Strategic Sustainability Grants

Mid Devon’s New Strategic Sustainability Grants to Support Community Climate and Nature Action

The Council has launched a new scheme of Strategic Sustainability Grants (SSG) to support local community organisations who take action on sustainability, climate change and nature recovery.

Councillor Natasha Bradshaw, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said:

“Community organisations play a vital role responding to the climate and nature crisis. Our new Strategic Sustainability Grants scheme is about giving our local partners the stability they need to grow, collaborate and make a real difference on the ground for our residents and the environment.”

The Strategic Sustainability Grants scheme recognises that community groups are often best placed to engage residents, landowners and volunteers; trial innovative approaches; and deliver lasting local change. By supporting their organisational capacity, the Council aims to unlock wider benefits for communities and the environment across the district.

What the scheme will support

The new programme will provide seed and core funding to strengthen the capacity of community-led organisations, helping them to build long-term resilience, grow partnerships and deliver practical action aligned with the Council’s environmental priorities.

The SSG funding should enable demonstrable beneficial achievements in nature recovery (actions to conserve and enhance nature), climate change resilience (adaptation) or climate change mitigation (carbon reduction). Grant funding can contribute to core coordination and administrative costs, which are often difficult to fund through traditional project-based grants but are vital to sustaining effective community action.

Funding available

A total of £80,000 has been allocated to the scheme, covering the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years.

The grants will typically provide between 25% and 75% of an organisation’s core costs:

• Startup organisations may be eligible for up to 75% funding in Year 1
• Existing organisations may be eligible for up to 50% funding in Year 1, with reduced support in Year 2 to encourage long term self sufficiency

Successful organisations will be expected to secure match funding, either financially or through in-kind contributions, and to work in partnership with the Council to deliver agreed outcomes.

Next steps

The Terms of Reference explains the scheme and provides guidance for applicants. Eligibility will focus on Mid Devon community organisations responding to climate change and the ecological crisis, with a clear track record or strong potential to deliver impact locally.