Would you like to take action on climate change and biodiversity, at the same time as improving the place where you live?

North East Scotland Climate Action Network (NESCAN) Hub on behalf of Aberdeen City Council, is delighted to launch LEAF – a new environmental fund for projects located in Aberdeen City.

Projects should aim to achieve at least one of the following environmental outcomes:

1. Protect, enhance and increase biodiversity & nature
2. Improve existing or develop new spaces that benefit communities including parks, public gardens, playing fields, woodlands, natural “rewilded” areas, play areas, rivers, ponds, coastal habitats, allotments, community gardens and public spaces.
3. Help communities mitigate, adapt to and build resilience to climate change, including the use of nature-based solutions.
4. Raising awareness of and prompting action on nature, biodiversity, climate, and the environment.

LEAF Criteria

• Any not-for-profit community groups or organisations based in Aberdeen City, with an annual income under £200,000, can apply for funding for projects to be located in Aberdeen City. Individual grants can be awarded up to £3,000.
• We ask applicants to become a member of NESCAN before applying.
• Projects that meet the fund criteria and priorities will be supported.
• We encourage applications that are led by young people or disadvantaged or minority groups.
• We welcome proposals that will help groups leverage wider funding, and understand that this may include planning/ design/ legal/ consultant fees, feasibility studies or match funding.

Applications should show how the project will support one or more social outcomes: 

1. Mental, physical, or emotional health and wellbeing.
2. Community priorities and needs.
3. Equity, inclusion, and diversity. 
4. Marginalised, minority or disadvantaged communities.
5. Building skills and capacity. 
6. Collaborative working. 
7. The long-term viability of your organisation and initiative.
8. Community engagement and decision-making in relation to place.

CLOSING: when all funding has been allocated

The purpose of this fund is to empower communities to take positive action in the places and on things that matter to them, with a focus on climate change and nature recovery.

The fund will enable communities to support the delivery of Aberdeen Adapts, the Net Zero Aberdeen Routemap, underlying Aberdeen Empowerment Strategy and Natural Environment Strategy, as well as help to deliver the Local Outcome Improvement Plan 2016-2026.

The kinds of projects we can fund include: 

• Environmental projects that provide social benefits as well as aiding and encouraging nature, promoting local biodiversity, or improving the natural environment.
• Environmental projects that help communities respond to climate change, including nature-based solutions.
• Proposals that help leverage additional funding for larger-scale projects that meet either of the above criteria. For example: match funding or feasibility studies and retrofit assessment/plans.

Please note that we may ask for copies of bank statements, annual accounts and constitution before a grant offer is finalised.