Funding available for community-led ecosystem restoration projects across Scotland

Community groups across Scotland are being encouraged to explore funding opportunities through Inspiring Scotland’s Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund, which is now accepting applications on a rolling basis.

The fund seeks to inspire, encourage and enable communities to develop ambitious local ecosystem restoration projects. It aims to support grassroots organisations to explore nature restoration opportunities, raise awareness of the importance of ecosystem recovery and help overcome barriers faced by community-led environmental projects.

The programme focuses specifically on the development stages of ecosystem restoration projects, supporting the planning, design and preparation work needed before larger-scale delivery can take place.

Funding available

Eligible organisations can apply for up to £13,500 to support project development activities.

Successful applicants will also receive up to £1,500 of professional fundraising support to help secure future funding and take their project to the next stage.

Who can apply?

Applications are open to not-for-profit, community-led organisations based in Scotland that:

• Are rooted in and serve a specific local community or place
• Had an annual income of less than £200,000 in the last financial year
• Have their own organisational bank account
• Require support for the early development stage of an ecosystem restoration project

The fund is particularly interested in supporting grassroots organisations that may otherwise find it difficult to access funding for ecosystem restoration work.

Projects the fund can support

Projects must focus on one or more of the following themes:

• Connecting nature corridors – linking habitats and green spaces to help wildlife move and thrive.
• Habitat and species restoration – creating or improving environments for biodiversity, including restoring derelict, unused or agricultural land.
• Freshwater and wetland restoration – improving rivers, ponds and wetlands through planning and development activities.
• Coastal and marine restoration – supporting healthier coastlines and marine environments that are resilient to environmental change.
• Control of invasive non-native species – identifying and planning action to manage plants and animals that negatively impact local ecosystems.
• Urban nature – creating and connecting natural spaces in towns and cities, including pollinator-friendly habitats.

How funding can be used

Funding can be used to support a wide range of development activities, including:

• Specialist consultancy and technical expertise
• Community engagement and participation activities
• New staff posts and training placements
• Core organisational costs linked to project development

The fund is generally intended to support day-to-day project development costs rather than the purchase of equipment, land or buildings.

Application process

The Neighbourhood Ecosystem Fund operates a straightforward two-stage application process designed to reduce the amount of work required from applicants.

1. Submit a short Expression of Interest form, which takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.
2. If the project is considered a good fit for the fund, applicants will be invited to submit a full application.

Expressions of interest are reviewed regularly and applicants will normally receive a response within two to three weeks. Decisions on full applications are made every three months.

Find out more and apply

Full guidance and application information are available through Inspiring Scotland’s website.

Easy Read guidance is also available and additional accessibility support can be provided for applicants who need it, including British Sign Language interpretation services.

For further information, contact Inspiring Scotland by emailing [email protected] or by calling 0131 442 8760.

This opportunity may be of particular interest to smaller community organisations looking to develop projects that restore habitats, improve biodiversity and support nature recovery within their local area.