This fund encourages and enables community groups to carry out conservation activities with small Start-up and Support grants.

The grants are provided to support groups whose principal purpose is conservation volunteering and enable them to begin or continue practical work.

Start-up grants are for a maximum of £200 and are for groups who have little or no money when they are first set up. They are available to groups in their first year of existence to enable begin practical work by covering administrative expenses, such as postage, publicity, meeting room hire, telephone bills or insurance fees.

Support grants are for a maximum of £500 and are are for groups with little or no money for tools, equipment and training. This grant is available to all groups, regardless of how long they have been constituted.

Groups within their first year can apply for both types of grant.

A group may have a Start-up and Support grant in its first year. It is eligible for a further Support
grant after two years

Applicants must have minimal unrestricted funds (less than £3,000) and untied income under £2000 per year. unless refusal of the grant would cause the groups’ outcomes to be very adversely affected.

The online application form (Office Forms) is available at the TCV website which also has full eligibility criteria and information.

A Community Network Coordinator is also available to contact by telephone or email to assist with questions and applications.

The Committee meet every six weeks to consider applications.

For more details, visit the TCV Chestnut Fund webpage.