Trust For Oxfordshire's Environment (toe) Ltd

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £2.5 million (community grants to date)
• Total Funds Deployed: £6.9 million for nature
• Projects Funded: 500+
• Grant Range: £500 - £50,000
• Geographic Focus: Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties (Berkshire for species recording)
• Decision Time: 2 weeks (small grants); by end of quarter (standard/impact grants)

Contact Details

• Website: www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk
• Email: admin@trustforoxfordshire.org.uk (general); lef@trustforoxfordshire.org.uk (grant applications)
• Phone: 01865 407003
• Address: The Old Counting House, 82e High Street, Wallingford, OX10 0BS
• Pre-application support: TOE encourages early contact for guidance and feedback throughout the application process

Overview

Founded in 2011, the Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (TOE) exists to protect and restore biodiversity in Oxfordshire with the mission to “halt the decline in nature and help restore its richness.” Since inception, TOE has supported over 500 community environmental projects and distributed £2.5 million in community grants, with £6.9 million total deployed for nature conservation. As a registered charity (1140563) and Environmental Body with ENTRUST (137171), TOE combines grant-making through its Local Environment Fund with larger-scale biodiversity net gain projects. The organization operates through strategic partnerships with local community groups, landowners, and conservation organizations to create biodiverse habitats, protect existing environmental sites, and connect people to their environment across Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Local Environment Fund:

• Small Grants: Up to £2,500 (rolling applications, decisions within 2 weeks)
• Standard Grants: £2,500 - £25,000 (quarterly cycle)
• Impact Grants: £25,000 - £50,000 (quarterly cycle)

TVERC Recorders' Fund:

• Approximately £500 grants for projects improving voluntary species recording in Berkshire and Oxfordshire

Application Schedule:

• Small grants: Rolling basis, apply anytime
• Standard and Impact grants: Quarterly deadlines (January, April, July, October - applications close at midday on the 5th-7th of the month)
• Applicants notified before the end of the quarter in which they applied

Priority Areas

TOE funds projects supporting at least one of three priorities:

1. Access

• Creating new links, circular routes, and traffic-free routes
• Replacing stiles with gates to improve accessibility
• Improving path surfaces and route marking
• Promoting countryside and green space use
• Improving public access to nature

2. Biodiversity

• Creating, protecting, and enhancing natural habitats
• Habitat restoration and improvement
• Wildlife conservation projects
• Supporting nature's recovery
• Species recording and monitoring

3. Community

• Raising awareness about local habitats and wildlife
• Community engagement with natural environments
• Community orchards and gardens
• Wildflower networks
• Educational projects connecting people with nature

Most projects should involve capital works to improve a site, though a proportion of revenue costs can be supported when required to deliver practical projects.

What They Don't Fund

• Projects fulfilling statutory requirements or planning permission conditions
• Projects that have already started
• Energy efficiency projects in community buildings (no longer funded)
• Leaflet production (preference not to fund)
• Revenue costs alone (must support practical capital projects)
• Multiple projects within one community (keen to distribute funds county-wide)

Geographic restriction: Projects funded with landfill tax credits must be within 10 miles of a registered landfill site.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Justin Adams - Chair of Trustees

Justin has spent 25 years working for innovation and sustainability in agriculture, energy, and environmental sectors. Prior to his appointment as Chair, he was Director for Nature Based Solutions at the World Economic Forum. He has supported the launch of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, the UN Food Systems Summit, and the COP26 Climate Summit.

Other Board Members:

• Nick - Emeritus Fellow of Corpus Christi College, former Director of Development with 25+ years professional fundraising experience; founding Director of Oxfordshire Community Foundation
• Martin - Qualified accountant (CIMA) with 20+ years as financial director, largely with Blackwell Science
• David - Solicitor advocate and Partner with Pitmans LLP
• Russel - Chartered Forester and retired Chartered Landscape Architect specializing in integrated land use and management
• Anita - Expert in European funding and transnational work; board member of European and local organizations
• Toni - Environmental Science degree; 25+ years in waste management industry; Head of Compliance at Grundon

Senior Staff

Ben Heaven Taylor - Chief Executive Officer

Ben has lived in Oxfordshire all his life and brings first-hand experience of witnessing wildlife decline and recovery. He states: "I've witnessed first-hand what has happened to our wildlife. Yet I have also seen how concerted action by local people and conservation organisations can turn things around. It's not too late."

Grant Panel

TOE has a Grant Panel comprising experts who volunteer their time to consider each grant application. The panel meets quarterly to assess applications for standard and impact grants.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Pre-application consultation: Contact TOE early to check eligibility and determine which application form to complete
2. Download application form from website
3. Submit via email to lef@trustforoxfordshire.org.uk with supporting documentation
4. Grant panel review: Expert panel assesses applications quarterly
5. Notification: Applicants informed of decision

Decision Timeline

• Small Grants (up to £2,500): Decision within 2 weeks
• Standard Grants (£2,500-£25,000): Notified by end of quarter
• Impact Grants (£25,000-£50,000): Notified by end of quarter

Quarterly Application Deadlines: Applications close at midday on deadline dates in January (5th-7th), April (5th-7th), July (5th-7th), and October (5th-7th).

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, TOE has funded over 500 projects since 2011, demonstrating significant funding activity. The organization actively encourages applications and provides guidance throughout the process.

Reapplication Policy

Subsequent applications welcome: Unlike many funders, TOE explicitly welcomes subsequent applications from groups who have successfully delivered projects, demonstrating a commitment to building long-term relationships with effective organizations.

Policy for unsuccessful applicants not explicitly stated; contact TOE for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from TOE

• Contact early: “We recommend speaking to us at an early stage to check we can fund your project and to find out which application form you need to complete”
• Seek guidance throughout: “We provide guidance and feedback from the very start of the application process to completion of awarded projects”
• First-time applicants supported: TOE supports applications “whether this is your first time applying for a grant or you are a seasoned grant-holder”

Examples of Funded Projects

TOE has funded diverse projects including:

• Habitat management for Hairstreak butterflies on conservation sites
• Backwater creation and in-line ponds to reduce silt and chemical loads
• Dog-entry points at recreational sites
• Community orchards
• Wildflower and grass meadow creation
• Accessible path improvements (replacing stiles with gates)
• Wildlife habitat enhancement and creation
• Species recording and monitoring initiatives

Language and Terminology

TOE emphasizes:

• Nature recovery and biodiversity restoration
• Community engagement and connection with nature
• Practical, capital-based projects with tangible environmental outcomes
• Local action and grassroots conservation
• Collaboration between community groups and conservation organizations

Key Alignment Factors

1. Capital works emphasis: Most projects should involve physical improvements to sites
2. Clear environmental benefit: Demonstrate how the project supports Access, Biodiversity, or Community priorities
3. Local impact: Show benefit to Oxfordshire communities and environment
4. Community involvement: Highlight engagement with local groups and volunteers
5. Long-term sustainability: Projects should have lasting positive impact on nature
6. Geographic distribution: TOE seeks to distribute funds across the county, so projects in under-served areas may be advantageous

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-application contact is strongly encouraged - TOE actively wants to guide applicants from the early stages and help tailor applications appropriately. Don't hesitate to reach out.

• Focus on capital works with environmental outcomes - Demonstrate tangible physical improvements to habitats, access, or community green spaces rather than solely educational or administrative activities.

• Align clearly with Access, Biodiversity, or Community priorities - Explicitly state how your project supports at least one (ideally more) of these three core priorities with specific, measurable outcomes.

• Subsequent applications are welcomed - Successfully delivering a project opens doors for future funding, making TOE an excellent partner for ongoing conservation work.

• Quick decisions for smaller grants - If your project fits within £2,500, you can apply on a rolling basis and receive a decision within weeks, making this an excellent option for time-sensitive community initiatives.

• Geographic distribution matters - TOE wants to support projects across Oxfordshire, so if your community hasn't received recent funding, this may strengthen your application.

• Leadership champions nature recovery - CEO Ben Heaven Taylor and Chair Justin Adams bring global expertise and local passion; frame applications around "halting decline and restoring nature's richness" to align with their vision.

References

• Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment official website: www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk
• Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment - Grants for Local Nature Recovery page: https://www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk/grants-nature-recovery
• Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1140563: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1140563
• Henley Standard: “Charity puts £1m into nature recovery work”: https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/environment/182107/charity-puts-1m-into-nature-recovery-work.html
• Earth Trust: “Oxfordshire farmers play vital role in plan to restore nature by 2030”: https://earthtrust.org.uk/farmers-play-vital-role-in-oxfordshires-plan-to-restore-nature-by-2030/
• Companies House - Company Number 07492087: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07492087
• Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment - About Us: https://www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk/about-us
• Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment - Justin Adams (Chair profile): https://www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk/justin-adams