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The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced a new, simplified Countryside Stewardship Scheme that aims to help more farmers and land managers protect wildlife and enhance the environment. The programme consists of four simpler, quicker to apply for offers (Arable, Lowland grazing, Mixed farming and Upland) that will complement the current Higher Tier and Mid-Tier offers. Each offer has a set of options, requirements, pa...
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 £45,000 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...
As part of its commitment to make fibre broadband available throughout the UK, BT has made available a £2 million grants scheme for communities with an Ofsted registered school. The Community Fibre Partnerships programme is aimed at the final 5% of the UK not covered by fibre broadband rollout plans. Through the programme communities can apply for a match-funded grant of up to £30,000 toward the cost of their new fibre infrastructure, if tha...
The Solway, Border and Eden LEADER programme has opened for applications. Leader is a European funding programme designed to support the development of the rural economy by providing grants to small businesses and communities. The programme will run from 2015-2020 with £2.261 million available for projects in the Solway, Border and Eden LEADER area that are relevant to the main Leader priorities. This call for proposals is for investment in...
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, which supports charities in the UK working in agriculture and rural development has announced that the next closing date for applications is the 26th October 2018. Grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 are available. The Trustees are particularly interested in initiatives in the areas of education of young people in rural areas and relief of poverty within rural areas. Projects supported in the past include Fa...
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 dedicated programme of support for up to 10 rural communities per year is open now to applications from organisations and groups that have a proven track record of community partnership working. Projects should aim to reinvigorate community networks by assistin...
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...
The fourth application window for the Welsh Government’s Farm Business Grant (FBG), designed to improve the economic and environmental performance of agricultural holdings, is due to re-open for applications from the 30th April to the 29th June 2018. FBG funding aims to help farmers make their businesses more efficient, resilient and environmentally friendly by providing a contribution towards capital investments in items of equipment and ma...
A new £2 million grant scheme is being piloted this year in five National Parks this year, offering funding for land managers to restore their historic farm buildings. The National Parks are Dartmoor, Lake District, Northumberland, Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. The aim of the scheme is to help save the iconic historic farm buildings in the English National Parks from falling out of use. Owners of these buildings can apply...
