Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants

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Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants support practical projects which help both people and planet health with grants of up to £2,000 to make a positive difference to local communities. 

The scheme is open to non-fee-paying schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK, Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands.

Key priorities for 2026: 

The programme funds practical projects which improve both people’s health and the health of the planet. We expect to fund around 175 projects. This is a popular programme and likely to be oversubscribed. Applying takes time and effort, so we want to be clear about our grant priorities to help you decide whether to apply.  

Priority will be given to projects that:  

• Improve existing green spaces or create new ones in cities, especially in priority areas: London, Staines, Brighton, Leeds, Greater Manchester (in particular Salford), Dublin and Glasgow 
• Take place in areas with the greatest need, meaning areas in the top 20% most deprived, based on official Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) data. Where this data is not available, you must clearly evidence that your project location has high levels of need.
• Have not received a Bupa Foundation Green Community Grant before
• Clearly show how they improve people’s health and the health of the planet 

We may also consider priority to projects that meet the above criteria and are recommended by a named Bupa employee or customer.

Key programme information 

• Applications will open at 5pm on Monday 1 June and close at 23:59 on Tuesday 30 June 2026 
• Applicants will need to complete an online application form 
• Funding decisions will be made by the end of September 2026 

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Who can apply? 

Grants can be awarded to non-fee-paying schools, registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, local authorities and social housing providers. 

Who can’t apply?  

• Individuals 
• Community Interest Companies with shares (CIC’s) 
• Community Interest Companies with guarantee that are less than two years old 
• Profit-making organisations 
• Un-constituted organisations 
• Private, fee-paying schools 

Please see the Guidance Notes for full detail on the eligibility criteria. 

What can you apply for? 

We want to fund practical projects which benefit both people and planet health. Some examples of project ideas could be: 

• Improving a local community garden for community use and recreational activities to improve wellbeing
• Volunteer-led tree or flower planting to improve air quality and biodiversity
• Creating an outdoor classroom, forest school, or natural play area
• Green/living walls in school grounds or community space to improve air quality 
• Planting to reduce flooding and increase biodiversity 
• Creating a community food growing space to be more sustainable and healthier 
• Making a green city space more accessible for example; accessible planters and mud kitchens for wheelchair users or improving or creating paths for walking, wheeling or cycling
• Creating a ‘pocket park’, bringing more greenery into cities for wellbeing

This is not an exhaustive list, and other project ideas are also welcomed. 

What can’t we fund? 

Work that has already taken place or will have taken place before you receive a grant. Please note that you can apply for an ongoing project, however we will only fund it from the date you receive a grant

• Research projects 
• Political donations 
• Fundraising activities or challenges e.g. costs for a sky dive etc. 
• Running costs and organisation overheads – including staff salary costs as long as these are directly for project delivery
• Conferences or seminars 
• Activities which collect funds for redistribution to other charities or individuals 
• Overseas appeals 
• Expeditions or overseas travel 
• Promotion of a religious or political cause 
• Marketing promotions 
• Projects or activities that the state has a legal obligation to provide

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How to apply

The programme will be open for applications from 5pm on 1 June until 23:59 on Tuesday 30 June 2026. 

Step Two:

Supporting documents

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Green Community Grants – the story so far

Since 2023, the Bupa Foundation has invested more than £1.4m in Green Community Grants across the UK and Ireland, as part of Bupa’s #HealthyCities initiative – where Bupa employees, suppliers and customers walk throughout June to unlock money for charity.  

Green Community Grants exist to make deep impact in local communities – empowering schools and community groups to put their ideas into action, making places and spaces greener to help people be healthier. 

Click on the map to view funded projects in 2023, 2024 and 2025

Watch the films below to find out more about the impact the programme has had to date:

Read the Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants Impact Report 2023/24 and 2024/25:

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Further information

If you have any questions, please contact Groundwork on 0121 237 5802 or by email: bupafoundationgreengrants@groundwork.org.uk