Application Portal
The OCT is running an open-application ‘Spotlight’ fund, where £100,000 is available to highlight and fund work with local people, to take nature-based action on climate change.
We are looking for work that features one or more of our following themes:
REPRESENTATION
Empowering people who are traditionally excluded from climate action due to factors such as their age, disability, gender, race or income.
COHESION
Bringing together different groups of local people under the shared purpose of climate action, building connections and tackling inequalities.
PARTICIPATION
Giving people agency in being part of the climate solution, and feel ownership over shared work.
*The fund will open for applications here on 8th September – information below*
Key Information |
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Area |
Greater Manchester |
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Fund Focus |
Small charities, CICs and groups that engage communities with local, nature-based climate action.
Organisations and groups with an annual income of under £250,000 are invited to apply. |
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Grant Size |
£100,000 is available in grants of between £500 – £5,000. |
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Funding Type |
All categories considered (running costs, new projects, capital, or continuation). |
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Application Deadline |
3rd November 2026 |
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Contact |
All queries to be directed to applications@oglesbycharitabletrust.org.uk |
Full information on Eligibility, How to Apply and the Application Process can be found in the application pack.
Eligibility
- Be based in Greater Manchester, and work in one or more of the ten boroughs
- Work directly with communities, involving beneficiaries in decision-making
- Be able to demonstrate a track record, or a robust plan to deliver impact
- Have a turnover of under £250,000
- Campaign only within Charity Commission boundaries
- Our current or past OCT grantholders
- Private companies limited by shares
- Animal charities, or projects that involve animals as a beneficiary
- Schools
- Organisations that are active outside the UK
- Church and all building fabric appeals
- Charities for which the promotion of religion is their primary purpose
- Conferences
- Awards
- Expeditions
- General sports
- Holidays
- Individuals
- Sponsorship and marketing appeals
- Work exclusively on campaigning or research, rather than direct work with the target group.
The Grant Process
FAQs
This fund is open to small charities and community groups (with a bank account that requires two signatories) based in Greater Manchester, that operate in one or more of the ten boroughs. To apply, your organisation must have an annual turnover of under £250,000, a demonstrable track record in community and/or climate work, and a plan to deliver impact.
No. This grant scheme is specifically designed to reach groups that have never received support from the OCT.
Not at all. As long as your proposed work engages communities directly with local, nature based climate action in Greater Manchester. We welcome applications from community development groups, youth organisations, health and wellbeing projects, and local neighbourhood groups.
Non-profit organisations, including CICs limited by guarantee are welcome to apply. We can fund unconstituted groups but only those with a corporate bank account that requires two signatories. We cannot fund private companies limited by shares; or schools, animal charities, or individuals.
You can request a grant between £500 and £5,000. We offer flexible funding options, including unrestricted funding, core running costs, project delivery, continuation funding or capital purchases. We ask that applications do not cover building costs or contribute towards large-scale capital projects.
Yes. Please see the Eligibility list above, and the Application Pack for full details of what we can and can’t fund.
We recognise that some terms we use in this application pack may be contested, or industry-specific, and we have included a glossary of terms in the Application Pack to explain what we mean by terms such as ‘cohesion’, ‘nature-based action’ and ‘working intersectionally’.
No. To ensure fair access across Greater Manchester, each organisation may submit only one application per funding round.
We recognise that the use of generative AI tools can be hugely beneficial, and we will not discriminate against applications that we believe may have been written with the assistance of AI. However, we want to hear about your ideas in your own voice, as you would describe them.
Unfortunately, we will only contact applicants who have been shortlisted. If you haven’t heard from us by 16th December 2026, your application was not successful on this occasion.
Please do not email our general enquiry address. We have set up a dedicated inbox specifically for this fund at: applications@oglesbycharitabletrust.org.uk
We encourage applicants to email us (applications@oglesbycharitabletrust.org.uk) if you require adjustments to the application process. We are happy to work on an individual basis.