The Nature Hubs Fund - FAQs

FAQs: NATURE HUBS GRANT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We’ve pulled together some commonly asked questions regarding Nature Hubs grant funding.

What to do if your answer isn’t here: Find out more about Nature Hubs funding on our website, including: • Application guidance (including eligibility criteria) • Terms and conditions

What’s the aim of the fund?

The Nature Hubs Fund will help bring nature closer to people and people closer to nature through projects that fit into one of four themes: increasing access, bringing people together, upskilling the community, and building climate resilience.

Recent Hubbub polling shows more than a third of people (36%) in the UK spend less than an hour a week in green or natural space, and more than half face a barrier to accessing nature. However, we know many excellent groups are already striving to bring more green spaces to their communities. To support and enhance this work, we’re funding around 50 green space initiatives with up to £6,000 of funding per project.

How is the fund funded?

The Nature Hubs Fund is funded by public donations via the Starbucks 5p Cup Charge.

What is the 5p cup charge?

Hubbub is working with Starbucks to build stronger, greener communities. When Starbucks customers bring in a reusable cup, they receive a 25p discount, or if they’ve forgotten their cup, they are charged 5p for a single-use cup. These 5ps are donated to Hubbub, and we’re using them to run campaigns that are good for the planet and for people, including The Nature Hubs Fund.

Who’s this funding for?

This funding is open to all registered organisations who meet the criteria (see application guidance), except political party organisations, local councils, sole traders or individuals.

We can fund:

• • •

Non-profit organisations such as voluntary, youth or community groups, resident groups, community associations, schools, and more.

For profit companies, only where the project clearly meets the fund criteria delivering strong community and nature access benefits.

Community Interest Companies and Social Enterprises

Sorry, we cannot fund: • • • • • •

Party political organisations.

Local authorities/councils.

Sole traders or individuals.

Organisations and projects in Northern Ireland.

Organisations that are not within 5km of a Starbucks store.

Organisations who’ve received Food Hubs grant funding through Hubbub after 1st July.

Can I apply for a project outside of the United Kingdom?

This funding is for UK-based projects only, and specifically for projects based in England, Wales or Scotland. Unfortunately, we are not currently able to fund projects in Northern Ireland.

Why does my project need to be within 5km of a Starbucks store?

Starbucks and Hubbub are working together to bring more publicly accessible green spaces to the communities Starbucks serves. As part of this, Nature Hub projects will be connected with their local Starbucks store, which may be able to donate used coffee grounds to support healthy soil, donate coffee and snacks for community events, provide volunteers to help build the green space or advertise community activities via instore community boards, etc. Ensuring projects are within 5km of stores makes it easier for projects and stores to connect.

How should I measure the distance from my project site to a Starbucks store?

The distance from a Starbucks store is as the crow flies. You can find a map of all Starbucks stores here: please check the application guidance for more information on how to measure distance in km from a Starbucks store.

If you know your project is near to a Starbucks store (within 5k) but are struggling to measure it exactly, don’t worry we’ll check you’re within 5km based on the project location postcode provided. Feel free to email us (naturehubs@hubbub.org.uk) to check if you’re not sure or need help.

Can schools apply?

A school itself could apply but only if the site is fully open to the public without having to access it via the school. A garden within a school would not be eligible in this case, but if there was a green space near a school that was publicly accessible without going through the school, this would be ok.

Can a national organisation submit applications in multiple locations?

Yes, if you have an idea for multiple projects that are within 5km of different Starbucks stores, you are welcome to submit applications for multiple projects.

Can a voluntary organisation or PTA group apply?

We are currently unable to fund a voluntary organisation unless they are applying in partnership with a registered organisation e.g. a charity, which would receive the funding on their behalf. The exception to this would be a volunteer-led CIC which has its own legal status and bank account.

Can we apply for funding for an existing green space, or does funding have to be used to create a new one?

The Nature Hubs Fund can go towards enhancing an existing green space, but this must be a space with a specific post code, e.g. an existing community garden. If the funding is primarily intended to increase access to an existing space, please note at least 25% of requested funds must go to enhancing the green space physical environment itself.

Does the site have to be publicly accessible 24/7?

If your project site is not publicly accessible 24/7, the space must be open to the public during widely available opening hours. We could not fund, for example, a garden you must access through a building that is private and only open to building residents, or that is only open for a few hours a week. However, a community hub that is open to the wider community during reasonable opening hours would generally be considered publicly accessible.

Can I apply for less than £3,000 or more than £6,000?

We are only able to fund projects between £3-6k (in the application form, you’ll be asked to round your budget to the nearest £500, e.g. £4,500). If you have an idea for a smaller project, we suggest considering how your project could have bigger/ wider impact or how you might partner with other local groups to scale up the work.

What type of activities are applicable?

In a nutshell, Nature Hubs will bring people closer to nature and nature closer to people.

We will support groups to create or enhance green spaces: applications must meet the criteria outlined in the application guidance and relate to any of these four themes:

1. Increasing Access • To bring green space to an area where there is limited access to nature, e.g., by creating or enhancing a community garden, a green roof, increasing biodiversity in an urban area, or other similar ideas. And/or to encourage a particular demographic who might not otherwise or rarely access an existing green space to visit.

2. Bringing People Together • To bring people together and create community connection in/around a shared green space. Think activities like community growing, plant sharing, coffee and chats, or youth activities.

3. Upskilling the Community • To teach community members new skills and encourage health and wellbeing through spending time in green space Think workshops and/or events taking place in green spaces, how-to guides on increasing nature connection, or training around nature-based activities.

4. Building Climate Resilience • To make an existing space more climate resilient and engage the local community on climate issues. Think changes to buildings and urban spaces that increase resilience to heatwaves, drought, coastal flooding, or sea-level rise, while fostering community connection in the green space.

What can the funding be spent on?

Please read through the full terms and conditions for more information. As a summary, groups can spend the funding on: • • • • • • •

Materials relating to the nature hub activity (e.g., plants, gardening equipment, tools, paint) Utilities relating to the delivery of the project activity (e.g., power or water) Display materials, signage, and information Services from external suppliers such as building labour costs, garden design, etc.

Staffing costs to cover the time spent planning and delivering any activity Volunteer expenses such as public transportation costs, materials & refreshments for volunteering days Training for the activity delivery team such as safeguarding.

If applying to fund a person(s) time, 75% of funds may go toward the salary, but 25% must relate directly to creating or enhancing the green space. E.g., you might be looking to fund a new position to bring more people to an existing green space, but at least 25% of funding must be spent on the space itself.

What is the timeline for applications and payments?

Date

Action th

Thursday 9 of November

Applications open at 9am

Thursday 11th of January

Applications close at 3:00pm

January – February 2024

Groups might be asked for more information

Before end of February 2024

Groups receive notification as to whether successful or unsuccessful First payment installation after signing the Grant Fund Agreement, 80% Second payment installation, 10% upon completion of light touch, 6-month reporting Final payment, 10% upon completion of final reporting

February/March 2024 August 2024 February/March 2025

Can I apply for Nature Hubs funding if I have received funding from Hubbub for a Food Hub through the Community Fridge Network?

You will not be eligible for Nature Hubs funding if you received Food Hubs grant funding through Hubbub after February 2023.

Please note The Nature Hubs Fund is different from Food Hub and Community Fridge funding, which groups can apply for as well as Nature Hub funding.

Can I apply for Nature Hubs funding if I have received funding from Hubbub for a Greener Communities project?

You will not be eligible for Nature Hubs funding if you were one of the 10 projects that received funding through the Hubbub and NHSCT Greener Communities fund in May 2023.

Please note that the Greener Communities fund is opened solely to NHS charities, while the Nature Hubs fund is open to a wider range of organisations. If you previously submitted an application for the Greener Communities fund, were unsuccessful and are now applying for Nature Hubs funding, please note that all Nature Hubs projects must be publicly accessible and open to the wider community. Please review the application guidance before beginning your application to ensure your proposed project meets all the Nature Hubs requirements.

Will you provide feedback if my application is unsuccessful?

Hubbub will inform all applicants of the outcome of their application before the end of February 2024. Unfortunately, due to the number of applications, and having a small team, we will be unable to provide individual feedback. We will, however, share common feedback on where applications did not meet the criteria.

Can the funding cover marketing and promotion costs?

Yes, but these will need to be directly attributed to the promotion and marketing of the activity for which you receive the funding.

Should our budget include VAT?

VAT is generally excluded from grant funds, so please exclude VAT in your budget as for your salary costs relating to your Nature Hubs initiative, etc.

The exception however is for any external costs you incur which you will need to pay VAT on (e.g. payment for third party goods and services), so in this instance please do include the full gross cost (including VAT).

Can I speak to Hubbub about the fund?

Our ambition is to maintain a fair and transparent process. For this reason, we can provide answers to commonly asked questions relating to the grant and application process, but we cannot provide any advice which might advantage individual applications.

In the first instance, please have a look at the application guidance and the fund terms and conditions, which are also available on the website here.

I’m not eligible for Nature Hubs funding. Where else could I get funding?

It’s worth having a look into Heritage Fund’s funding for landscapes, parks, nature and green spaces here. We wish you the best of luck finding funding for your nature initiative!

How can I get in touch if I still have questions?

If you have any further questions regarding these FAQs or The Nature Hubs Fund, please email us at naturehubs@hubbub.org.uk.

Please note: the Hubbub office will be closed from December 20th, 2023 through January 2nd, 2024. We will not be monitoring the inbox over the festive period, but we will be able to reply to queries about the fund when the Hubbub office reopens.

Good luck with your application!