Funded by the DfE, Climate Ambassadors match volunteer climate experts with education settings.
Part of Let’s Go Zero, Climate Action Advisors are independent experts who offer free support for schools, colleges, and nurseries across England.
Find sustainability grant funding opportunities
Grant funding is available to support your setting’s progress in sustainability. This can be a significant boost to your progress and is worth applying for regularly. There are lots of places that offer funding for sustainability initiatives - this guidance will give you suggestions of where to start looking.
Improve your chances of receiving funding
Most grants are offered either as a one-off sum of money or on a repeating cycle (often annual). The provider will set dates in advance for application windows, and for the money to be awarded and spent. Most awards are given either on a first-come first-served basis until all grant funds have been awarded, or through a competitive application process.
To increase your chances of receiving funding, it’s best to:
- research the funding available and what your setting is eligible for
- make a list of the funds you want to apply for each year and note key information about these funds - including application dates and what you’ll need to do to apply
- create a schedule for writing and submitting your applications
This will help you to prepare your applications and submit them on time.
Examples of sustainability funding opportunities
This list is not exhaustive, but these examples may help you with your research.
Government grant funding may be available from:
- Find a grant - a service to find government grant funding
- Department for Education (DfE)
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
- your Local Authority
Not-for-profit grant funding may be available from:
- Eco-Schools England
- Groundwork
- The Woodland Trust
- Energy Saving Trust
- National Lottery Community Fund
- Big Give (can provide matched funding to double fundraising efforts at your setting)
- your local mayor’s fund
- regional environmental funds
Corporate grant funding may be available - these are a few examples:
- Tesco Stronger Starts Community Grants
- Aviva Community Fund
- IKEA Community Grants
- Veolia Environmental Trust
- Tel Group Go Green Scheme
These sites have further lists of sustainability funding opportunities:
- The Wildlife Trusts - how to find funding
- FundEd
- Going Green
- Swoop Funding
- Wild Ideas
- Church of England (PDF) - this list is aimed at churches, but many of the funds can be used by education settings
Some funds are focussed on different kinds of initiatives, such as reaching Net Zero or improving biodiversity.
Decarbonisation and energy reduction grants may be available from:
- Salix - offers government funding for decarbonisation, such as the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund
- DfE Condition Improvement Fund - for academies, sixth-form colleges and voluntary-aided (VA) schools
- M&S Community Energy Fund
Green skills and climate education grants may be available from: