Funding for young people with innovative digital ideas to help the environment - application deadline 14 July 2017.

Managed by the National Youth Agency, the Environment Now programme is funded by O2 and the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund and is part of the ‘Our Bright Future’ programme.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for young people between the ages of 17 and 24 years for projects that use digital technology to find innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues. This could be, for example, improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, or recycling.

Although the total amount of the grant is £10,000, only £8,300 is available for project costs as £1,200 is to be used to help cover travel costs to events, and 5% of the £10,000 is kept as a retention fee which the grant recipient will receive after successfully completing four project milestones.

In addition to the funding, the programme will provide successful applicants with mentoring, work experience and insight sessions with industry professionals to help bring their ideas to life.

To be eligible, project must:

• Have a designated project leader that is aged between 17 and 24 years. This programme is specifically aimed at young people and the project team must reflect this.
• Have a positive and measurable environmental impact in areas such as energy efficiency or waste and recycling.
• Use digital technology to solve an environmental issue, this could include, but is not limited to:
  • Using digital skills and/or digital connectivity.
  • The use of pre-existing technologies and digital platforms.
  • Using digital research and data management.
• Be based within the UK; although it could have wider benefits.
• Have realistic and achievable objectives within the available funding and timeframe.
• Have sustainable values, considering the project’s impact on the environment and local community.
• Not pay for team salaries, accommodation rent, social trips or any personal expenses that are not related to the project.
• Not support or endorse political parties, religious organisations and extreme activist groups.
• Not be part of an existing project or charity just requiring additional funding to continuing its existing work with no new elements.
• Not require additional funding to complete the Environment Now project objectives.

The next deadline for shortlisting applications is 14 July 2017. There will be another cohort after this deadline so applications will still be open.

External Link

• O2 Think Big - The Environment Now