There are many bodies, large and small, that you can approach for funding. Your local councils should be able to provide lists of local funders, and a selection of mainly national funders is listed below. Most have a website which you can link to by clicking on the name. Large horticultural organisations and seed companies with an educational remit may also supply items free of charge.
Alan Titchmarsh Award
The RHS Campaign for School Gardening Alan Titchmarsh Award is to encourage and support schools that have reached level 3 and 4 of the Campaigns benchmarking scheme with an offer, in total, of £250 of National Garden Gift Vouchers to develop their garden further.
Appetite for Action
Helps primary schools tackle a range of sustainability issues through the topic of food. It offers the chance to win £3000 for your school.
The Association of Gardens Trusts
Find your local Gardens Trust; some can provide grants for schools, and most will provide advice.
Awards for All
Lottery-funded grants of between £300 and £10,000 (£5,000 in Wales) for programmes that improve communities and the lives of people within them.
B&Q Better Neighbour Grants
Schools, community groups and charities can apply to their local store for funding in the form of £50 to £500 worth of materials for a project that involves and benefits the local community. Local stores also donate waste and surplus materials to community groups, charities and schools.
BBC Children in Need
Provides grants to projects in the UK that focus on children and young people who are disadvantaged.
Biffaward Small Grants Scheme
A multi-million pound fund that awards grants to community and environmental projects across the United Kingdom.
Big Lottery Fund
Every year BIG gives out millions of pounds from the National Lottery to good causes. The money goes to community groups and to projects that improve health and wellbeing, education and the environment.
Britannia Building Society Foundation
Offers grants and donations of between £1,000 and £25,000 to registered charities and schools working within education, particularly with numeracy or financial literacy.
Capital Growth
A London-based project to create 2012 new food-growing spaces across London by the end of 2012. Practical help, grants, training and support are all available (available to London schools only).
The Conservation Foundation
Manages several environmental award schemes.
The Co-operative Group
Provides funding for charitable community projects that are in line with the Co-operative Group's values and principles.
Creative Partnerships
Fosters long-term partnerships between schools and creative professionals. Can be used in school grounds development.
CSV Action Earth
Provides grants of £50 to £250 to projects in Scotland that will help support and encourage Scottish biodiversity.
David Bellamy Award for Environmental Cleanliness
£8000 award provided by the British Institute of Cleaning Science for environmental improvements. For details email info@bics.org.uk or phone
01604 678710.
Ecoartcards
Eco Art Cards are a business based in Cottingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire and run fund raising art card projects with schools and nurseries throughout the UK.
The Ernest Cook Trust
Provides grants to support projects that aim to raise young people's interest in the countryside, the environment or the arts.
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Their Main Fund provides grants for projects in these areas: the arts, education and learning, the environment and enabling disadvantaged people to participate fully in society. Additional strands of funding are set up from time to time and there is currently one for Food.
Forest Education Initiative
Aims to increase the understanding and appreciation of trees, woodlands and forests and of the link between trees and wood products. Works through local groups that may have access to local funding.
Fundraising for Schools
Subscription-based magazine with fundraising advice and information.
The Garfield Weston Foundation
Offers grants to a wide variety of organisations, including schools, to help fund charitable activities.
Government Funding
A website from the Directory of Social Change with a comprehensive database of local, regional, national and European government funding sources. Subscriptions from £225 + VAT.
Grants 4 Schools
A website dedicated to schools funding information; covers EU, UK government, National Lottery, charitable trusts and commercial sponsorship. A 12-month subscription costs £99 + VAT or try a 28-day free trial.
GRANTnet
A free-to-use service to help groups and small businesses to find suitable funding. The website uses a step-by-step questionnaire to provide information from a database of more than 4,000 grants, loans and other initiatives.
The Hedley Foundation
Provides grants of up to £5000 for projects run by charities to support the education, recreation, training, health and welfare of young people.
How to Fundraise
Website with lots of practical advice and fundraising ideas from the Institute of Fundraisers.
The John Muir Award
The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. It encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration.
Learning Exchange Awards
Run by ContinYou, these awards recognise outstanding practice in extended services provision.
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation
Administers several funds that provide grants of £500 to £5000 for projects involving people in the local community in Leicestershire or Rutland.
London Tree and Woodland Grant Scheme
The Forestry Commission, Groundwork London and the Mayor of London are working together to improve the trees and woodlands of London. For London schools only.
Lottery Funding
A joint website run by all the lottery funders in the UK. It allows you to search for information on all current funding programmes.
Lush Charity Pot
The Handmade Cosmetics Company provides grants from a few hundred pounds to a maximum of £10,000 to small, grassroots organisations working in the areas of environment, animal protection and human rights.
Morrisons Let’s Grow
Collect vouchers in autumn, when shopping in Morrisons, and redeem them the following spring. A wide range of gardening supplies available, everything from seeds to complete greenhouses.
Nat West Community Force
This scheme offers awards of up to £6000 to projects shortlisted by bank branches then voted on by the public. Awards are made once a year and entries must be submitted by early September.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation
Offers grants of up to £5000 to local groups in Northamptonshire for projects that benefit the community.
O2 Think Big
Apply to start a Think Big project and receive up to £300 cash. Eligible for pupils ages 13 - 25.
Oldham Metro Rotary Club
Offers support to Oldham schools registered with the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.
Prince's Trust Community Cash Awards
Funding of up to £3000 to support youth-led projects that will benefit the community.
Reciproc8 Recycling
Recycles old mobile phones and printer cartridges in exchange for seeds and plants, gardening equipment, outdoor furniture, school visits and transport costs.
Recycool
Recycles mobile phones and printer cartridges in exchange for cash.
The Royal Society
Offers grants of up to £3000 to help schools fund practical science projects in partnership with a professional scientist or engineer.
The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
Group of 18 trusts, of which the most likely to fund school gardening projects are: The Ashden Trust (with a focus on climate change and sustainable development); The Woodward Charitable Trust (interests include environmental projects with a strong educational element); The JJ Charitable Trust (environmental education and sustainability); The Mark Leonard Trust (environmental education and the rehabilitation of young offenders).
SITA Trust’s Enriching Nature Programme
Supports community and biodiversity projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Summerfield Charitable Trust
Distributes grants to a wide variety of good causes in Gloucestershire.
Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards
Provides one-off donations of £500 to £4000 for local projects that support children, their education and welfare, elderly people, or adults and children with disabilities.
Tesco for Schools and Clubs
Collect vouchers that can be redeemed for a wide range of equipment, including items to support gardening and wildlife activities.
Tickets for Schools
An innovative way for schools to raise money through earning commission on ticket sales to shows, attractions and events around the world.
The Tree Council
Their Trees for Schools Fund offers grants of up to £700 to support tree-planting projects in school grounds.
Trust Funding
Lists details of all local and national trusts in the UK. An annual subscription costs £250 + VAT, but is free to PTAs that are members of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations. Contact David Newburry at NCPTA on 01732 375462.
Waitrose Community Matters
Each month, every Waitrose store has £1,000 to divide between three local organisations. Contact your local branch for more details. To find your local branch click here.
Watermark Award (Wessex Water)
Grant scheme that helps fund environmental projects in Wessex Water region.
Woodland Grant Scheme
Forestry Commission grants to support the creation and management of woodlands in England, Scotland and Wales.
Information compiled by: Education Department, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB