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New £100,000 grant to help communities tackle climate change and support nature recovery 

Published Friday 18 September 2026

Communities across South Oxfordshire will benefit from a new £100,000 council grant scheme to help tackle climate change and support nature recovery.

The new Nature and Climate Action Fund is the latest community grant scheme from South Oxfordshire District Council and will be open to voluntary and community organisations.

Grants of between £250 and £10,000 will be available to support climate and nature focused projects of all sizes.

Projects could include making a village hall more energy efficient, restoring natural habitats such as floodplain meadows, planting trees for shade and to reduce flooding, organising a community learning event on home renewable energy options or installing bike racks at a community venue to encourage cycling.

Cllr Mike Giles, Cabinet Member for Policy and Climate Action at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We’re delighted to be launching our brand-new Nature and Climate Action Fund, which gives community groups access to up to £10,000 to help bring their nature and climate supporting ideas to life.

“Across South Oxfordshire there are people who care deeply about tackling climate change and restoring nature. Whether it’s creating new wildlife habitats, helping organisations reduce their carbon emissions or finding new ways to bring communities together to learn about the environment around them.

“We hope this new fund will encourage even more people to get involved and make a real difference in the district.”

The fund will support projects that:

  • Address climate change and avoid or reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (mitigation projects)
  • Adjust to the current and future effects of climate change (adaptation projects)
  • Support nature recovery and biodiversity

Groups do not need to be experts in climate change or nature recovery to apply. The council welcomes applications from organisations that are just getting started, as well as those with more experience.

Organisations eligible to apply are: 

• Town/parish councils and parish meetings

• Local ‘not for profit’ organisations, (this can include a company limited by guarantee which does not distribute any surplus it makes to its members), whose primary purpose is to benefit the residents of South Oxfordshire

• N.B. Town/parish councils can also collaborate with local unconstituted groups and apply on their behalf

The grant scheme opens for applications on 28 September.

Full details including how to apply, is available on the council’s website and organisations can also contact our Climate and Biodiversity Team by emailing climateaction@southandvale.gov.uk with questions about any projects they would like support with.

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