Community Network

All around the UK, more people than ever before are getting together in community groups to improve their local environments. BTCV's Community Network already supports several thousand local groups that you can search here.

Join them now to take advantage of competitively-priced insurance, discounts on training and merchandise, and access to grants.

We offer all you need to make your work safe, effective and enjoyable.

Whether you're experts or just thinking about getting involved in environmental activities and need to know where to start, we can give you a helping hand to turn your vision into reality.

Network membership fee is just £38. That gives you access to discounts, insurance, funding information, training opportunities and much, much more!

To find out what you get from membership and how to join scroll down this page, call our Community Groups Administrator on 01302 388 834, or email Local-Groups@btcv.org.uk

Membership benefits

Membership of the Network is open to all community groups, clubs, schools or local organisation wanting to work for a better environment.

Your annual membership (currently £38 per year) entitles you to the following:

• Access to Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance, which is essential for groups carrying out practical tasks
• GRANTnet is the UK’s biggest funding database which allows community and voluntary groups to search across a huge range of funding from the UK and EU. Presented in the format of an online, step-by-step questionnaire, GRANTnet enables you to identify and select only funding schemes and awards that are appropriate for your project. The information on GRANTnet comprises in excess of 5,000 funding schemes that are available in the UK from European and national sources, directed at the charitable, voluntary and community sectors.
• 10% discount on orders from our Tools,Trees and Wildflowers and Merchandise catalogues. See BTCV Shop
• The Community Hub is an online resource, enabling groups to keep a membership database, record details of their work and the sites that they improve. It can be used to email members and produce reports to celebrate achievements. The Hub contains the Resource Bank which contains task report templates, publicity resources, plus health and safety information including the Zurich guides Making Insurance Simple and Simple Ways to Work Safely.
To register for the Community Hub please email your Group name, Group ID, contact name and email address to the Community Network Administrator
• Subsidised places on BTCV Training Courses. Training enables your group to meet new challenges. The BTCV Training programme covers practical, technical and leadership skills from pond management to First Aid
• Optional free listing of your contact details and web address on the BTCV website
• Access to grants from The Chestnut Fund for groups with less than £2,000 existing funding that carry out practical conservation. The Chestnut Fund, an independent grant-giving body administered through BTCV, gives Start-up Grants to help with membership, administration costs and insurance in the first year of membership. Support Grants are available to cover the costs of training and tools for any groups
• Website template - BTCV can provide guidance and support to set up your own web site. Ideal for groups without the expertise and who may benefit from being associated with BTCV online.
• Network news - A quarterly newsletter and dedicated web page to keep you up-to-date with new grants, opportunities and news.
• BTCV offers many ways to support you through training courses, support from our local offices, access to our very knowledgeable staff, discounts on our renowned practical conservation handbooks and access to the BTCV developed model constitution.
• BTCV Bag for Life - This organic cotton bag is environment-friendly and can be used time and time again. It contains everything you need to get started: "Making Insurance Simple" and "Simple Ways to Work Safely". These guides have been produced in partnership with Zurich. Plus catalogues for BTCV handbooks, tools, clothing and wildflowers.

How to join the BTCV Community Network

Joining is simple. You just need to fill in a short form, enclose your membership fee (currently £38) and return it to the BTCV Community Network Administrator. Download the form here:

• BTCV Community Network Application Form (pdf - 5.92MB)

Or you can call our Community Network Administrator on 01302 388 834, or e-mail Local-Groups@btcv.org.uk to have one sent to you.

The Chestnut Fund - grants for conservation

The Chestnut Fund is an independent charity, making grants available to encourage and enable community groups to carry out conservation activities. The grants are administered by BTCV.

The grants fall into two categories:

Start-up grants

These are for groups who have no money when they are first set up and are available to groups in their first year of existence. The grant will enable them to begin practical work and will cover administrative expenses, e.g. postage, publicity, hire of meeting rooms, telephone bills and/or the first year of BTCV Community Network Membership plus Insurance fees. The maximum grant will be £150.

Support grants

These are for groups who have no money for tools, equipment and training. Preference will be given to resources selected from BTCV sources. This grant is available to all groups, regardless of how long they have been constituted. (Groups within their first year can apply for both the start-up grant and the support grant). The maximum grant will be £350. Forms can be downloaded or obtained from your local BTCV office or the Community Network Administrator on 01302 388 834. Please note that in order to apply, the group must return the form to the local BTCV office for approval before it can be processed.

The Chestnut Fund committee meet every 6 weeks to discuss new applications.

Download a copy of the Chestnut Fund Criteria

Download an Application Form