The Red Squirrel Recovery Network has opened a £250,000 community grants scheme to bring local groups, schools, and conservation enthusiasts directly into the effort to save Britain’s most endangered native mammal. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and launched during Red Squirrel Awareness Week in October 2026, the scheme is designed to be as accessible as possible, welcoming applicants with little or no previous conservation experience.
About the Red Squirrel Recovery Network Community Grants Scheme
Administered by the Red Squirrel Recovery Network (RSRN), with Northumberland Wildlife Trust serving as the lead project organization, the scheme is part of a five-year recovery project that began in 2025. The RSRN brings together conservation partners and volunteer groups across Northumberland, Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, and southern Scotland to protect a species now estimated at just 287,000 individuals across Britain, a population that conservationists warn could disappear from Cumbria, Northumberland, and the North Pennines within 25 years. The scheme treats red squirrel conservation as both a wildlife and a heritage issue, aiming to reconnect generations of people with a species that many older communities remember from childhood.
Funding Size
- Smaller grants: up to £500 for community activities and engagement projects
- Larger grants: up to £5,000 for projects with wider reach and deeper community impact
- Total pot: £250,000 distributed over the five-year project period
- Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Who Can Apply
- Community groups, schools, and local organizations in the RSRN’s geographic area
- Volunteer conservation groups working on red squirrel-related activities
- Groups with no prior conservation experience are welcome to apply
- The scheme is designed to remove barriers and encourage broad community participation
Geographic Eligibility
- Northern England and southern Scotland only
- Eligible regions include Northumberland, Cumbria, Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, and southern Scotland
Sector or Thematic Focus
- Red squirrel conservation and species awareness
- Community wildlife walks and squirrel-themed events
- Creative workshops inspired by red squirrels
- Visits to red squirrel sites and minibus hire for community access
- Improvements to heritage or natural spaces linked to red squirrel conservation
Read Also: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Grant – Apply Now
Application Process
Applications are submitted online through the RSRN’s dedicated community grants page at nwt.org.uk. The process is intentionally straightforward and proportionate to the scale of the activity proposed. For eligibility queries before applying, prospective applicants can contact the RSRN team directly by email.
Required Materials
- Completed online application form
- Description of the proposed activity and its connection to red squirrel conservation or awareness
- Budget outlining how grant funds will be used
Key Dates
- Applications open: October 2026
- Rolling applications accepted for the duration of the five-year project
Read Also: Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Grants – Apply Now
Selection Notes
- Grants are assessed based on relevance to red squirrel conservation or heritage, community reach, and value for money
- Both new and established community groups are encouraged to apply
- Larger grants up to £5,000 are assessed for wider impact potential