Natural England

26 May 2008

Natural England has announced its £25 million Lottery funded grant programme ‘Access to Nature’ is now open for business.

Access to Nature aims to provide lasting change to disadvantaged communities by focusing on helping people who currently have little or no contact with the natural environment.

The grant scheme is open to organisations and networks who want to help broaden access to the natural world for young people, older people, Black and Minority Ethnic groups, and people with disabilities.

Natural England has been appointed by the Big Lottery Fund as an award partner, responsible for distributing £25m through the Access to Nature scheme as part of BIG’s Changing Spaces programme. Access to Nature brings together the expertise of a unique consortium of environmental organisations to deliver the grants programme.

Grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 will be available to fund projects across England on both a national and regional basis for both capital and revenue. In addition funding will be available for a select number of larger grants of over £500,000 for projects which have a national significance or impact.

Applications for funding opened on 28th April 2008 and will run until June 2010. Projects need to be completed by September 2013.

Full details of how to apply and details of funding are available at: www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature or telephone The Changing Spaces Advice line on 0845 3671 671.