Warm Hub and Climate Grants Open to Community Groups in Stratford District

The district council's Cabinet has agreed £27,938 for a Heart of England Forest orchard and pond workshops. Community groups can apply now for warm hub grants of £250 to £1,000 and for the Community Climate and Nature Fund.

By Alex Harrington 2 min read Source: Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall on the corner of Sheep Street and Chapel Street
Stratford-upon-Avon Town Hall. Photo: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0

Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s Cabinet has agreed £27,938 from its climate change reserve for two Heart of England Forest projects: a new community orchard and pond-making workshops. Two council grant schemes are also open to community groups across the district: one for warm hubs this winter, and one for local climate and nature projects (council announcement, 6 October).

On this page
  1. The Heart of England Forest projects
  2. Warm hub grants: £250 to £1,000
  3. Community Climate and Nature Fund

The Heart of England Forest projects

  • Community orchard, £15,388: 60 heritage fruit trees at Oak Tree Wood in Sambourne, with about half a hectare of improved wildlife habitat. Up to 30 local residents and young people will be able to join the planting days.
  • Back to Nature ponds, £12,550: extends the forest’s pond restoration work with workshops on creating and looking after small ponds and wetlands. The skills can be used in gardens, allotments, schools, churchyards and community spaces.

Warm hub grants: £250 to £1,000

The Community / Warm Hub Grant Scheme has £25,000 to share. It offers grants of £250 to £1,000 to keep existing community and warm hubs going over the winter and to help new ones start. Grants can pay for venue hire, activities, insurance, DBS checks and energy bills.

  • Who can apply: non-profit groups running a hub in the district, such as town and parish councils, charities, voluntary groups and residents’ associations. Individuals, businesses and party political groups can’t apply.
  • When: applications are open now and considered as they come in, until 31 March 2027 or until the money runs out. The council aims to give a decision within four weeks.

Community Climate and Nature Fund

The Community Climate and Nature Fund is open to local councils, community groups and charities with projects that cut carbon, help communities cope with a changing climate or boost wildlife. Recent awards ranged from £4,350 to £9,973, for things like solar panels on village halls, a community fridge, bat boxes and pond restoration (council announcement).

This year’s £200,000 round runs until April 2027, with applications assessed every three months. The current assessment window closes today, 12 October. Applications made after that go into the next window.

More from the district council on our council news page and community news page.

Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.

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