We aim to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK.

Turner Contemporary

We've launched a new strategy, which will focus our work on three interdependent aims.

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Great Crested Newt

Our Natural World

We want  to ensure that our natural world is restored and protected and that people benefit from that recovery. Working with others, we will contribute to three key impact goals: preserved and improved species health and habitats, clean and healthy freshwater, and sustainable and ethical food.

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Advocacy Academy

A Fairer Future

We want to contribute to a just and anti-racist society, where those most likely to have their rights denied have those rights protected, as well as the opportunity to speak and be heard, and the freedom to express their creativity.  We want to shine new light on areas of need and challenge the cultures, systems and behaviours that stand in the way of change.

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Hijinx Theatre

Creative, Confident Communities

We want to strengthen the bonds in communities, helping local people to build vibrant, confident places where they can fulfil their creative, human and economic potential. Places where the local economy works better for the people who live there, where there is equality of access to arts and culture, and where communities are at the heart of change.

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Our impact

  • £825.5m

    Total grants made since 1961

  • £53.5m

    Grant funding spend in 2020

  • £45m

    Allocation to social investment

  • 65%

    Grants for core or unrestricted costs

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Flexible funder pledge with IVAR

Open and trusting grant-making

We are part of a community of funders committed to open and trusting grant-making, a campaign coordinated by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR).

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Latest

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    22 July 2021

    Esmée's hackathon and me: a young environmentalist’s look into how change is made

    Following a hackathon to address the lack of diversity in the environment sector, Hemlata Pant, a Youth Representative for Action for Conservation, writes about the experience.

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    Addressing the lack of diversity in the environment sector

    We're pleased to share a new report from our Involving Young People Collective summarising the discussions at a hackathon on addressing the lack of diversity in the environment sector. We also share our reflections on what we learned and our next steps for making progress on this.

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    This is it: peat bogs are the UK’s climate superpower

    Funding Manager and Our Natural World Lead, Jenny Dadd, writes why, when it comes to powerful solutions to the nature and climate crises, peat bogs are it.

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    Esmée announces new Director of Creative Confident Communities and A Fairer Future

    We're thrilled to announce the appointment of Veda Harrison as our new Director of Creative, Confident Communities and A Fairer Future.

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