Apply for the Youth Climate Action Fund

3 February 2025

We’re supporting young people to take climate action in their cities.

The Youth Climate Action Fund is a grant programme from Bloomberg Philanthropies that supports young people to take climate action in their cities. Following the successful completion of the first round of funding, Bristol City Council has secured a further grant from the Youth Climate Action Fund to provide micro-grants to youth organisations in Bristol.

Last year, the InterClimate Network captured the climate perspectives of 11-24 year olds across Bristol. This research highlighted that young people are eager to support climate action but lack opportunities to do so. The Youth Climate Action Fund allows more young people to have their voices heard, shaping their communities and making positive changes. 

The Centre for Sustainable Energy is supporting the fund by administering grants on behalf of Bristol City Council.

Which projects are eligible?

Your organisation can apply for between £800 and £3,500 to fund a youth-led project in Bristol. The project must be new and not a continuation of an existing project. It must take place within the Bristol City Council area between April and 31 October 2025. Please note applications are now closed.  

To be eligible, the project must fulfil these criteria:

• The project is primarily designed, led and implemented by young people between the ages of 15 and 24.
• The project can be organised by adults but must be proposed by youth.
• It should involve at least one youth leader (aged 15-24) or be able to evidence that the project has been co-designed with young people.
• We will prioritise funding projects with the most significant youth involvement.
• The organisation proposing the project is legally recognised or partnering with a legally recognised organisation (see application for for more details).
• The application is complete and groups must be prepared to submit reporting documents.  
• The project will help further the goals in the One City Climate Strategy (see summary here). The main goal is for Bristol to be is carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030. 

Here are some frequently asked questions about the grants.

Projects must be youth-led

Each successful project must demonstrate high impact with innovative approaches and clear goals. The project should include one or more of the following, and be led and implemented by youth:

• Young people taking action to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change. 
• Young people taking action to make their community more resilient to the impacts of climate change. 
• Raising awareness of climate change among young people. 
• Helping young people communicate to others about climate change in their communities or more widely. 
• Offering young people access to training, education and skills that will equip them to take practical action on climate change and contribute to fairer climate action. 
• Building the resilience and capacity of young people to deal with the challenges of facing a changing climate and connect to nature. 

Redcatch Community Garden – a story from last year’s fund

In the first round of the Youth Climate Action Fund, Redcatch Community Garden worked with their Youth Climate Project group of young people not in education, employment or training to create a sustainable flowerbed. It features drought-resistant plants, habitats for wildlife and reused materials. The Climate Bed encourages visitors to reflect on their behaviours and take steps to lessen their environmental impact by asking, “The climate is changing… Are you?” Read more about their project.