Community Climate Action

Applications for this programme are currently closed but will reopen in January 2027.

Climate change is affecting communities unequally – but the people most impacted are often the least represented in climate action and funding.

Rooted in their communities, social entrepreneurs can bring valuable first-hand insight to the climate-related challenges people face and help create the sustainable, lasting action we need.

Thanks to National Lottery players and the Millennium Awards Trust (MAT), UnLtd and its partners, the Centre for Energy Equality and Voice4Change England, have received £3.3 million in funding over three years from The National Lottery Community Fund and MAT.

Together, through our Community Climate Action Engagement Partnership, we will enable social entrepreneurs to engage racially minoritised, low income and disabled people in climate action, helping tens of thousands shape solutions to a crisis that disproportionately affects their communities.

What we’re looking forLink to this section

We’re supporting founders across the UK who are helping people cut their carbon emissions and improve wellbeing, targeting one or more of our key focus areas: transport, home energy, sustainable food, and reduced waste and consumption.

While it’s easy to feel powerless, the government estimates that 60% of the emissions savings required to achieve ‘net zero’ can be met through changes in consumer behaviour. That’s why we’re focusing on these four target areas and supporting social entrepreneurs who inspire people to make these changes, in ways that benefit them and their local communities.

We’re looking to support founders with lived experience and deep roots in the communities they serve, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled founders, and those working in areas experiencing economic disadvantage.

For our initial rounds of applications, including those opening in January 2027, we'll be focusing on founders who are at the ideas stage, or who have been trading for less than one year.

Opportunities for founders at a later stage, including those who have already been creating impact for over a year, will open later in 2027.

What’s on offer Link to this section

Alongside funding, Award Winners will receive one-to-one coaching, practical business support and peer learning and networking opportunities. This will help them strengthen their leadership, build sustainable business models, demonstrate impact, and connect with partners, funders and commissioners.

Eligibility criteriaLink to this section

Criteria	Social Entrepreneur
Your age	16 years old or over
You are the founder/leader of the social venture	Yes
You are currently living in the UK and have the right to work in the UK	Yes
You are looking for funding to create long-term social impact	Yes
You are applying primarily to fund formal or academic qualifications	No
You are applying primarily to fund overseas travel	No
You are applying primarily to pay others to deliver the work on your behalf	No
You need both UnLtd's financial and non-financial support	Yes

Criteria	Social Venture
Your social venture clearly driven by a social purpose	Yes
You can demonstrate a clear need for your social venture	Yes
Your social venture mainly benefits people or places within the UK	Yes
Your social venture involves political or religious campaigning	No
Your social venture involves activities that are against the law, against public policy, or could cause harm or division between people or communities	No
Your social venture does more than raise awareness of a social issue	Yes
Your social venture has the potential to be financially sustainable with our support	Yes
Your social venture's incorporation history	Incorporated for less than 4 years
Your social venture's areas of focus	Transport, Home energy, Sustainable food, Reducing waste & consumption
Your social venture's turnover in the last financial year	Less than £250,000

Apply nowLink to this section

Check your eligibility
If you are eligible you will receive a link to the application portal via email.

This programme is open till July 2028.

Information sessionsLink to this section

Keep an eye out for our pre-application online information sessions in 2027.

Award Applications