Bupa Foundation Launches Green Community Grants (UK)

Funding for schools, registered charities, and not-for-profit organisations for projects that make a positive difference to the health of local communities across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The Green Community Grants scheme is provided by the Bupa Foundation as part of its Healthy Cities campaign which aims to support one million people across the globe to improve their health each year by 2025, through restoring and regenerating nature.

The scheme is administered by Groundwork, which is a federation of charities working nationally and locally to transform lives in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.

Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available for projects delivered between 1 October 2023 and 30 April 2024.

The funding is intended for registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, schools, local authorities and social housing providers for practical projects which help with both people and planet health.

Priority will be given to the regeneration of green spaces for community use, however other examples include:

  • Improving green spaces for community activities to improve wellbeing
  • Tree planting to improve air quality and biodiversity
  • A school wanting to create an outdoor classroom or forest school
  • A community group who would like to create an allotment
  • A voluntary organisation wanting to install sustainable equipment, such as a heat pump.

This is not an exhaustive list and other project ideas are welcomed.

Match funding is not required as Bupa Foundation can fund up to 100% of the project costs. However, groups that secure additional funding can use any funding awarded by the Bupa Foundation to form part of their wider project costs.

Commenting on Bupa’s new grant scheme, Anna Russell, Director of the Bupa Foundation, said:

“People’s health and planet health are inextricably linked, which is why it’s essential that we bring equal access to quality green space to people in communities, for everyone to get the wellbeing benefits of spending more time in nature. I urge people to apply for our Green Community Grants during June to boost investment in local projects such as tree planting, forest schools, allotments and regeneration projects.

The deadline for applications is 30 June 2023 (12pm).

(This report was the subject of a GRANTfinder Newsflash.)