Applications for our UK-wide Grow Wild Youth Grant programme are now open! Apply by 3pm on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.
Are you aged 16–25 and live in the UK? Apply for a £500 Grow Wild grant to bring your nature project to life this summer!
We are calling on young individuals to come up with a project idea to champion UK native plants and/or fungi.
Whether you're into sowing or sewing, photography or video making, science or cooking... if you've got an idea, we want to hear from you.
Jump to sections on this page:
What You Get
- A £500 grant for your project. This can be used for anything you might need such as materials, equipment, resources and training to develop your skills.
- Support, online sessions and resources from Grow Wild.
- Opportunities to connect with other participants across the UK and see your project featured in a collective portfolio.
- The chance to complete Kew's Young Environmental Leader Award designed to work alongside your Grow Wild project and recognise your achievements.
Interested in applying, want to know more?
We recently hosted a webinar for applicants and supporting organisation contacts to find out more. You can watch the recording on YouTube via the link below.
Guidance for applicants
If you are under 18, please firstly obtain permission from a parent or guardian before getting started on your application.
You will need to find a Supporting Organisation to help you deliver the project. Projects can be started in May and must be completed by the end of October 2026.
Application Deadline: 3pm on Wednesday, 18 March 2026
How to apply
Grow Wild is looking for…
Projects that focus on UK native plants and/or fungi.
Projects that will involve others - you should aim to share your project with at least 100 people. This can include people taking part in person and engaging with online or social media content about your project.
Projects that benefit others - think about the positive impact your project will have on other people and tell us all about it!
Projects that will make good use of the £500 grant - tell us how you will use the money to make the biggest impact. You can use the grant to pay for any equipment or materials, training, resources, or expert help you need. Please note that the grant cannot be used to pay yourself a wage or salary.
Project ideas that are ambitious and interesting, but also sound well planned and realistic to complete - read our extra tips for more inspiration.
6 tips for your Grow Wild Youth Project application
Important: If you have a particular space or venue in mind for your project activities, you need to get written permission from the owner or manager before applying. Grow Wild may ask to see evidence of this permission before awarding you a grant.
Projects cannot take place in open countryside, conservation areas, or protected sites like SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest).
Grow Wild can’t support growing projects that require planning permission, due to the programme timelines.
Projects that involve foraging are not eligible for funding.
If you’re unsure whether your idea meets the criteria, get in touch!
Select a youth, community, or education-focused organisation to assist with your project. Consider existing connections or approach local organisations such as your school or university, a youth group, charity or local authority. Please note that your Supporting Organisation contact cannot be a family member.
Your Supporting Organisation will:
help you run your project
hold the £500 grant on your behalf
ensure you can complete your project safely
When seeking support from an organisation, show them the guidance for Supporting Organisations, so they know what’s expected of them.
If you are under 18, please make sure the organisation is aware of this. Everyone under 18 must also obtain permission from a parent/guardian before applying.
Your video should be no longer than two minutes. That’s it!
You don’t need any fancy equipment for this – just a mobile phone is fine. There are lots of ways to create your video, (we’re more interested in your ideas than your film making skills)
You don't have to be on camera.
You could provide an audio or subtitled description.
You could interview other members of your group or wider community, explaining why the project idea is fantastic.
If creating a video is difficult for you due to specific access needs, please contact Grow Wild to discuss a suitable alternative.
In the video please include:
A catchy project name
Your project idea and how you plan to bring it to life
How your project will champion UK native plants and/or fungi
The ways your project will involve and benefit others
Where your project will take place
A summary of how you will spend the £500
To include your video in your application, please upload it to a video‑sharing platform such as Google Drive, YouTube or Canva, and then paste the link into the application form. Check the privacy settings to make sure your video isn’t publicly discoverable if you don’t want it to be, but make sure Grow Wild will have access to view the video. For more guidance on how to upload and share your video:
How-to-upload-and-share-your-video-Youth-Grants-2026.pdfImportant: Please ensure that you have consent from everyone featured in the video and inform them that it will be shared with Grow Wild. If you or any young people in the video application are under 18, a parent/guardian must give consent for their taking part.
You will be asked to include contact details for yourself and the person who will be assisting from your Supporting Organisation. It’s important that you are both contactable by Grow Wild throughout the summer.
Ask your Supporting Organisation to send you a copy of their safeguarding children and vulnerable adults policy and procedures. You will be asked to upload this in the application form.
You'll receive an email notification to let you know if your application has been successful by the end of April 2025.
Good luck!
Guidance for Supporting Organisations
The role of the Supporting Organisation is to support a young person to apply for a £500 Grow Wild grant and run their own exciting project.
Here you will find guidance about the role of a Supporting Organisation and which organisations are eligible. Make sure you have also read the guidance for applicants.
Projects must have a Supporting Organisation with a designated contact person to work with them.
Eligible Supporting Organisations will receive the grant on behalf of the applicant they’re working with, as Grow Wild is not able to make payments to individuals.
While the Grow Wild team offers general support to young people, guidance on day-to-day project management falls under the responsibility of the Supporting Organisation.
To participate, young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own projects (excluding those with additional support needs).
Supporting Organisations can assist multiple projects, provided they are all distinct.
As a Supporting Organisation you must be:
1. An established and relevant organisation that is charitable in purpose or not for profit. In particular:
- voluntary, youth or community group
- education body
- arts or environmental charity
- local authority or other council body
- health authority
2. Able to provide a member of staff or volunteer who will:
- liaise with Grow Wild.
- support the young person/group as required e.g. with access to facilities and equipment, publicising activities, providing advice and guidance, safeguarding individuals under 18 or vulnerable adults.
- remain contactable during the full project period.
This staff member can’t be of any family connection to the young person completing the project.
3. Financially responsible for the project with:
- a bank account in the name of their organisation or in the name of the local authority or public sector body where relevant.
The following organisations are not eligible:
- private businesses that operate for profit and have no social purpose
- organisations with a solely commercial purpose
- Assist with the application and grant management:
- Support the young person/group with planning their project and preparing their application.
- Provide the applicant with a copy of your organisation’s safeguarding children and vulnerable adults policy and procedures. The applicant will be required to upload this in the application form.
- Ensure that written permission is in place from the owner or manager of any spaces or venues where project activities will be delivered.
- Receive the grant on behalf of the young person.
- Ensure that the funding is spent as outlined in the application and in accordance with Grow Wild’s guidelines.
Please note that Grow Wild can’t support growing projects delivered in open countryside, conservation or protected areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
Grow Wild also can't fund projects requiring planning permission, due to the programme timelines.
2. Communication and oversight:
- Support the young person with the day-to-day delivery of the project, including regular meetings to discuss progress, and provide advice and guidance as needed.
- Contact Grow Wild if you become aware that the project is not being delivered as planned.
3. Health, safety and accessibility:
- Discuss and plan with the young person how the project will be delivered safely.
- Ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of everyone participating throughout the project, including safeguarding under 18s and vulnerable adults.
- Ensure the project is accessible to all participants, including those with additional support needs.
- Document submission
Grow Wild will need to see a copy of the following documents before funding will be released:
- Constitution (or a similar document agreed upon by the Supporting Organisation) outlining the organisation's purpose and objectives, or evidence that the organisation is part of a local authority or other public sector body.
- Safeguarding policy and procedures.
Additional documents and evidence of relevant disclosure checks (specific to the country) may be requested if an application is successful, including:
- Equal opportunities policy.
- Health and safety policy and procedures.
- Public liability insurance suitable for the proposed project.
- Volunteering guidelines.
- Written permission from the owner or manager of any spaces or venues where activities will be delivered.
In cases where the project involves young people under 18s and/or vulnerable adults, the Supporting Organisation holds the following additional responsibilities:
- Ensure parental/guardian consent is in place for:
- The young person to apply, lead and participate in activities delivered as part of the project (*see note below).
- The young person to feature in the application video.
2. Disclosure checks and safeguarding:
- Ensure that all staff and volunteers working with the project have a disclosure check (that is relevant for their UK location and related activities) and have received the appropriate training to support young person and their activities.
- Safeguard children under 18 and/or vulnerable adults whilst they are taking part in the project (including any related online and social media activity).
* Due to Kew’s data protection and safeguarding policies, where project applicants are under 18, Grow Wild will always contact the Supporting Organisation in all communications about the application and, if funded, the project.
** If you are supporting an application from a young person with additional support needs, we invite you to contact Grow Wild . This is so we can discuss the best way for Grow Wild to support and communicate with them about their project.
All successful applicants are invited to complete the Kew Young Environmental Leader Award (YELA) alongside their project. This award aims to empower young leaders, building their skills and confidence to drive environmental change in their communities. Designed to align seamlessly with their Grow Wild Youth Project, it ensures successful applicants make the most of the grant opportunity and gain recognition from The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to add to their CV or portfolio.
Sign-up to the award is optional, but we encourage you to support your applicants to take part. Grow Wild will provide guidance, resources, and feedback. Your role involves day-to-day support, addressing questions and planning progress check-ins, to ensure completion of the award on time.
We are committed to ensuring this opportunity is accessible to all. If your applicant has additional support needs or they are a vulnerable adult, Grow Wild is pleased to offer extra support and alternative completion arrangements. Please contact us to discuss reasonable adjustments.
Brilliant opportunity - I am so glad I took the chance to apply. I didn't have a lot of confidence in my ability to deliver a project like this before, I always thought I wasn't good enough to do it myself. Thank you for letting me learn that trying, and putting your hand up for the opportunity is half the battle!
Ready to apply?
To apply for a 2026 Grow Wild Youth Grant, fill in our online application form by 3pm, Wednesday 18 March 2026.
Before applying, please make sure you have carefully read our application guidance with your Supporting Organisation contact.
FAQs
This is a unique opportunity to bring your own project vision to life!
You’ll be taking positive action for biodiversity and your community.
You'll get to connect to, inspire and have fun with others.
It’s a great way to add experience to your CV or portfolio.
Not at all!
In fact, we particularly like receiving applications from people who don’t already know much about our UK native species.
Running your own project is a great way to learn. We're looking for enthusiasm and interesting project ideas.
In the UK we’re lucky to have a wonderful variety of native plant and fungi species. As well as bringing colour and interest to our lives, they provide vital food sources and shelter for insects, birds and other wildlife.
Many UK native species are in decline, particularly in urban areas.
We're glad you asked...
The Kew Young Environmental Leader Award (YELA) acknowledges the leadership skills you will develop and demonstrate through delivering your Grow Wild project.
By completing the award alongside your Grow Wild project, you will have access to exclusive online training and resources. The award is designed to complement your Grow Wild project, offering recognition from The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to add to your CV or portfolio.
Read more about the Kew Young Environmental Leader Award
We encourage everyone receiving a Grow Wild Youth Project Grant to complete the award but sign up is optional. Full details and sign-up information will be provided to successful applicants on receipt of their project grants.
Seeking inspiration?
We’ve funded and supported 362 young people to run their own project since 2014. You could be next...
