Sustainable Development Fund

In recent times, there has been a growing realisation that our current way of life is placing an increasing burden on the planet which cannot be sustained forever.

Sustainable development is not just about environmental protection though. It’s about improving quality of life for both current and future generations and our Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) can help communities and individuals across the Yorkshire Dales National Park to achieve just that.

SDF provides grants to individuals, businesses, local authorities and community groups to fund sustainable new business ideas and community projects which will further the two National Park purposes of:

• Conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Yorkshire Dales

• Promoting opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the Yorkshire Dales’ special qualities by the public.

The Fund, which was launched in July 2002 and is funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - Defra, aims to consider new ways of achieving a more sustainable way of living and working in the National Park, whilst enhancing and conserving our local culture, wildlife, landscape, land use and communities.

Here in the Yorkshire Dales, the Fund is managed by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust on behalf of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. By July 2011 nearly £1,700,000 of SDF grant has been allocated to 157 individual projects.

We’re looking for projects as far-ranging as community composting and appropriate renewable energy schemes to sustainable transport and eco-tourism. We want to support new and exciting ideas which have the backing of local communities and aim to make our Fund as easy to apply to as possible.

Click on the links below for more information about how to apply to the SDF and for information about projects we've funded so far:

• Applying to the Yorkshire Dales Sustainable Development Fund

• Current Projects

An evaluation report of all the Sustainable Development Funds in England has been produced following a national monitoring exercise completed in 2010. The summary and the full report can be downloaded from the English National Park Authorities’ Association website.

• Download the Sustainable Development Funds Evaluation Report

We also have a factsheet about funding for renewable energy projects which may be of interest.   

• Energy Saving and Renewable Energy Contacts Factsheet