6 July 2020

Government’s New £40m Green Recovery Challenge Fund to Open in ‘Due Course’

Future funding opportunity for charities and environmental organisations to start work on projects across England to restore nature and tackle climate change.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that as part of the Prime Minister’s wider package to boost the economy, it will be providing a £40 million fund to help create jobs and support the environment. The money will be available for a range of activities such as protecting species, finding nature-based solutions to tackling climate change, supporting conservation rangers and connecting people with the outdoors.

It is envisaged that the fund will create a broad range of short and long-term jobs such as ecologists, surveyors, nature reserve staff and education workers in environment organisations; and support their suppliers in areas such as agricultural engineering, horticulture, and equipment and seed supply.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said:

“Our ambitious green recovery package will deliver a steady stream of shovel-ready environmental projects, protecting nature at the same time as creating and retaining thousands of new jobs.

“Many of us have become even more appreciative of nature during lockdown and our Green Recovery Challenge Fund will help charities and other organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and helping the public enjoy the outdoors.”

Details of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund and the application dates have yet to be released.

The full announcement can be read on the GOV.UK website.