How to applying for community funding: Great Big Green Week 2026 training

Join us for our first Great Big Green Week 2026 training session, all about how to apply for funding for your community events and initiatives, including Great Big Green Week activities.

Whether you're looking to hone your application writing skills, applying for funding for the first time and don't know where to start, or just want to know more about community funding, this session is for you!

We'll be joined by a number of different funders to provide practical tips and guidance on applying for community funding, and previous Great Big Green Week organisers who will share their experience of sourcing funding for their own events.

You will have the opportunity to learn more about what makes a successful funding application and ask any questions you have about sourcing and applying for funding.

Panelists

Helen Attewell, Futureproof Cumbria
Helen works for local charity Futureproof and coordinates a network of sustainability groups in Cumbria as part of the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership which has a vision of creating ‘a net zero carbon county by 2037 with improved quality of life, people living in balance with their environment and a sustainable low carbon economy’. She has promoted Great Big Green Week in the county over the past 5 years, and sees it as a vital initiative to raise awareness and build engagement with new organisations and individuals and to nurture interest in climate and nature.

Louise Foster, Westmorland and Furness Council
As a Community Development Officer with Westmorland and Furness Council, Louise Foster works with communities to build connections, confidence and capacity. She supports the Climate Action Working Group to increase understanding of the challenges of climate change and to enable people and places to take meaningful, practical action. Louise and Helen work together on Great Big Green Week activity in Cumbria. 

Biplav Pageni, Haringey Council
Biplav works in Haringey Council’s Climate Action team, helping steer the borough’s pathway to net zero through planning policy, climate programmes, and carbon literacy training. For the past three years, he has managed the Haringey Community Carbon Fund, empowering residents, and community groups to design and deliver impactful local climate initiatives.

Chloe Agar, Grow Wild Programme, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew
Chloe works for RBG Kew's national outreach programme, Grow Wild. The programme inspires and supports people across the UK to grow together, learn about nature and give back through volunteering. They offer Community Programme grants and Youth Grants to support people to transform urban spaces for people and wildlife, and to bring local nature projects to life.

Event logistics

• When: Tuesday 27th January, 6-7:30pm
• Where: On zoom (a link will be sent once you've signed up)
• This event will be taking place on Zoom, and closed captioning will be enabled. If you have any other accessibility requirements, please let us know in advance in the sign up form.