Aims/priorities: The Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund, funded by Aviva and in partnership with the RSPB and WWF, is a £1 million fund to make it easier for communities across the UK to take action for nature in their local area.
This match funding scheme can support a wide range of nature projects, from creating community gardens and replanting wildlife meadows to protecting wildlife and promoting community connection to nature.
Who can apply? Applications will be accepted from one of the following types of organisations:
- Charity
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
- Community Interest Company (CIC)
- Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG)
- Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC)
- Constituted community group.
To be eligible, organisations must:
- Be based in the UK
- Have been operating for at least 12 months at the time of submission
- Have an annual income of no more than £2 million (can be averaged over the last three years)
- Have a UK bank account in their own name
- Have a safeguarding policy if it supports children or vulnerable people
- Be a living wage employee (if the organisation employs people)
- Have an active board of trustees or directors or management body.
Projects can only be submitted by UK residents who are aged 18 years or older and who use a UK IP address and not a disposable email address.
Grant amount: From 30 March 2023 until £1 million of funding has been allocated:
- Pledges will be matched at a rate of £2 to every £1 donated.
- 2:1 match funding will apply to pledges of up to £250.
- The maximum value of 2:1 match funding a project can receive is £15,000.
Update: Groups that apply from mid September 2023 will get £500 to help them kick-start their project.
Application process: The first step is for applicants to set up a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfunder. Campaigns typically run for 28 days but take a few weeks to create so groups should allow about six weeks in total.
Full details and the online application can be found on the Aviva Community Fund crowdfunding page.
Once launched, the crowdfunding campaign will have six weeks to crowdfund for their project.
In addition to resources, Regional Hub partners at CEMVO Scotland and Groundwork are providing localised newsletters, events, and networking opportunities for Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund participants.
Deadline: Not specified.
Contact information: Groups should contact their local network leader by email for further information:
For England, Northern Ireland, and Wales: Michaela.Howell@groundwork.org.uk
Website: Aviva Community Fund