The BAA Heathrow Environment Awards are an annual award scheme designed to encourage local groups to carry out projects that improve the local environment. It is open to schools and community groups in Windsor & Maidenhead and Slough. The maximum award is £1,000 which must be matched by a 25% contribution, in volunteer time for example.

Applications will be judged according to how well they meet any of seven key Local Agenda 21 themes: transport, energy efficiency, recycling, nature conservation, improving community well-being, encouraging environmentally-sound business and preventing pollution.

BAA Heathrow supports a range of local projects as part of its community relations' programme, which bring educational, environmental and economic benefits to local people.

For example: Will it involve the community in all stages of the project? Will there be lasting benefits? How innovative or creative is your approach? Will project materials support the local economy? Will the project benefit the global environment?

The awards are run with Groundwork Thames Valley and are two independent local charities, committed to social, economic and environmental regeneration.

For more information please contact: Groundwork Thames Valley on 01895 832662 or visit www.groundwork-tv.org.uk

BT Community Connections are giving away internet-ready computers to local community and environmental groups or individuals for a project which will benefit the community. The can also help groups set up their own free website! To find out more visit them now at www.btcommunityconnections.com/

The Community Council for Berkshire maintains a comprehensive list of Trusts, Foundations and Government sources of funding for projects with social, healthy living and environmental aims. Contact June Judge, The Berkshire Community Foundation, Arlington Business Park, Theale, Reading RG7 4SA Tel 0118 930 3021 e-mail bct@I-way.co.uk or visit the web site at www.berksfoundation.org.uk

Earth Love Fund offers small grants of £250 - £500 to community groups and artists for awareness-raising arts events inspired by the connection between the world's forests and our Western lifestyles. If you would like to be part of the Artists for the Environment (AFTE) campaign to help the world's forests or receive information on Earth Love Fund please contact Earth Love Fund via e-mail or at the address below.

Contact AFTE Co-ordinator, Earth Love Fund, 9 Standingford House, Cave Street, Oxford OX4 1BA. Tel: 01865 200208 Fax: 01865 209091 E-mail: earthlove@gn.apc.org. For details of overseas projects supported see website at www.earthlovefund.com

English Nature fund nature conservation projects that involve People and Wildlife especially those which will contribute to Biodiversity Action Plans. Grants, up to a maximum of 50% of total cost, are available for new projects, projects enabling local communities to participate more fully in conservation programmes and innovative projects likely to have a wider relevance and further the practice of nature conservation. Any organisation or individual can apply if they have a suitable project.

For full details on the range of grants available, qualifying criteria and advice on applying contact the local team based at the Thames and Chilterns Office, Foxhold House, Thornford Road, Crookham Common, Thatcham RG19 8EL Tel 01635 268881 e-mail: thames.chilterns@english-nature.org.uk

For information about Greenham Common Trust's Grant Aid programme contact Melissa Elliott on 01635 817445 or e-mail melissa@greenham-common-trust.co.uk Website: www.greenham-common-trust.co.uk

Groundwork Thames Valley works in partnership with Government, Business and Local Authorities and is committed to social, economic and environmental regeneration. It will advise local groups on how best to make a bid for the money on offer. Tel: 01895 832662. website www.groundwork-tv.org.uk

In Kind Direct – formerly Gifts In Kind UK - was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1996, and became operational in early 1997. Its purpose is to act as a clearing house for surplus goods from the corporate sector, mainly manufacturers and retailers, channelling them to good causes in the voluntary sector. The donor companies are able to save money in storage and disposal costs, make progress towards meeting their environmental goals and gain the satisfaction of helping good causes as well as good PR from greater involvement with the community. Voluntary organisations pay an annual registration fee plus a delivery and handling charge and, in return, receive a monthly list of available goods. To join you don’t need to be a registered charity; you just need to be a not-for-profit organisation and goods must be used directly not sold on. For further details of the scheme visit www.inkinddirect.org or phone 020 7860 5930 or e-mail info@inkinddirect.org

In Kind Direct, 19 Milk Street, London EC2V 8AN. Contact: Lindsay Swan

Over the last few years numerous local environmental projects have benefited from Landfill Tax funding whereby a proportion of tax collected by landfill operators is diverted to support schemes put forward by local groups. For information on the criteria for applications and how to apply contact Groundwork Thames Valley on 01895 832662. As a registered Environmental Body, Groundwork have received over £1.25 million from landfill operators in Berkshire including Summerleaze, Grundon, SITA, UK Waste and Norlands Foundation.

Projects supported range from developing riverside walks, cycleways, building new playgrounds, refurbishing village halls, introducing waste minimisation schemes and creating community open spaces.

Bracknell Forest Council encourages applications from voluntary groups and organisations within the community for grant aid for both large projects and smaller initiatives requiring awards of under £200. Examples of previous grants include:

• A grant of £500 to Winkfield and Ascot Horticultural Society to help with the regeneration of a sunken garden at Heatherwood Hospital
• Sandhurst Town Football Club was awarded £925 for the development of their grounds and facilities
• £1000 was granted to Crowthorne C of E Primary School to create a 'Living Tree Garden' area within the school grounds

For further details on the grants scheme and an application form please contact the Partnership Officer on 01344 352296.

Run by the Conservation Foundation, the Parish Pump programme helps groups who have identified a local environmental project in need of funding to progress it from 'the idea' stage.

The North Wessex Downs AONB is distributing grants, usually in the order of £250 to £10,000, for sustainable development projects in the AONB. This year (2006) we have new Guidelines and a new on-line Expression of Interest form on the website www.northwessexdowns.org.uk and follow the link from SDF Grant in the navigation bar.

The Sustainable Development Fund scheme provides grants for innovative, sustainable projects that involve local communities, and in particular young people. The North Wessex Downs has secured up to £100,000 from the Countryside Agency to be distributed to projects before 31 March 2007.

The scheme is open to voluntary and community groups, schools, businesses, local authorities and partnerships. These may be located within or outside the AONB. Grants can be used to add value to existing projects as well as pump-prime and match fund new projects.

Take a look at the website www.northwessexdowns.org.uk to read about the 17 projects that received SDF grants last year.

For further information, please contact the SDF Co-ordinator Wendy Tobitt on grants@northwessexdowns.org.uk or call 01488 680456.

The AONB covers most of west Berkshire, and parts of south Oxfordshire, east Wiltshire and north Hampshire. Visit www.northwessexdowns.org.uk, go to Introduction and then Map.

The Naturesave Trust is a registered charity supporting projects with a long term benefit which deal with the root of a problem as opposed to merely reacting to the effect. The projects considered must be from environmental and conservation groups who seek capital funding for specific projects. Information and application form from Matthew Criddle, The Naturesave Trust, 58 Fore St, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5RU Tel: 01803 864390, Fax: 01803 864441, E-mail: mail@naturesave.co.uk or website: www.naturesave.co.uk

Thames Water's Environment and Community programme may be able to help your school, youth or conservation group with financial assistance for pond construction and wetland habitat restoration/creation, often with the assistance of their local employees. Information on Thames Water's involvement in Biodiversity Enhancement Projects in the region is to be found in their Conservation, Access and Recreation Report 2000 available from Thames Water Customer Centre, P O Box 436, Swindon SN38 1TU Tel 0845 9200 800 or visit www.thames-water.com