Community groups, schools, businesses and parishes are invited to apply to the Sustainable Challenge Fund for 2022. Grants of up to £4,000 are available for projects within the coastal parishes of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area which runs from Combe Martin along the coast to Welcombe. 

The aim of the Challenge Fund is to support projects which have an environmental, community, economic or social benefit to the AONB and is open to community groups, parish councils, agencies, and businesses. 

Past projects have included restoring a church clock tower, digging a pond, restoring nature areas at schools or in a community space, planting hedges or trees in your local parish,bike racks, educational materials, improving physical access, and electric car charging points. A full list of our successful projects from last year can be seen on our website. 

Jenny Carey-Wood, AONB Manager, said “We are delighted to support community initiatives that make improvements to the AONB. The fund was extremely successful last year and supported 19 different projects. This year we are particularly keen to support larger projects up to the value of £4,000. All applications will be assessed by a panel in June. The panel would love to award grants to new, innovative ideas and projects throughout the AONB” 

The 14 eligible parishes this grant scheme covers are:Abbotsham, Alwington, Berrynarbor, Braunton, Clovelly, Combe Martin, Georgeham (& Croyde), Hartland, Ilfracombe, Mortehoe (& Woolacombe), Northam (& Westward Ho!), Welcombe, West Down and Woolsery. 

Applications are open NOW with a deadline of Monday 6th June, with projects needing to be completed by the end of January 2023. Check out the AONB website for more information: www.northdevoncoast-nl.org.uk/our-work/grantsor contact Laura Carolan for an informal chat on 01271 388628 or aonb@devon.gov.uk.