents, consents, and multiple builder estimates.
- Does not fund campaigning (except non-party political policy-related activities), alcohol, profit-making, VAT reclaimable, replacement of government funding, political/religious activities, or application writing fees.
- Encourages projects that share learning and have community involvement in development.
This program is supported by Dormant Assets Funding and aims to empower Welsh communities to take meaningful, sustainable climate action with practical financial support.
