Highlands & Islands
Community Climate Action Fund

Any organisation group or individual working on projects that meet the above criteria can apply. You must be a member of the Highlands & Islands Climate Hub. You can find more information on membership here.

You, your group or organisation must be based in Highland, Orkney or Shetland local authority areas and your project should be run by local people under their direction and for the benefit of their community and the environment.

Applying couldn't be easier! Simply fill out the form at the bottom of this page or by clicking the button above marked apply now. If you have a difficulties with the online funding application form please get in touch with us to enquiries@hiclimatehub.co.uk and we can supply a paper form for you to submit.

Applications are open now two funding rounds for assessment. The first being 30th November 2023 and the second 31st January 2024. We unfortunately cannot accept funding applications past the second date of 31st January 2024 and funding will be allocated on an assessment basis as far as funds allow.

You will receive an automated email advising that your application has been received. Please double check your filtered (junk) emails if it is not received to your inbox. If you have then definitely not received it please email us directly to enquiries@hiclimatehub.co.uk to verify the status of your application.

Your application will then go forward to our funding panel made up of Highlands & Islands Climate Hub staff representatives across the region for scoring. We operate a scoring process for assessment of applications. You can find out more about this by scrolling further down the page.

For applications received by the 30th November deadline we aim to score and assess all applications by Friday 8th December 2023 with outcome of your application sent week commencing 11th December.

For applications received by the 31st January 2024 we aim to score and assess all applications by Friday 9th February with outcome of your application sent week commencing 12th February 2024.

We’ll contact you to confirm the amount and your bank details. Payment is usually made within 7-10 days after we receive the bank details and grant acceptance form. Successful projects will be shared on our website with the organisation or group’s name, project description and link to their website (funding amounts will not be publicised).

We’ll get in touch with you and share the details of our scoring and feedback to explain why your application may not have been successful. We really do want to encourage as many projects as possible to be successful so we would then assign you a member of staff to work through any issues found with your funding application or project and support you to reapply either to our January deadline if making the application in November or to future funding rounds which may be available in 2024-25 subject to allocation of funding.

Please send us photographs or photocopies of receipts showing what you have spent the money on. We will issue you with a short form to complete to explain how you have spent the money and the impact it has made. Please return this form within 6 months of your funds being allocated. We are interested in hearing about any challenges you faced with your project, and anything that worked well. Please do take lots of photos of your project for knowledge sharing and publicity purposes. Please be aware that if you don't provide feedback and evidence of how you have spent the grant, we won't able to consider you for grants in the future.

Please get in touch with us to discuss and for any support needed. You can email us to enquiries@hiclimatehub.co.uk and a member of staff usually local to your area will get in touch to offer support or a chat.

We’re looking for projects which address either action relating to climate change or adaptation to climate change. We would love to see some interesting innovative projects coming through in areas we haven’t thought of yet but in areas we have consider your project in active travel, re-use, repair, circular economy, food waste, energy efficiency or engaging your community about climate change. You can see examples of projects we have funded previously below.

This fund will not cover salaries or staff wages.

We understand the importance of campaigning and peaceful protests, and support the positive difference these actions can make. We provide funding for non-violent direct action, however actions must not prevent freedom of speech, incite or promote violence or aggression, or promote or facilitate illegal activities.

Promote or support negative attitudes, inequality, discrimination, racism, prejudice, oppression, harassment, violence or victimisation of people or groups

Coerce or force others to change their beliefs or prevent freedom of speech

Promote or support any illegal activities

Involve the cruelty, subjugation, captivity or destruction/culling of animals (including farming, captive breeding, testing or research)

Involve any environmentally damaging activities or who have no made every effort to be environmentally responsible

Directly or indirectly harms, threatens, or negatively affects biodiversity

Support market-based solutions to climate change such as carbon trading or carbon offsetting

Physical goods and products should be locally sourced, locally made, recycled, second hand or reusable where possible.

Please ensure that you have sourced the best price for these before making your application.

Please consider the manufacture, materials and lifespan of products, how they will be disposed of after their use and that you have sourced the best price for these before making your application.

The cost of sustainable travel can be included, for example, train and bus tickets. We will not fund flights, but in exceptional circumstances we may consider the cost of taxis or petrol for private vehicles.

Think sustainability further than simply re-use. If you are holding an outdoor event or activity can you do this without a generator? Do you have plans in place for the directions to your event or activity location that includes active travel including walking, cycling or use of public transport? We do fully acknowledge that this may be difficult our rural areas but please consider more active ways to travel including car shares if necessary.