Volunteering Matters Action Earth has grants of £250 to help communities to respond to our nature and climate crises.
Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and NatureScot, these Action Earth grants support volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to run practical environmental activities that improve biodiversity in Scotland’s green spaces in built-up areas and centres of population.
This could include creating or improving community gardens, shared greenspaces, wildflower meadows, local ponds, community woodlands and other wildlife homes and habitats.
We will prioritise applications from volunteer groups that:
- Work in areas where there is substantial social and/or economic deprivation
- Improve and develop the health and wellbeing of their local community
- Involve people with disabilities or defined health issues and those at risk of exclusion
- Make major environmental impacts and/or involve mass participation.
Last year, 4,001 volunteers participated on 142 Action Earth projects. 51.2% of our volunteers came from areas defined as being in the 20% most deprived in Scotland. 1,815 participants were new to environmental volunteering and 1167 volunteers had disabilities or defined health issues.
All Volunteering Matters Action Earth projects must be complete and have submitted their feedback/claim by Saturday 28th February 2026.
Before applying, please check our guidance on what we can and cannot fund at: https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/project/action-earth/
If you have any questions or would like advice on a proposed application please email robert.henderson@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
