Climate and nature capacity building opportunity for community organisations in the west
We are launching a new opportunity for six community organisations from across the West of England region to participate in the Community Climate & Nature Action Project’s Capacity Building Programme. Participants will benefit from £30,000 funding and a tailored programme of support to co-produce community climate and nature action plans and start putting their plan priorities into action.
Opportunity: Two year, funded capacity building programme for community organisations
Offer: £25,000 bursary, £5,000 creative commission budget; a series of free workshops, peer mentoring and resources; develop regional leadership on climate and nature
Timescale: February 2026 – March 2028
Deadline for expressions of interest: 5pm on Thursday 8 January 2026
Our region is a leading the way on climate and nature. All four local councils in the West of England have declared climate and nature emergencies and are progressing ambitious plans and projects to deliver the change required – and the same goes for our communities. Over the last five years, 17 communities in Bristol have co-developed community climate and nature action plans outlining their priorities and are now progressing action across the city to make these a reality.
Now, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership’s Community Climate & Nature Action Project has been awarded funding from the National Lottery’s Climate Action Fund to scale this effective model for community-led climate and nature action across the region.
The project will fund and support six community organisations across the West of England to develop, launch and activate community climate and nature action plans with their communities, and help shape community leadership and policy over two years. This opportunity is open to two community partners from each of the following Local Authority areas – South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset and North Somerset whose councils are also partners to the project.
The overall programme consists of five different elements and will last from February 2026 to March 2028.
- Participation – taking part in the learning and mentoring programme, a series of free workshops, peer mentoring and resources
- Community engagement – with local residents, groups and networks
- Plan development – developing climate and nature action plan and priorities
- Plan activation – beginning to implement your plan priorities
- Wider project involvement – in other project elements such as the new Community Leadership panel and policy roundtables.
The aim of the programme is to enable communities across the West of England to develop their own climate and nature action plans, which can then be used to influence policy and attract funding. It will support deep and inclusive community engagement and action on local issues that matter.
The programme is built on extensive insights gained from developing, testing and refining models with three cohorts of diverse communities within Bristol.
Participants will receive a £25,000 bursary over 2 years to cover time attending monthly workshops for 18-months, undertaking community engagement, and writing up the community climate and nature action plan and priorities. An additional £5,000 will be provided for commissioning a local creative to help engage more community members in this process.
For more detail including eligibility criteria, download the information pack and come along to an online information session on Wednesday 19 November 10.30-11.30am or Tuesday 25 November 1.30-2.30pm.
A text version in Word is also available here.
Sign up for an online info session
To apply complete the expression of interest form by 5pm on Thursday 8 January. You can do this online or download the word version.
Download expression of interest form (word)
Complete online expression of interest form
Read more about the Community Climate & Nature Action Project
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