National Grid announces new £500,000 fund to support green spaces
National Grid’s electricity distribution business has again teamed up with Localgiving to deliver the latest phase of its Community Matters Fund. The Green Spaces Community fund will provide £500,000 to support communities across the Midlands, South West England and South Wales to enhance their local environments.
Applications are now open for a new Green Spaces Community Fund which will support communities in the aforementioned areas to enhance their local environment and encourage more people to make the most of their green spaces – but hurry, the closing date for applications is Friday 12 May.
The latest £500,000 fund is intended to use green spaces to ‘bring communities together, encourage more wildlife and biodiversity, improve air quality and reduce noise, as well as delivering health benefits, and creating employment and volunteering opportunities’.
All kinds of community organisations can apply, with those those supporting vulnerable groups to overcome barriers to accessing green spaces particularly encouraged. Projects that create volunteering opportunities for members of the local community are also urged to apply.
The Green Spaces Community Fund is open to all community groups in National Grid’s distribution area, across the Midlands, South West England and South Wales.
Jill Russell, Environment Manager at National Grid, said: ‘We’re committed to empowering communities and promoting sustainability across our region.
‘The launch of the Green Spaces Community Fund is a testament to this commitment and we’re excited to support grassroots organisations to create green spaces that benefit everyone. We believe that access to green spaces is essential for the wellbeing of both individuals and communities, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of this initiative on our communities.’
The fund will award grants of up to £2,000 for unregistered organisations. Registered charities can apply for up to £10,000.
Examples cited as being the sort of projects the fund is looking for are:
- Planting spaces/new allotment creation in existing green spaces
- Bee banks, bird/bat boxes, wildflowers, ponds, trees, hedges, and projects to improve biodiversity
- Development of unused land into green space
- Gardening workshops/allotment activities to bring vulnerable members of the community into green spaces, including sensory/mindfulness garden creation
- Access pathways, ramps and seating in outdoor space
- Redevelopment of existing green spaces to encourage greater community use
- Forest School education sessions for young people/craft workshops in nature
- Innovative approaches to create or develop green spaces for public enjoyment
The fund, paid for by National Grid shareholders, has awarded £4.3 million to grassroots organisations since 2021.