This guide organizes micro-grants for litter picking, environmental projects, and eco filmmaking across the UK by county and region, along with notable international opportunities. We also have posts about shelter construction and foraging.
Last Updated: Nov 2025 (including open grants for 2025 and 2026)
Litter Picking Grant Table
| Grant | Region | Amount | Status | Apply / Info | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access for All Litter Picking Initiative | Cornwall, England | Equipment loans | OPEN | Apply | Loans all-terrain wheelchairs and adapted kit for inclusive litterpicks; contact Clean Cornwall. |
| Awards for All England | England (nationwide) | £300-£10,000 | OPEN / ROLLING | Apply | Info | Small National Lottery grants for community projects including environment. |
| BFI Doc Society Fund | UK | Up to £150,000 | CLOSED 2025, REOPENS 2026 | Apply | Info | Main fund paused after Oct 2025; new scheme announced for early 2026. |
| BFI NETWORK – More Films for Freedom | UK, Africa & MENA | Up to £25,000 | WINDOWED | Info | Short films on LGBTQIA+ and intersectional themes; periodic calls. |
| BFI National Lottery Sustainable Screen | UK | Varies | ONGOING SUPPORT | Info | Delivers sustainability support via BAFTA albert and Julie’s Bicycle. |
| Biodiversity Improvement Project Grants | South Ribble, Lancashire | Up to £200 | OPEN / ROLLING | Apply | Info | Micro-grants for biodiversity and wildlife-friendly community projects. |
| Bloomberg Green Docs | International | $25,000 prize | ANNUAL COMPETITION | Info | Short climate documentary competition; details vary each year. |
| British Council – Lab/Co-Production Forum Travel Grant | UK filmmakers | Up to £6,000 | WINDOWED | Info | Travel support to labs, festivals, and co-pro forums; check film.britishcouncil.org. |
| Climate Action Fund | UK-wide | £500,000-£5,000,000 | WINDOWED / LARGE | Info | Large-scale partnerships for climate action; check Lottery site for current phases. |
| Climate Spring | Primarily UK/US | Varies | ONGOING DEVELOPMENT | Apply | Script and project development for climate stories; rolling conversations. |
| Community Spaces Partnership | Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria | £10,000-£100,000 | CHECK WEBSITE | Info | Energy efficiency and sustainability upgrades for rural community buildings. |
| Diane Weyermann Fellowship at Points North | International | $100,000 | ANNUAL | Info | 18-month fellowship for urgent feature docs, including climate. |
| Doc Society Climate Story Fund | International | Up to $125,000 | OPEN | Apply | Supports both production and impact for climate stories. |
| Essex LNP Community Fund | Essex, England | £500-£2,000 | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Info | Nature-based projects and biodiversity; form URL changes each year. |
| FCC Community Action Fund | England (near FCC sites) | £2,000-£100,000 | ROLLING WINDOWS | Apply | Info | Capital funding for amenities and green spaces near landfill/energy sites. |
| Film Independent – Climate Entertainment Initiative | International | $25,000 | WINDOWED | Info | Development grant for climate-themed projects; check Film Independent. |
| Film London Funding | London, UK | Varies | VARIOUS | Apply | Info | Multiple schemes for shorts, features, and talent development. |
| Filmmakers Without Borders | International | Varies | WINDOWED | Apply | Info | Supports narrative, doc, and new media with social/environmental themes. |
| Ford Foundation – Just Films | International | Varies | ONGOING | Info | Funds social justice projects including environmental justice media. |
| GRAB Trust Staycation Litter Grants | Argyll & Bute, Scotland | Up to £250 | OPEN | Apply | Email [email protected] to express interest, then submit online claim form after litterpick completion. |
| Green Community Grants Programme | UK (England, Scotland, Wales) | Up to £25,000 | CLOSED 2025, REOPENS 2026 | Info | Applications closed 8 Oct 2025; next round expected 2026. Email [email protected]. |
| Greggs Foundation Environmental Grants | England (nationwide) | Up to £2,000 | OPEN / ROLLING | Apply | Info | Rolling micro-grants for litterpicking and small environmental projects. |
| ICIMOD Film Grants on Water | Himalayan region focus | $2,000 | WINDOWED | Info | Small grants for films on water and springs in mountain communities. |
| Jackson Wild – My World Film Grant | International | $30,000 | ANNUAL | Apply | Short environmental films with mentorship; next call expected spring 2026. |
| Kent Community Foundation Micro Groups Fund | Kent, England | Up to £2,000 | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Info | Supports very small organizations including environmental groups; see KCF for deadlines. |
| Lancashire Environmental Fund (LEF) | Lancashire, England | Up to £30,000 (main), £3,000 (green) | OPEN / ROLLING | Apply | Info | Supports environmental improvements within 10 miles of eligible landfill sites. |
| Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme (LDTCS) | Wales | £5,000-£250,000 | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Info | Supports biodiversity, waste minimisation, and environmental enhancements in Wales. |
| Live Here Love Here Small Grants Scheme | Northern Ireland | £500-£3,000 | CLOSED 2025, REOPENS 2026 | Apply | Info | 2025-26 window closed; opens summer 2026 and usually closes mid-August. |
| Marine Litter Capital Grants | Northern Ireland | Varies | CHECK WEBSITE | Info | Capital equipment for marine litter projects; see Live Here Love Here for updates. |
| Mid Suffolk Community Development Grants | Suffolk, England | Up to £20,000 | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Info | Supports environmental and community improvements; see district grants page. |
| NRDC Climate Storytelling Fellowship | International | $20,000 | ANNUAL | Info | Fellowships for climate feature scripts/TV pilots; via Black List/NRDC partnership. |
| Northumberland County Council Environment & Climate Fund | Northumberland, England | Up to £5,000 | CHECK WEBSITE | Info | Backs local climate and environment projects; details vary by year. |
| Pride in Your Place | Suffolk, England (Mid Suffolk District) | £250-£5,000 | OPEN | Apply | Info | Rolling applications for parishes and VCFSE groups with council support. |
| Pulitzer Center – Global Health Film Grant | Global South filmmakers | Up to $25,000 | WINDOWED | Apply | Info | Supports short films on global health, often with environmental links. |
| Redford Center Environmental Film Grants | International | $25,000+ | ANNUAL | Apply | Info | 2-year program for environmental films with impact campaigns. |
| Royal Countryside Fund | Northumberland & Cumbria | Up to £30,000 (18 months) | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Info | Supports rural resilience, including environmental sustainability. |
| Small Grants – Environment (Carbon) | Wales | Up to £7,500 | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Welsh Government capital grants for carbon reduction; check site for current window. |
| Somerset #2minute Litterpick Project | Somerset, England | Equipment provision (free kit) | OPEN | Apply | Provides free litterpicking kit; no cash grant; commit to regular local picks. |
| Sustainable Steps Wales – Egin Grants | Wales | Up to £10,000 | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Info | Climate action and sustainable living for community groups; check National Lottery site. |
| The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award | International | £120,000 / £25,000 | ANNUAL | Apply | Info | Major funding for first-time director-led feature docs. |
| Together Films – Climate Action Together Fund | UK/US focus | £20,000 + strategy | WINDOWED | Apply | Impact campaigns for climate films with solutions framing; specific release window required. |
| Veolia Environmental Trust | England (nationwide) | £10,000-£75,000 | WINDOWED / CHECK | Apply | Info | Supports community buildings and natural habitats; quarterly deadlines. |
| WREN Grants | England (nationwide) | £2,000-£10,000 | OPEN / ROLLING | Apply | Info | Landfill Communities Fund grants for biodiversity and community amenities. |
| Water Quality Improvement Strand (WQIS) | Northern Ireland | Up to £30,000 (85% funded) | CHECK WEBSITE | Apply | Info | Funds water quality, litter and invasive species projects; check DAERA for live calls. |
Key Application Tips
Note: All councils and parishes have grant funding powers, contact your local one, or the one for the area of your litter pick, to ask about your project.
For Litter Picking and Environmental Grants:
- Many litter picking grants require formally constituted groups with bank accounts in the organization’s name
- Check proximity requirements for landfill-based funds (typically 10 miles)
- Provide before-and-after photos for litter picking claims
- Consider match funding requirements (often 10-25%)
- Projects typically must be completed within 6-12 months of grant award
For Film Grants:
- Demonstrate unique access and director-led vision for documentary grants
- Focus on solutions and hope rather than doom narratives for climate storytelling
- International collaboration is increasingly valued
- Sustainable production practices are becoming mandatory for many UK funds
- Early-stage development funding is available from organizations like Catapult Film Fund
- Film grants can work as litter picking grants to enable litter picks