Grants

SMEEF has two grant funds – the practical Restoration, Recovery or Enhancement (RRE) Grants and Project Development Grants. All applications for marine and coastal restoration are welcome. As a broad guide we consider ‘marine and coastal’ to include species and habitats where salt water plays a crucial role in the natural life cycle. The species or habitat at the heart of your application must fit this definition.

For-profit projects and organisations are welcome to apply to SMEEF but they should form part of a consortium application with a non-profit or other similar legal structure or community group.

The first grant round in 2022 was focused on RRE Grants and the list of projects has now been added as yellow tags to our map.

Our Project Development round is now closed for applications. Successful projects will be notified shortly and the projects map will be updated in due course.

You can register for our mailing list by emailing grants@smeef.scot.

 

Project Development Grants

This grant is currently closed.The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice. Join our mailing list to stay up to date – email grants@smeef.scot.

SMEEF is delighted to have run our first privately financed grant round and we would like to express our gratitude to the donors who have made this possible.

The finance raised is flexible and can be spent on capital or resource, but the grants will be focused to support applications which deliver project development work such as the baseline surveys and feasibility studies which are required to underpin marine and coastal restoration.  Projects which seek to assess the effectiveness of management actions required to achieve species and habitat recovery were also welcome.

SMEEF Priorities

The main aim of the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) is to support practical improvements to Scottish marine and coastal ecosystems. Although we anticipate that most applications for enhancement projects will initially focus on salt marsh, seagrass, sand dunes, native oysters, marine birds and cetaceans; we are keen to receive proposals for research to inform a broader range of potential marine and coastal enhancement opportunities across all relevant species and habitats.

SMEEF aims to support a range of restoration activities, examples of restoration, recovery or enhancement could include:

  • Habitat improvements, for example, relating to sand dunes, seagrass, saltmarsh and native oyster beds.
  • Measures to restore, recover or enhance mobile species for example relating to marine birds or cetaceans.
  • Invasive species eradication. 
  • Other activities, including citizen science, which help to improve our understanding of human pressures on the marine environment, particularly if they are part of a practical restoration project.  

Projects should always:

  • Be as collaborative as possible and have a clear engagement plan for involving interested groups,
  • Demonstrate clear additionality to existing and already committed actions,
  • Be informed by science; driven by knowledge and backed up by monitoring.

Please note that there is a lot of useful advice available on the NatureScot website. In particular, applicants are encouraged to pay close attention to the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations and, where relevant, the Community Led Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Handbook. 

If you would like to discuss your application please email grants@smeef.scot.

What kind of projects will be supported?

SMEEF is a flexible fund that responds to the needs of the marine restoration community in Scotland. In this funding round grant applications to support Project Development such as baseline surveys and feasibility studies associated with practical restoration projects are welcome. Proposals which assess the effectiveness of management actions required to achieve species and habitat recovery are also welcome.

There is no maximum or minimum physical size of project. We encourage applicants to work at a manageable scale where outcomes can be measured and to consider the strategic fit with other protection and enhancement measures such as the Marine Protected Areas network and national and regional marine planning. 

SMEEF is currently closed for applications. Register with grants@smeef.scot for updates. The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice.

Conditions of Funding

The following general conditions apply to SMEEF funding:

  • We will not normally fund the same project twice. However we can fund a new phase of an ongoing or existing project. 
  • We cannot pay for activities that have already started. 
  • The applicant(s) must be based in the UK and all projects must be delivered in Scotland. 
  • Projects should focus on the marine and coastal environment. The habitats and species at the heart of the project should be reliant on the marine environment as a major part of their nutrient or life cycle. 

Please note – All outputs must be open access, have a robust methodology and be reviewed by relevant experts.

Full details of our terms and conditions are available here – SMEEF-Guidance-for-Applicants-Dec-2022 

THIS IS IMPORTANT Please take note of the SMEEF – NRF – How to acknowledge your grant guidance

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What costs can be funded?

Costs that can be funded as part of your budget:

  • Staff costs inclusive of salary, National Insurance and Employee Pension Contributions.
  • Professional fees that are appropriate and proportionate to the project.
  • Project staff travel and subsistence to cover staff and any volunteers supporting delivery of the project activities.
  • Project evaluation – additional costs for measuring success and evaluating the project.
  • Equipment and resources to deliver the project (please remember this is primarily a research fund focused on baseline survey and feasibility, equipment costs should NOT be the dominate feature of your budget).
  • Dissemination of the project outcomes.
  • Irrecoverable VAT.
  • In addition, we recognise that each site/proposal is unique and other non-standard items may be needed. You should discuss any other costs you are considering applying for with a SMEEF member of staff before you submit your application.

What will not be funded?

  • SMEEF is unable to fund statutory functions.
  • The main applicant cannot be a for profit company, however they can make up a minority interest of a consortium bid.
  • The project can include financial returns or cost recovery through a financial mechanism but the main aim of the project must be biodiversity/ecosystem gains, not profit.
  • SMEEF will not fund political activity or campaigns.
  • Creation or repairing of tracks for access to sites will not normally be funded.
  • SMEEF will not usually be able to cover ‘Full Cost Recovery’ for staff posts.
Award levels and match funding

This grant is currently closed.The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice. Join our mailing list to stay up to date – email grants@smeef.scot.

Project Development Grants 

  • In general the minimum grant is £10,000 although we are willing to discuss lower levels if that is what your project needs.
  • The maximum amount is generally £25,000.
  • We will hope to fund one exceptional award of up to £100,000. If you feel your project would be suitable please speak to us before submitting your application. 
  • The number of awards we are able to make will vary depending on the amount we have available in the grant pot. 
  • To help ensure SMEEF is as effective as possible, applicants are encouraged to work in partnership and we welcome evidence of match funding.  
  • A maximum of 100% funding is usually available for applications.
How to apply

This grant is currently closed.The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice. Join our mailing list to stay up to date – email grants@smeef.scot.

Dates

  • Open – 17/11/22
  • Deadline for applications – 23/01/23 at 1700hrs (PLEASE NOTE THE EXTENDED DEADLINE FOLLOWING GRANTEE FEEDBACK)
  • Grants Panel will meet in January 2023
  • Grant offers will be made in February 2023
  • Projects begin April 2023

SMEEF Slide Deck Grants Webinar Dec 2022 for Project Development Webinar

Video of Project Development Webinar

 

Restoration, Recovery and Enhancement (RRE) Grants

Priority Outcomes

SMEEF RRE is currently closed for RRE applications. The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice.

The priority outcomes for RRE grants are:

  • Improvements in the status of marine and coastal habitats and species including measures of habitat extent and condition; species abundance and population health; and issues of connectivity and the maintenance of natural process and functions 
  • Enhancing the provision of ecosystem services, such as boosting resilience to coastal flooding and erosion; increasing carbon storage; improving water quality; or supporting cultural values.

Ideally projects will combine these outcomes with broader social benefits e.g. measures of wellbeing, economic development or community capacity building. A suitable and proportionate monitoring programme and community engagement plan should be a key part of proposals. 

What kind of projects will be supported?

SMEEF RRE is currently closed for RRE applications. The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice. Join our mailing list to stay up to date – email grants@smeef.scot.

SMEEF is seeking to support scalable marine Restoration, Recovery and Enhancement projects which offer opportunities to create positive results at pace.  There is no maximum or minimum physical size of project. We encourage applicants to work at a manageable scale where outcomes can be measured and to consider the strategic fit with other protection and enhancement measures such as the Marine Protected Areas network and national and regional marine planning. 

SMEEF aims to support a range of practical projects, examples of restoration, recovery or enhancement applications could include:

  • Habitat improvements, for example, relating to sand dunes, seagrass, saltmarsh and native oyster beds.
  • Measures to restore, recover or enhance mobile species for example relating to marine birds or cetaceans.
  • Invasive species eradication. 
  • Other activities, including citizen science, which help to improve our understanding of human pressures on the marine environment, particularly if they are part of a practical restoration project.  

Projects should:

  • Be as collaborative as possible and have a clear engagement plan for involving interested groups,
  • Demonstrate clear additionality to existing and already committed actions,
  • Be informed by science; driven by knowledge and backed up by monitoring.

Please note that there is a lot of useful advice available on the NatureScot website. In particular, applicants are encouraged to pay close attention to the Scottish Code for Conservation Translocations and, where relevant, the Community Led Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Handbook. 

This grant is currently CLOSED. For updates please check back here, or register for our mailing list by emailing grants@smeef.scot

Conditions of Funding

SMEEF is currently closed for RRE applications. The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice. Join our mailing list to stay up to date – email grants@smeef.scot.

The following general conditions apply to SMEEF funding:

  • We will not normally fund the same project twice. However we can fund a new phase of an ongoing or existing project. 
  • We cannot pay for activities that have already started. 
  • The applicant(s) must be based in the UK and all projects must be delivered in Scotland. 
  • Projects should focus on the marine and coastal environment. The habitats and species at the heart of the project should be reliant on the marine environment as a major part of their nutrient or life cycle. 
What costs can be funded?

SMEEF is currently closed for RRE applications. The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice. Join our mailing list to stay up to date – email grants@smeef.scot.

SMEEF encourages applicants to submit a proportionate and practical budget which focuses on ensuring the project is able to deliver the desired outcomes. Applicants should state their approach to procurement ensuring transparency and delivery of best value. The NatureScot procurement policy can act as a guide if required. 

SMEEF currently distributes a mix of public and private funding. The following costs can usually be funded as part of your budget: 

  • Staff costs inclusive of salary, National Insurance and Employee Pension Contributions. 
  • Professional fees that are appropriate and proportionate to the project.
  • Project staff travel and subsistence to cover staff and any volunteers supporting delivery of the project activities. 
  • Project evaluation – additional costs for measuring success and evaluating the project. 
  • Equipment and resources to deliver the project. 
  • Dissemination of the project outcomes.
  • Irrecoverable VAT. 
  • In addition, we recognise that each site/proposal is unique and other non-standard items may be needed. You should discuss any other costs you are considering applying for with a SMEEF member of staff before you submit your application. 

What will not be funded?

  • SMEEF is unable to fund statutory functions. 
  • The main applicant cannot be a for profit company although they can form part of a consortium. 
  • The project can include financial returns or cost recovery through a financial mechanism but the main aim of the project must be biodiversity/ecosystem gains; not profit. 
  • SMEEF will not fund political activity or campaigns. 
  • Creation or repairing of tracks for access to sites will not normally be funded.
Award levels and match funding

SMEEF RRE is currently closed for RRE applications. The following is general guidance and is subject to change without notice. Join our mailing list to stay up to date – email grants@smeef.scot.

Restoration, Recovery and Enhancement Grants 

  • The general the minimum grant is £10,000. The maximum amount will vary depending on the amount we have available in the grant pot. 
  • Applications are welcome for feasibility studies and smaller scale pilot projects. 
  • To help ensure SMEEF is as effective as possible, applicants are encouraged to work in partnership and we welcome evidence of match funding.  
  • A maximum of 100% funding is usually available for applications.
How to apply

SMEEF is currently for RRE applications.

Please register for our mailing list to stay informed by emailing grants@smeef.scot.

Engagement, Equity and Diversity

We know that early involvement of as wide a range of people as possible in your project has many benefits. By talking to people about your plans, involving them in the design of the project and helping them overcome any barriers to getting involved you are not only creating a pool of potential advocates and volunteers, but you are also helping to ensure that, long after your funding ends, your project continues to be embedded in the community.

SMEEF asks applicants to submit an engagement plan along with their request for funding. This should be proportionate to your project and demonstrate how you have engaged, or plan to engage, with local communities and also communities of interest. We are keen to know how you will identify and attempt to remove barriers which might stand in the way of people with protected characteristics* from getting involved as well as how your project will deliver opportunities to improve well-being.

*Protected Characteristics

  •   age;
  •   disability;
  •   gender reassignment;
  •   marriage and civil partnership;
  •   pregnancy and maternity;
  •   race;
  •   religion or belief;
  •   sex;
  •   sexual orientation.

Other sources of funding

The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund is not the only source of funding available to restoration projects, for example, you could approach local aquaculture and renewable energy companies in your area for direct funding. Here are some additional ideas for places to look for support. Please check with the organisations concerned for more details.

NatureScot

  • The Sottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund is a competitive fund administered by NatureScot which supports projects that restore wildlife and habitats on land and sea and address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
  • Monitoring Equipment fund: The Community Marine Monitoring Equipment Fund is a dedicated fund aimed specifically at supporting community and local groups with the purchase of marine survey equipment to participate in community-led marine biodiversity surveys and monitoring.

Crown Estate Scotland

The Community Capacity Grants Programme aims to provide early-stage financial support for local projects that will help achieve the following objectives:

  1. Create self-sustaining community enterprises that will promote sustainable development through the provision of local economic, social, and/or environmental benefits.
  2. Contribute to the regeneration of places through improvements to buildings or community spaces that will support self-sustaining community enterprises delivering sustainable development. 

The fund is open to all communities that are:

  • Situated up to 5 miles from coastal and estuarine foreshore in Scotland; or 
  • Situated up to 5 miles from the Scottish Crown Estate’s four rural estates (Glenlivet, Fochabers, Whitehills and Applegirth)

Foundation Scotland

The Baillie Gifford Community Awards support grass roots community organisations across the whole of Scotland and replaces Foundation Scotland’s Express Grants programme. The fund includes the environment as one of its priority areas for grant giving.

Sea-Changers

A small grants fund run by volunteers.

Photos by ©Getty Images (Image 1) and Philip Price/seawilding.org (Image 2)

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