Community Support: apply today!

(Download a copy of our application form to complete offline by clicking here)

How to apply

• Before you apply, make sure to read our eligibility criteria and FAQ’s, found towards the bottom of this page.

• Once you’re ready to apply, complete our application form. You can also download an offline version of the form here to work on in your own time and copy across the answers when you’re ready.

• Want a different way to apply? Email inournature@manchesterclimate.com if you would like to discuss a different way to apply for Community Support. We can supply printed copies of the application form, translate the application form into different languages or discuss other ways that you can answer the longer questions to help with accessibility.

• Please also get in touch with us if you need any additional support with your application, wish to discuss your ideas with us before applying or have any questions. We’re happy to help!

Timeline

• Monday 28th September 2026 applications open.

• Monday 23rd November 2026 applications close.

• We will aim to let all applicants know the outcomes of their application by mid-January 2027.

• Ideally, we’re after projects that can begin in February 2027.

What support is available?

In Our Nature Community Support is flexible and is here to help your group reach your goals.

Successful applicants will receive:

• Up to £4,000 indirect financial support - this means we can purchase materials and pay for resources, like facilitator costs, on your behalf. You won’t receive £4,000 directly.

• Support with delivering your project - we can help by connecting you with networks and groups, assessing feasibility and offering advice.

• Support with project promotion and publicity - we can work with you to create promotional materials (like posters and flyers) for your project, and support with promoting your project on social media, or to the local press.

• Support with measuring and reporting on your project’s results - we can help you calculate your project’s carbon savings, as well as other outputs like money saving and improvements to your project participant’s mental wellbeing and physical health, for example.

Our eligibility criteria

We’re looking for projects that take a community-led approach to reducing carbon emissions and improving people’s lives. Broadly, we are looking for projects which can fall into one or more of the following six themes:

• Warm homes that save energy

• Healthy and green travel

• Access to nature

• Slow fashion

• Repair and reuse

• Sustainable food

What will we support?

• Projects MUST reduce carbon emissions - for example by encouraging energy saving in homes, use of public transport, food growing or a reduction in waste. If you are not sure that your project will reduce emissions, please do get in touch and we can discuss this together.

• Although not essential, we are keen to support projects that reach out to new audiences who may have previously been excluded from the climate conversation.

Who can we support?

• Any group wanting to deliver positive, community-led climate action.

• Groups defined by location, identity, interest or experience - for example local community groups, faith groups, supporters of a particular sports team, youth groups etc.

• You don’t need to be a formal or constituted group to apply for support, but you and your project participants do need to be located in Manchester.

Sorry, we cannot support…

• For profit companies or projects where funds could be used for commercial benefit.

• Party political organisations.

• Sole traders or individuals.

• Groups or projects based outside of Manchester.

• Projects that are centred around information sharing and education rather than delivering practical changes that can be measured.

What we need from you?

• Two named members of the community group who can ‘own’ the project and liaise with us on a regular basis.

Successful applicants will be asked to:

• Have an informal chat with us about the project and talk to us regularly to keep us updated about project activity.

• Work with us to capture carbon savings, as well as other monitoring and evaluation data from your project.

• Share project news and images widely and openly with us and other groups.

• Work with us to develop a case study, or resource (e.g. a ‘how-to’ guide) from your project, to help inspire or support someone else to make a change.

• We might also ask you to come and talk to other groups about your project.

  If you are unsure of the eligibility of your project, get in touch with us.

  inournature@manchesterclimate.com

FAQs