Funding & Support for Rural Businesses, Charities & Community Groups – March 2025

At Anglia Rural Consultants (ARC), we actively track funding and policy updates that impact rural businesses, charities, and community organisations. This month, several new opportunities have emerged across environmental, community, and heritage funding streams. Here’s our summary of the most relevant schemes and how they could benefit your organisation.

Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) – Supporting Landowners & Communities

The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) scheme continues to offer funding for farmers and landowners operating in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). Grants are available for projects that support:

✅ Nature recovery – Enhancing biodiversity and improving habitats
✅ Climate resilience – Reducing flood risk and increasing carbon sequestration
✅ People engagement – Improving public access and education about rural landscapes
✅ Sustainable business support – Encouraging farm diversification in line with conservation goals

For landowners, charities, and community groups working within protected areas, FiPL funding provides an opportunity to support conservation-led initiatives.

Community & Environmental Grants

Several funding streams are currently open for rural charities, community groups, and environmental initiatives:

🌳 Community Tree Planting Fund– Grants to support tree planting projects that engage local communities in enhancing green spaces. Ideal for parish councils, schools, and charities working on biodiversity projects.

🔥 Green Heat Network Fund – Funding to support the development of low-carbon heat networks, particularly in rural and off-grid communities.

💡 Energy Efficiency Sharematch – A funding scheme aimed at helping community buildings, charities, and small businesses invest in energy efficiency improvements.

🌿 Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund – Grants for community-driven cultural and heritage projects. Supports organisations preserving and sharing local history.

♻️ Stobart Sustainability Fund – Designed for projects that promote sustainability in rural communities, from waste reduction initiatives to local carbon-reduction schemes.

🌍 Climate Action Fund: Our Shared Future – A National Lottery-funded initiative supporting communities taking action on climate change.

🇬🇧 The UK Fund – The National Lottery Community Fund – A broad funding programme supporting projects that make a positive impact in local communities, including rural and environmental projects.

🏡 Historic Houses Foundation Grants – Funding for restoration and conservation of historic properties, particularly those with community access or educational elements.

🌲 Forestry England Woodland Partnership – Support for long-term woodland creation projects in partnership with local authorities, charities, and landowners.

🏛 Grants for Heritage – National Lottery Heritage Fund – Open to organisations protecting and celebrating the UK’s natural and cultural heritage, from conservation work to community engagement projects.

How ARC Can Support Your Application

Navigating funding applications can be complex. At ARC, we support rural businesses, charities, and landowners in identifying the right grants, structuring applications, and ensuring their projects align with funding criteria. Whether you need help securing investment for an environmental initiative, a community-led enterprise, or a diversification project, we can provide tailored advice and guidance.

To discuss your funding options or explore how these schemes might fit your organisation’s goals, get in touch with us.

For more details, you can also access the full RSN Rural Bulletin – March 2025 here.