Grants to help community campaigns

The Woodland Trust is pleased to offer small grants to community action groups where woodland is at risk to assist in campaign activities. 

Please make sure you have read and understood this guidance in full before applying for a grant.

What are WoodWatch grants?

Small grants are available to support activities and events relating to local campaigns where woodland is under threat. If a campaign group is holding events or carrying out activities which require financial support, then they can apply to our Grants Fund.

How much is available?

A community action may apply for one WoodWatch grant of around £100. Each group is considered individually and we may be able to give more than this amount.

What can grants be used for?

Community groups may use their grant in any way that helps their campaign. Typical examples of campaigning costs might include:
• Printing costs for leaflets
• Room hire for a public meeting
• Postage costs for mail-outs

Groups may use this grant as part-funding – in other words, to pay for some of the costs of an item or event, and apply for further monies from other funders (note: when applying to other funders you will need to declare what monies you have already received).

Groups may also use this grant as ‘match funding’ – in other words, some of the grant can be used to ‘match’ a grant for the same amount from another funder.

How do we apply?

To access a grant, groups need to first do the following:

• Tell us about a threat 
• Ensure they meet the criteria (below)
• Return a completed application form

Eligible groups must complete and return the Application Form, which is scored under our WoodWatch criteria. Please ensure your group meets the following criteria:

1. You have contacted us about the ancient wood under threat;
2. You are a constituted community group, or have agreed written aims*
3. You have a bank account, or written agreement to use that of another organisation*
4. You have appropriate insurance cover as required (for example, for public activities - talk to your local Community and Voluntary Services for advice)*
5. You agree to keep us updated with news of your campaign.

(*Please include a copy of these documents when returning your completed application.)

An application form is available to download on the right hand side.

What do we have to do next?

As with the majority of Woodland Trust activities, WoodWatch grants are funded through public money and it important to us that we can account for how grants are spent.

• We will ask for a simple Report from each group about how they used the grant. Groups can add photos, quotes and other additional information to this Report to celebrate the campaign. A basic Report template is available on the right hand side.
• You must retain receipts or invoices for all items bought under your grant, and return copies of these with your Report.
• Reports will be requested around 6 months after the grant is paid; please contact us beforehand to talk through any questions you have or for help in completing your Report.

Terms and conditions 

Please ensure that you have read and understood our
terms and conditions before you apply.