Funding & Grants



The North Wessex Downs LEADER programme offers grants up to £50,000 (and more in exceptional cases).

This programme brings significant funding and new business opportunities to farmers, foresters, NGOs, community groups and local businesses in the North Wessex Downs.

LEADER pages explain the criteria and how to apply.

You will have expert support at every stage of the application process.

The Sustainable Development Fund, or SDF, offers grants of up to £10,000 to community groups, parish councils and businesses.

SDF pages give you
  • guidelines to help fill in the Expression of Interest and Application forms,
  • access to the forms
  • information about past projects funded by SDF grants.
The North Wessex Downs AONB has run the SDF grant scheme since 2003.


This is a free to use service to help you identify suitable funding for your activities and projects.

Community and voluntary groups, sports and other clubs, schools, social enterprises and small businesses can search across a huge range of funding sources on GRANTnet.

The North Wessex Downs AONB subscribes to GRANTnet to support local communities.




©North Wessex Downs AONB