Wealden District Council
Climate and Nature Fund
Eligibility Criteria
Version dated: October 2026
Overview
Using the power of the crowd, we are helping environmental, sustainability and climate change projects to get the funding they need to turn their ideas into reality!
Crowdfunder and Wealden District Council have come together to support projects and activities that will help Wealden tackle and respond to the climate and nature crisis.
Climate change and our environment are one of the three core priorities of Wealden District Council. This commitment is reflected in the Wealden District Council Strategy 2023–2027 which focuses on working with local communities and partners to reduce emissions, protect and enhance the district's green infrastructure and improve biodiversity. Building on this, the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan approved in July 2025 sets a clear direction for action — supporting residents, local groups and organisations to take action to actively reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and tackle climate change across Wealden.
This new crowdfunding programme is an opportunity to bring to life initiatives and activities which are close to your community's heart. We want to inspire and support local projects that contribute to Wealden's climate change ambitions and support nature recovery. Our vision for Wealden is a place where 30% of our land, rivers and seas are positively managed for nature by 2030.
About This Fund
Get up to £5,000.00
Any 'not for profit' organisation working to address the climate and nature crisis, build community resilience and tackle climate change for people in Wealden can be eligible, as well as town and parish councils.
You need a crowdfunding project to apply for funding. Start or continue adding your project and, if eligible, you'll be prompted to apply.
How Match Funding Works
You may be eligible for match funding of up to 50% of your fundraising target, or up to £5,000 maximum pledge (whichever is the lower).
Projects must reach 25% of their fundraising target before being considered for match funding.
To demonstrate strong local support, a minimum of 25 unique supporters are also required.
Wealden Climate and Nature funding will be allocated once an applicant has successfully applied to and been approved for the fund, received a provisional pledge, by having reached 50% of their target from a minimum of 25 unique backers.
Following receipt of a pledge, projects must reach 100% of the initial fundraising target in order to secure the funds.
On reaching the initial fundraising target, it is possible to add a stretch target and stretch the fundraising further.
To secure a pledge from the Fund, you will need to do the following:
1. Apply to, and be approved for, the Fund.
2. Receive a provisional pledge from the Fund, by reaching at least 25% of your fundraising target from a minimum of 25 unique supporters.
3. Receive the Fund pledge by reaching at least 100% of your fundraising target.
Match funding will be awarded subject to the successful completion of subsidy and financial checks, and upon receipt of a signed offer letter by Wealden District Council.
Following approval for funding, if you wish to make any changes to your campaign target, or any significant changes to your rewards or other page content, you must notify us.
The match fund will be released once the fundraising target has been reached and the Terms and Conditions are signed by the organisation.
Wealden District Council reserves the right not to fund, or to withdraw funding during a campaign if it becomes apparent that any of the criteria are not being met. WDC also reserves the right to amend this information at any time.
Strategic Priorities
Your project must support one or more of the priorities within Wealden's Council Strategy:
Climate change and our environment — supporting projects that reduce carbon emissions, enhance biodiversity and restore nature, and help communities adapt to and build resilience against climate change
Community resilience and wellbeing — helping to create healthier, more resilient communities through access to green space, nature and climate action
Eligible Project Themes
Helping Our Response to Climate Change
Reducing carbon emissions from community buildings, workplaces and travel
Promoting low carbon choices, waste reduction and re-use initiatives and behaviour change
Creating new opportunities for renewable and low carbon energy
Helping communities adapt to and become resilient to a changing climate
Promoting Nature Recovery
Converting, restoring or enhancing community greenspaces for wildlife and local food growing such as community allotments or gardens
Environmental improvements to community buildings and village hall grounds
Delivering coastal, marine and river conservation projects and/or citizen science projects
Improving habitats, conserving species, and reducing pollution (including litter, noise, light and invasive species)
Supporting nature-based solutions that improve habitats, biodiversity and ecosystem health
Initiatives to help local people connect with their local environment and nature
Eligible Costs
You can apply for project-linked core costs — the general day-to-day running costs for your organisation, e.g. venue hire, volunteer expenses, and other support for volunteers. Other items to help run the organisation and provide services unrelated to this project may not be funded.
You can also apply for project costs — money for a particular project taking place on top of your usual activities, or one-off events, capital projects, performances, equipment or special repairs. New groups can also apply.
You can apply towards capital projects, such as community allotments or gardens, including gardening equipment, tools for projects, trees, environmental improvements to community buildings and village hall grounds. You will be expected to demonstrate how you will monitor and review progress as well as ensure the project is sustainable on a longer-term basis.
The projects need to evidence real benefits for residents of Wealden and the Wealden District.
For capital projects resulting in an adaptation to a building or a fixable asset, the applicant must either own the land or building, OR have permission from the landowner AND have a lease of more than 5 years where the capital fund will be spent.
Eligible Organisations
Any locally constituted and recognised 'not for profit' organisation, such as charities, constituted community groups, parish or town councils, community interest companies, residents associations, sports clubs, PTAs, and cultural organisations which seeks to serve the people of Wealden will be able to apply for funding.
Your organisation must:
Provide community activities or services within Wealden District, which are of benefit to the residents of Wealden District
Have a formal constitution or set of rules
Have a bank account requiring at least two unrelated signatories
Operate with no undue restrictions on membership
And be either:
A constituted group with a volunteer management committee with a minimum of three unrelated members that meets on a regular basis (at least three times per year)
A registered Charity, with a board of trustees
Or:
A registered Community Interest Company (CIC), and provide copies of your community interest statement, details of the Asset Lock included in your Memorandum and Articles of Association, and a copy of your latest annual community interest report
A town or parish council seeking to provide support for the local community through a specific project or projects
A village hall trust
Wealden-wide, regional and national organisations are eligible, but only for projects delivering a clear and demonstrable benefit to the community of Wealden.
You will need to ensure policies and procedures for safeguarding and protecting adults and children that are in accordance with current legislation and are reviewed annually will be in place.
If you are an individual and have a project idea but no organisation to partner with, Wealden District Council can help you find one. If you already have an organisation in mind to partner with, we can assist in explaining the Wealden Funding process to them.
Insurance Requirements
Where applicable, you must have insurance and all relevant consents and approvals for any activity which the funding will be wholly or partly funding.
You must have Public Liability Insurance cover with a minimum indemnity limit of £5 million per claim.
You must maintain Professional Indemnity insurance cover (if applicable) with a minimum cover of £1 million and produce on demand the policies and evidence of premium payment.
You must maintain Employers Liability insurance cover for staff and volunteers, with a minimum indemnity limit of £5 million per claim.
What's Not Eligible
Funding cannot be used for activities promoting religious or political beliefs; however, we welcome applications from faith groups for community activities that are open and accessible to the whole community, regardless of religion.
A campaign that does not directly relate to the provision of community activities or services within Wealden District
Individuals
Organisations which aim to distribute a profit
Organisations with no established management committee or board of trustees (unless a CIC)
Town and Parish Councils seeking to fund costs associated with statutory services
Loans and/or interest payments
Funding cannot be used to purchase alcohol or illegal substances
Members who are not directly working on the project
Funding will not be granted to offset any previous loss in funding or existing models of delivery
Funding does not replace any previous funding programmes and cannot be used to fill any gaps left by the withdrawal of other grant giving programmes
Political, lobbying and campaigning groups
Activities causing reputational damage and conflicts of interest for the Council, including campaigns against the Council or its statutory partners
Projects which could directly or indirectly have a negative impact on supporting the Council to achieve its Council Strategy
Match funding cannot come from any other Wealden District Council funding scheme including a similar Crowdfunder Match Fund. Please email [email protected] should you require any further clarification.
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
Individuals and any organisations not listed within the 'Who can apply?' section
Projects or activity outside of Wealden
Retrospective funding to fill funding gaps not identified before the project starts
Retrospective work — work that has already taken place before any funding has been awarded
VAT reclaimable from HMRC — VAT may be an eligible cost under this funding scheme; however, this will vary on a case-by-case basis, and the council cannot give VAT advice to applicants. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that VAT is correctly treated within any funding project. Incorrect VAT treatment could lead to penalties from HMRC and the applicant having to repay the VAT element of the funding that should not have been claimed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to include VAT if an applicant needs to claim it. If you do not include eligible VAT, the funding will be awarded based on net costs and VAT cannot be claimed.
Commercial activities or projects which generate private gain
Political activities, lobbying or campaigning
Funding cannot be used for activities promoting religious or political beliefs; however, faith groups for community activities will be eligible if they are open and accessible to the whole community, regardless of religion
Projects which in the assessment of Wealden District Council show actual or potential unlawful discrimination within the terms of the Equality Act 2010
Funding cannot be made to individuals or for items which only benefit an individual, such as prizes, bursaries or personal equipment
Projects that are already funded through external funding e.g. government funding
Privately owned buildings
Private landowners
Use for any other purpose than that specified on your Crowdfunder campaign
Funding will not be awarded to organisations that have large unrestricted balances available for them to spend — if a balance is 'restricted' for a particular purpose, e.g. you are saving for a building or piece of equipment, you should clearly indicate this
Capital improvements must not be compromised by other work in the near future
Obligations for Successful Applicants
Successful applicants will be expected to:
Produce a brief final project summary (a simple template will be provided)
Produce evidence of eligible expenditure if requested, e.g. receipts, quotations
Contribute to news stories about the project as requested
Complete short questionnaires about your project delivery and crowdfunding experience at 3 months and 12 months after your crowdfunding campaign closes
Support and Guidance
Free weekly drop-ins, workshops and training are available to support your project development from our partners.
Take a look at the following resources designed to help you make the most of your campaign:
Webinars and weekly drop-in sessions
Knowledge Hub
Online learning platform
Help Centre
How do I crowdfund? Free weekly drop-ins, workshops and training are available to support your project development from our partners.
Can I extend my project deadline? Yes, you can. For further details, please go to: https://help.crowdfunder.co.uk/en/articles/1844077-how-do-i-extend-my-project-deadline
Should I choose Flexible funding/Keep What you Raise or All or Nothing? You can choose either funding method; however, please note that you must reach at least 100% of your target to secure WDC funding. If you fail to do so, but have chosen to 'keep what you raise', the WDC funding will be cancelled and you will keep funds raised from the crowd only.
I have hit WDC's funding criteria but can't see the WDC pledge yet? This is a manual process by the team, so pledges will be updated as soon as possible during working hours.
If you have any questions or are in any doubt about whether you are likely to be eligible, please email the Climate Change Team: [email protected]