In 2026 Volunteering Matters Action Earth will offer grants to help urban communities to respond to our nature and climate crises. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, these nature grants support volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities in practical outdoor activities in Scotland’s cities, towns and villages.

Any group of volunteers in urban areas are able to apply for Volunteering Matters Action Earth nature grants up to £250 to run environmental activities in green spaces in built-up areas and centres of population. We welcome applications that make major environmental impacts and/or involve mass participation.

Activities should emphasize local nature enrichment and biodiversity improvements. This could include creating or improving community gardens, shared spaces, wildflower meadows, ponds, community woodlands and creating other wildlife habitats. Please note that we cannot support applications for activities which are primarily about food growing.

We prioritise applications from volunteer groups that do any of the following:

• Work in areas where there is substantial social and/or economic deprivation
• Improve and develop the health and wellbeing of their local community
• Involve disabled people, vulnerable people and those at risk of exclusion
• Encourage and involve people aged 26 or under in practical outdoor conservation