Uk National Parks Charity Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £90,004 (FY 2023)
• Annual Income: £184,616 (FY 2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Varies (partnership-based)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: All 15 UK National Parks across England, Wales, and Scotland

Contact Details

Main Contact:

• Address: Dalmar House, Barras Lane, Dalston, Carlisle, CA5 7NY
• Phone: 01874 624437
• Email: enquiries@breconbeacons.org
• Website: https://nationalparks.co.uk/national-parks-charity-foundation/

Partnership Enquiries:

• Contact: Lisa Sensier, Senior Development Manager, National Parks Partnerships
• Email: lisa.sensier@nationalparks.co.uk
• Partnership Email: partnerships@nationalparks.co.uk

Overview

The UK National Parks Charity Foundation (Registered Charity No. 1182566 in England & Wales; SC049846 in Scotland) was established in 2019 as a cross-border Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The foundation exists to preserve, conserve, and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the UK's 15 National Parks while promoting sustainable development and public education. Operating through National Parks Partnerships (NPP), the foundation creates bespoke corporate partnerships aligned to businesses' ESG strategies, bringing together companies, investors, and environmental funders to inspire positive change for people, nature, and climate. The foundation has worked with influential global brands including BMW UK, Santander UK, Howdens, and Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland to deliver funding for nature restoration, education, and access initiatives across all UK National Parks.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate traditional grant programmes but instead funds projects through corporate partnerships. Funding is distributed to projects across all 15 UK National Parks in the following areas:

• Nature Restoration Projects: Funding for forest, wetland, meadow, and peatland restoration
• Education and Access Programmes: Supporting young people and community groups to connect with National Parks
• Infrastructure Development: Including EV charging points and sustainable transport initiatives
• Natural Capital Initiatives: Innovation in nature-based solutions and ecosystem services

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation:

• Preservation and enhancement of natural and cultural heritage
• Nature recovery and biodiversity enhancement
• Restoration of local ecosystems (forests, peatlands, wetlands, meadows)
• Climate action and carbon sequestration

Community Connection:

• Programmes connecting people and communities with National Parks
• Youth engagement and volunteer programmes
• Activities promoting enjoyment and understanding of National Parks
• Supporting underrepresented groups to access National Parks

Sustainable Development:

• Environmental protection combined with rural economic growth
• Natural capital investment and innovation
• Ecosystem service development

What They Don't Fund

The foundation focuses exclusively on projects within or directly related to the UK's 15 National Parks. They do not operate a general grant programme open to unsolicited applications.

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by 5 trustees who receive no remuneration or payments from the charity. Specific trustee names are not yet publicly available on the Scottish Charity Register (trustee names will be published from early 2026). The foundation has no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries.

Key Personnel:

• Lisa Sensier, Senior Development Manager, National Parks Partnerships
• Naomi Conway, Development Director, National Parks Partnerships

The foundation operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a cross-border structure, registered in both England & Wales and Scotland.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The UK National Parks Charity Foundation operates exclusively through National Parks Partnerships (NPP), which identifies and collates projects in need of support across the 15 UK National Parks and creates bespoke corporate partnerships to fund them.

Funding is distributed through:

1. Partnership Model: Corporate partners provide funding which is then distributed to pre-identified projects across the National Parks
2. National Park Direct: Individual National Parks identify projects in need of support, which are then included in the foundation's pipeline
3. Invitation-Based: Projects are selected by the partnership team in coordination with individual National Park authorities

Organizations wishing to be considered for funding should contact National Parks Partnerships directly to discuss potential projects and how they might fit within the foundation's pipeline.

Getting on Their Radar

For Organizations Working Within National Parks:

1. Engage with Your Local National Park Authority: Projects are identified through close working relationships with the individual National Park authorities. Building a strong relationship with your local authority increases the likelihood your project will be included in their priority pipeline.

1. Contact the Partnership Team Directly: Reach out to Lisa Sensier (Senior Development Manager) at lisa.sensier@nationalparks.co.uk or the general partnerships team at partnerships@nationalparks.co.uk to introduce your organization and discuss potential projects.

1. Align with Foundation Priorities: Ensure your project clearly addresses one or more of the foundation's three priority areas: improving/protecting/enhancing National Parks; connecting people and communities with National Parks; or promoting enjoyment and understanding of National Parks.

1. Demonstrate ESG Alignment: Since funding comes through corporate partnerships, projects that clearly demonstrate environmental, social, and governance benefits are more attractive to potential corporate funders.

1. Multi-Park Potential: Projects that could be replicated across multiple National Parks or that have a national dimension may be particularly attractive to the partnership team, as they offer corporate partners impact across the entire National Parks network.

Decision Timeline

Timelines are not standardized as they depend on:

• Corporate partnership development cycles
• Individual National Park authority priorities
• Availability of suitable corporate partners with aligned ESG objectives

There is no fixed application deadline or decision schedule.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate an open application process with measurable success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the partnership-based funding model.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Seeking Funding:

1. Work Through National Park Authorities: The most effective route to funding is through inclusion in individual National Park authority project pipelines. Build relationships with your local National Park authority and ensure they understand your project's value.

1. Align with Corporate ESG Priorities: The foundation creates "bespoke corporate partnerships aligned to businesses' ESG strategies." Understanding corporate sustainability trends and framing your project to deliver measurable ESG outcomes increases attractiveness to potential funders.

1. Focus on Foundation Priorities: The foundation has stated it supports work that “improves, protects or enhances the National Parks; programmes that connect people and communities with the National Parks; and activities that promote the enjoyment and understanding of the National Parks.” Ensure your project clearly addresses at least one of these areas.

1. Youth Engagement: Several funded initiatives have focused on connecting young people with National Parks (e.g., “Wild Leaders” programme, “National Park Futures” connecting 20,000+ young people with nature). Projects targeting youth engagement appear to be a priority.

1. Innovation in Natural Capital: The foundation has been involved in innovative natural capital projects through partnerships like Revere (awarded Nature-based Project of the Year at the Business Green Leaders Awards), suggesting appetite for cutting-edge approaches to nature restoration and ecosystem services.

1. Scalability and Replicability: Projects that can be delivered across multiple National Parks or scaled nationally offer better value to corporate partners investing at a national level.

1. Match Funding Potential: While not explicitly stated, the corporate partnership model suggests that projects demonstrating additional funding sources or community support may be viewed more favourably.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - do not submit unsolicited grant applications; instead, focus on relationship-building with National Park authorities and the partnerships team
• Partnership-driven funding model means patience is required; funding timelines depend on securing appropriate corporate partners
• Contact Lisa Sensier or the partnerships team at the earliest stage to introduce your organization and discuss whether your project might fit their pipeline
• Align with ESG trends - corporate partners are seeking measurable environmental, social, and governance outcomes
• Youth engagement and nature connection appear to be strong priorities based on funded partnership examples
• Nature restoration and climate action are central to the foundation's mission and attract corporate interest
• Multi-park or scalable projects may be more attractive than single-location initiatives given the national partnership model

References

• UK National Parks Charity Foundation, Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 1182566. Accessed 28 December 2024. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1182566&subid=0
• UK National Parks Charity Foundation, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), Charity No. SC049846. Accessed 28 December 2024. https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC049846
• “UK National Parks Foundation,” National Parks UK. Accessed 28 December 2024. https://www.nationalparks.uk/uknationalparksfoundation/
• “National Parks Partnerships,” National Parks UK. Accessed 28 December 2024. https://www.nationalparks.uk/national-parks-partnerships/
• “A Year in National Parks Partnerships,” National Parks UK, 15 December 2022. Accessed 28 December 2024. https://www.nationalparks.uk/2022/12/15/a-year-in-national-parks-partnerships/