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Environment Small Sparks Grants

Providing small grants to help communities improve their local environment

Join the growing network of communities across the West Midlands creating a healthier, fairer, greener region.

The Community Environment Network aims to connect community groups working on environment action, boost their efforts, and also inspire and support new groups. 

The Small Sparks Grants have now closed, thank you to everyone who applied.

Do you have an idea for a step towards a greener, fairer, healthier environment in the West Midlands?

Will it bring people together and create connections?

The WMCA Community Environment Network's Small Sparks Grants gives microgrants of up to £500.

These grants support community groups and organisations who want to test new ideas or help move an exisiting project along and we encourage small community groups to apply.

A total of £10,000 is available through the Small Sparks Fund and these grants are for community groups and organisations to either test a new idea or help move an exisiting project along.

Here are the main goals of the fund and some ideas your community group can use to apply for funding.

Key aims of the fund:

  • Finding ways to help communities create and enhance the environment.
  • Supporting communities to adopt sustainable practices.
  • Support groups to engage with their local community on the environment.

What we mean by the environment

We use environment in its broadest sense and would like to support community projects that are involved in protecting and enhancing the natural environment, supporting your local community to access green spaces or waterways or to help you to adapt to the changing climate, improve air quality or to reduce waste by adopting reuse, repurpose and remake practices.

Ideas for funding

Here are some ideas that we have thought of but we would be keen to hear other ideas or initiatives; 

  • Planting drought resistant plants and buying water harvesting equipment.
  • Encouraging pollinators into your spaces buy planting window boxes or installing bug hotels.
  • Installing a small pond to encourage wildlife into your space.
  • Buying tools or materials for delivering gardening projects.

Here are some ideas that we have thought of but we would be keen to hear other ideas or initiatives; 

  • Host repair cafés for the community to bring in their broken electronics for fixing or learn how to mend their clothing.
  • Host swap shops for people to get items they need.
  • Hold workshops or events to engage the community to care about the environment.

Here are some ideas that we have thought of but we would be keen to hear other ideas or initiatives; 

  • Create a library of things – set up a lending system for tools, gardening equipment or small appliances.
  • Travel passes for your group to visit their local greenspaces or water body.
  • If you have a community garden or allotment, host an event to invite the local community to.

The grant has now closed, thank you to everyone who has applied.

If you are successful, the following will apply;

  • You must share a breakdown of where the funding will be spent, including links to items where possible.
  • Once you have spent the grant, you must provide receipts (can be photocopies of originals).
  • Share your story for a case study with photos to showcase your work to other Network members.
  • Complete our short monitoring and evaluation online questionnaire.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. You can apply as a community group or community organisation and be operating in the West Midlands area – funds must be spent within the WMCA region. This includes Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
  2. You must be a member of the Community Environment Network. 
  3. Have an idea that is connected to achieving one of the funds key aims.
  4. Spending must be complete by 15th December 2025.

Judgement criteria

Each application will be scored across these three criteria.  Please also note that consideration will be made to ensure projects funded are spread across the region.

  1. How does this idea reflect the aim(s) of the fund?
  2. To what extent does this idea benefit the environment and the local community?
  3. How robust are the costings?

Deadline for submissions is on a rolling basis until the 4th November 2025 or until the funding is allocated.

If you have any questions or want to run an idea past us before applying, please email WMGreenerTogether@wmca.org.uk.