Rural Development

Grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects that will provide an on-going service for rural communities in an off-grid location (any location that is not connected to a mains or natural gas grid and uses an alternative energy source). Grants can support a wide range of projects that benefit the wider community from redecorating a community centre or village hall to new equipment for youth clubs, schools, sports teams or scout groups. I...

Farmers, groups of farmers and other land managers with land in Scotland and who are registered with the Scottish Government’s Rural Payments Scheme can apply for funding to develop and implement farming practices that will help to protect and enhance Scotland’s natural heritage. A wide range of management options and capital items are available. The 2019 Agri-Environment Climate Scheme application round is now open and closes on Friday 12...

Charities working in rural areas to support the education of young people or relief of poverty have until 31st May 2019 to apply for grants of up to £50,000. The funding is available for mainly larger projects that would have a significant impact upon rural economies. Projects supported in the past have ranged from City farms, Federations of Young Farmers Clubs and farming Community Networks. The funding is being made available through the NF...

Organisations and charities that support farmers, rural businesses and communities can apply for grants of up to £50,000. Funding is available for both capital and revenue costs and must meet at least one of the following key rural issues: improve the prospects or viability for family farm businesses; sustain rural communities and drive economic vibrancy. The funding is being made available through the Princes Trust Countryside Fund which pro...

Funding of up to £25,000 is available for community projects that focus on tackling isolation and improving the health and wellbeing of people living in sparsely populated areas. This programme of support for up to 10 rural communities per year is now open to applications from organisations and groups that have a proven track record of community partnership working. Projects should aim to reinvigorate community networks by assisting with rebu...

Charities and community groups are amongst the organisations invited to apply for funding for sustainable development projects that build capacity and genuinely support or involve communities within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Grants of up to £10,000 for up to 50% of project costs are available. The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) has been allocated £200,000 for 2018/19 to support projects which bring organisations together in partn...

Community Centres in deprived urban communities and Village Halls in remote and economically deprived rural areas can now apply for grants of between £10,000 and £60,000 for new buildings; upgrading, renovating or extending buildings; improving or creating outside space. Applications can be submitted at any time and all applicants must have already secured 50% of the total funding needed to complete the project before they apply. The fundin...

This funding programme designed to support the development of the rural economy provides grants of £5,000 - £35,000 to small businesses and community organisations for usually 40% of project costs. Having been closed to new applications since February 2018, a small amount of additional funds has now become available for applications under the Rural Tourism and Micro / Small Business and Farm Diversification priorities only. Expressions of I...

The government has committed £30 million for further rounds of the Countryside Productivity Small Grants scheme (CPSGS), which helps farmers buy the equipment they need to boost productivity and increase yields. The first round of funding for small grants was launched in February and the government is on course to grant more than £15 million to farmers who applied to buy new kit. This will include equipment specific to cattle, sheep and pi...

IGas Energy Plc is one of the UK's leading onshore hydrocarbon producers has announced that its Community Energy Fund has opened for applications. The fund covers specific areas of Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Cheshire and Scotland where the company operates. IGas support projects that make a difference to life in the mainly rural communities where they operate. Organisations that are eligible to apply include comm...

A new Community Environmental Projects Fund has opened with grants of £750 - £1,000 available to enable local community volunteers to make a contribution to their village or parish. Public, private, and voluntary sector organisations, individuals, businesses, community groups and local authorities are all eligible to apply. Offered by the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership and the Coast Care Initiativ...

Rural communities in England that want to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to their communities can apply for funding for feasibility and pre-planning development work to help their projects become investment ready. Grants of up to £20,000 to pay for an initial investigation into the feasibility of a renewable energy project as well as unsecured loans of up to £130,000 to support planning applicat...