Grants from £50,000 to £5 million are now available to help the nation build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced.
The £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund, part of the government’s wider green economic recovery, jobs and skills package, brings forward funding for environmental charities and their partners to start work on projects across England to restore nature and tackle climate change.
The fund will help create up to 3,000 jobs and safeguard up to 2,000 others in areas such as protecting species, finding nature-based solutions to tackling climate change, conservation rangers and connecting people with nature.
Up to 100% of project costs will be available.
The fund will be delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.
All projects must contribute to at least one of the following themes of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund:
- nature conservation and restoration;
- nature-based solutions, particularly focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation such as through tree planting and restoring peatland; and,
- connecting people with nature.
Projects will be favoured that create or retain jobs, creating opportunities and benefits for all ages, including young people.