The Nature Hubs Fund - Eligibility Criteria

Here you’ll find all the exciting stuff: criteria, eligibility and guidance for Hubbub’s Nature Hub funding, delivered in partnership with Starbucks.

Not super fun, but important – so please read this doc carefully before applying!

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Contents • Why are we funding Nature Hubs?

• What is a Nature Hub? Project themes.

• Key dates • Who is eligible for funding?

• How to measure distance from your project to your nearest Starbucks store on Google Maps • Application criteria • What can the funding be spent on?

• How to apply • What happens if you’re successful?

• Selection process • Funding and reporting • Key T&Cs • Our commitment to equality and diversity

Why are we funding Nature Hubs?

Research shows spending time in nature is good for our physical and mental health and wellbeing, reducing our levels of stress and blood pressure (National Academy for Social Prescribing). Green spaces also help protect us against the impacts of a changing climate. In short, they’re putting in a real shift.

Recent Hubbub polling shows more than a third of people (36%) in the UK spend less than an hour a week in green or natural space, and more than half face a barrier to accessing nature. However, we know many excellent groups are already striving to bring more green spaces to their communities. To support and enhance this work, we’re funding around 50 green space initiatives with up to £6,000 of funding per project.

The Nature Hubs Fund is funded by public donations via the Starbucks 5p Cup Charge and is part of Hubbub and Starbucks’ wider ambition to build stronger, greener communities across the UK. This fund aims to improve access to and connection with nature in the communities Starbucks serves, by creating and enhancing green spaces within a 5km radius of Starbucks stores.

Got an idea for an initiative that could help achieve this goal? Read on 👉

What is a Nature Hub?

Your project must relate to one or more of these four themes

🌰 In a nutshell, Nature Hubs will bring people closer to nature and nature closer to people.

We will support groups to create or enhance green spaces: applications must meet the criteria outlined on p8/9 and relate to any one or more of these four themes:

1. Increasing Access To bring green space to an area where there is limited access to nature, e.g., by creating or enhancing a community garden, a green roof, increasing biodiversity in an urban area, or other similar ideas. And/or to encourage a particular demographic who might not otherwise or rarely access an existing green space to visit.

2. Bringing People Together To bring people together and create community connection in/around a shared green space. Think activities like community growing, plant sharing, coffee and chats, or youth activities.

3. Upskilling the Community

4. Building Climate Resilience

To teach community members new skills and encourage health and wellbeing through spending time in green space. Think workshops and/or events taking place in green spaces, how-to guides on increasing nature connection, or training around nature-based activities.

To make an existing space more climate resilient and engage the local community on climate issues. Think changes to buildings and urban spaces that increase resilience to heatwaves, drought, coastal flooding, or sea-level rise, while creating community connection in the green space.

What are the key dates to be aware of?

Application timeline: • Groups can apply from 9am Thursday 9th of November.

• The closing date for applications is 3pm on Thursday 11th of January (but why wait… get growing now… once you’ve read this of course!)

• The application form will close automatically after the deadline.

• Hubbub will inform you if you’ve been successful by the end of February 2024.

Funding timeline: • February/March 2024: First payment installation after signing the Grant Fund Agreement, 80% • August 2024: Second payment installation, 10% upon completion of light touch, 6-month reporting • February/March 2025: Final payment, 10% upon completion of final reporting

First things first, let’s check if you’re eligible!

To apply for this funding your organisation must be: • Based in the UK with a project location in England, Scotland, or Wales.* • Have not received Food Hubs funding from Hubbub on or after July 1st 2023 • Within 5 km of a Starbucks store** • Organisations must be legally registered bodies and be able to provide a Registered Company/Charity Number if applicable. *Unfortunately, The Nature Hubs Fund is not currently operating in Northern Ireland. **Starbucks wants to increase access to green space in the communities it serves. All applicants must be within a 5km radius of a Starbucks store (see pages 8-9 for guidance on how to check this), and it is desirable that projects are based within a 3km radius. Please measure this using Google Maps – we will ask for your organisation’s postcode in your application to confirm this.

Who is eligible for the funding?

We can fund:

Sorry, we cannot fund:

• Non-profit organisations such as voluntary, youth or community groups, resident groups, community associations, schools, and more.

• For-profit companies, only where the project clearly meets the fund criteria delivering strong community and nature access benefits.

• Community Interest Companies and Social Enterprises.*

• Party political organisations.

*The fund is open to social enterprises that have a clear charitable mission, that can demonstrate the positive difference they are trying to make and which reinvest profits to further their social mission, and/or which, in a ‘wind-up’ situation, pass remaining assets on to another non-profit social enterprise that has a charitable purpose.

• Organisations who’ve received Food Hubs

• Local authorities/ councils.

• Sole traders or individuals.

• Organisations and projects in Northern Ireland.

• Organisations that are not within 5km of a Starbucks store. grant funding through Hubbub after 1st July (see T&Cs for more info on this).

How to measure distance on Google maps 📐 Step 1

Step 2

On a computer, find your project location on Google Maps,

Find the nearest Starbucks to your project location,

e.g. Somerset House (where Hubbub is based!)

e.g. the one closest to Hubbub is just up the road near Covent Garden

Step 3

Step 4

Right click on the location of your nearest Starbucks and click 'measure distance’. NB: you can find a map of all Starbucks stores here.

Click again on your project location and you will see it cleverly measures the distance between the two points, e.g. here it is 332m (within the 5KM range!).

NB: If you know for sure that your project is within 5km of a Starbucks store but are struggling to measure it exactly, don’t worry we’ll confirm you’re within the 5km radius based on the project location postcode you provide.

Feel free to email us at naturehubs@hubbub.org.uk to check if you’re not sure.

Application criteria: the key things we’re looking for We’re looking for initiatives that create new green spaces or enhance existing ones with the aim of bringing nature closer to people and people closer to nature.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Accessible site: The green space site needs to be publicly accessible, free to access and you should have permission to work on the site.

Location: All projects must be located within a 5km radius of a Starbucks store (3km is ✨ desirable ✨). A map of Starbucks locations can be found here. Please measure using Google Maps (see pages 8/9 for guidance) – we will ask for the postcode of your project location in the application.

• Please note, The Nature Hubs Fund is looking to fund a diverse range of projects across England, Scotland, and Wales so location, project type, and audience will impact the selection process.

Timing: The project should start for the 2024 spring-summer growing season and be up and running within 6 months of receiving funding. (✨ Desirable ✨ : Having sufficient project elements set up by April 2024 to host a volunteering session with a local Starbucks store that month – see next page for more information).

Feasibility: Applications should show a clearly defined project that is feasible within the suggested timeframe and budget.

Application criteria continued…

Community cohesion: We’re looking for projects that bring people and communities together around nature and green spaces. It’s not just about bringing nature closer to people, it’s also about how your Nature Hub brings people closer to nature too.

Experience delivering projects: Your organisation must be fully operational and be able to demonstrate that you’ve delivered previous projects successfully. (✨Desirable ✨ : experience working with communities, access to a volunteering network and strong storytelling/ communication abilities are all helpful qualities).

Need for green space: We’re particularly looking to fund spaces in dense urban areas but will consider any area where there is a need for new or enhanced green space.

Applications should identify which groups are likely to benefit from the activity. We’re looking to engage a range of audiences and demographics. (✨ Desirable ✨ : Being open to sharing knowledge about the green space with other grant fund winners).

Starbucks store connection: You should be open and willing to be connected with your local Starbucks store, which may be able to donate used coffee grounds to support healthy soil, donate coffee and snacks for community events, provide volunteers to help build the green space, or advertise community activities via instore community boards, etc.

Theme: The initiative must relate to one or more of the four themes outlined on page 4. We will ask you to specify which theme your project falls under in the application form.

Legacy: Winning projects will show that they’ll create a lasting, positive legacy and identify how the project’s benefits will continue beyond the funding.

What can the funding be spent on?

Successful projects can spend the funding on: • Materials relating to the nature hub activity (e.g., plants, gardening equipment, tools, paint) • Utilities relating to the delivery of the project activity (e.g., power or water) • Display materials, signage, and information • Services from external suppliers such as building labour costs, garden design, etc.

• Staffing costs to cover the time spent planning and delivering any activity • Volunteer expenses such as public transportation costs, materials & refreshments for volunteering days • Training for the activity delivery team such as safeguarding

How to apply!

First, make sure to read this whole document carefully to check that you’re eligible. Once you’ve done that, you can apply through our online application form on our Nature Hubs webpage, where we also have a downloadable version of the application questions.

Please contact us directly if you are unable to complete a digital application. If you have any questions, first check our FAQs, or if you still can’t find an answer contact us at: naturehubs@hubbub.org.uk

What happens if you’re successful?

First things first, enjoy the moment: give yourself a pat on the back, do a celebratory jig, fist pump, hug a tree, eat a jam donut, high-five a stranger – whatever feels right in the moment.

Then, it’s time to get growing. The successful applicants will have six months from receiving funding to show they have set up their project and will be required to report back on progress and the impact of their green space initiative.

Applicants should be open to taking part in volunteering activities with their local Starbucks store sometime in April.

Successful applicants will be required to sign a Grant Fund Agreement with Hubbub, which will include details about project monitoring and reporting requirements. Once the agreement is signed, we’ll send you the first 80% of the funding so you can get cracking.

Selection process Once you’ve submitted your application by 3pm on 11th January, make a cup of tea, sit back, and relax. Your work is done (for now at least), and it’s over to us.

An application panel will review all applications received and choose the successful applications. You’ll hear from us either way before the end of February 2024.

If you’re successful and wish to accept the funding, you’ll receive a Grant Fund Agreement which will be signed by us (Hubbub) and your organisation. If succesful ,you’ll also need to provide further documentation: certified bank details for your registered organisation, a company registration number, and/or charity registration number if applicable and/ or letter of constitution/ association, and a due diligence form with director, trustee or finance lead’s signatures and details.

You may be refused funding if: • You refuse to provide further requested information; and/or • Both the main and secondary contact are uncontactable for a period of more than 14 days during the application process.

For unsuccessful applicants, we’ll provide summarised feedback of the common reasons applicants were unsuccessful. We can explore giving individual feedback depending on the number of applications, but due to having a small team, this may not be possible.

The funding and reporting Successful applicants will be offered grant funding of up to £6,000 (amount is subject to review based on the stated project scope).

The minimum you can apply for is £3,000 – as you’ll see in the application form, it’s up to you how much you apply for (to the nearest £500) – you just need to let us know what you would plan to spend the funding on.

The up-to-£6,000 funding will support projects for one year following the activity set-up period, as will be detailed in the Grant Fund Agreement.

Successful applications will be required to share some information with us on progress at project milestones, by completing a short online form at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months during the project year, along with photos and short quotes at 6 and 12 months. We will provide report templates to support in collecting this information.

Some key T&Cs

• The funding should show in the organisation’s accounting as a restricted fund.

• Organisations may apply for more than one grant so long as the project locations are distinct and near to separate Starbucks stores.

• Funding must support a specific and discrete project, additional to existing expenditure plans.

• If applying to fund a person(s) time, 75% of funds may go toward the salary, but 25% must relate directly to creating or enhancing the green space. E.g., you might be looking to fund a new position to bring more people to an existing green space, but at least 25% of funding must be spent on the space itself.

• Each application must provide a “primary contact”, along with a “secondary contact” who can represent the project in the “primary contact’s” absence. Both the lead and secondary contact should have read the Terms & Conditions and be authorised to act on behalf of their organisation.

• If an applicant has deleted, lost, or damaged an application, it is at Hubbub's discretion as to whether they may reapply. In this instance, please notify us via: naturehubs@hubbub.org.uk

Please read the full T&Cs here.

Our commitment to equality and diversity Hubbub is committed to diversity and inclusion. We’ll assess all applications on an individual basis, with each being reviewed against the criteria as above and are looking for a range of project types, locations and themes.

We recognise that it is in the interests of our organisation and society that everyone is treated fairly. We will make sure that no applicant receives less favourable treatment (either directly or in directly) on the grounds of protected characteristics including: • • • • • • • •

Age Disability Gender or gender reassignment Marriage/Civil partnership Pregnancy or maternity Race Religion or belief Sex or sexual orientation

Privacy Any personal information collected from applicants when entering this funding process will be subject to the privacy policy located: here.

Still got questions?

If you have any questions regarding this grant fund or the criteria outlined above, please check our Nature Hubs webpage and FAQs and if you still have questions feel free to email us at naturehubs@hubbub.org.uk.