Wildlife Wise Project Fund

Application and Guidance Notes

Background

Wildlife Wise is the project brand name for the Suffolk Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) partnership. The project aim is to avoid and reduce recreational disturbance and damage on internationally important wildlife sites which are designated for their rare birds, other wildlife and habitats (European sites).

You can find out more about recreational disturbance and its impact on wildlife on our blog – What is recreational disturbance?

More details on the work of Wildlife Wise and the Suffolk Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) can be found here .

The Fund

The Wildlife Wise project fund is to be used to support stakeholders, partnership organisations, and voluntary and community groups to directly deliver projects that will reduce or prevent recreational disturbance and damage to internationally important wildlife sites (European sites).

We will be looking to fund projects which support the Suffolk Coast RAMS priorities indicated within the current RAMS strategy.

The allocation to specific projects is made as a small grant of up to £5,000.

Applicant partner organisations can seek full funding or use Wildlife Wise grants as match funding for a larger project.

Operation of the fund

Key dates 2025/26

This fund is currently open for applications.

All applications will be shared and assessed by the Wildlife Wise team along with the appropriate Local Planning Authority (LPA) and we recommend that applicants liaise with their LPA prior to application.

Wildlife Wise funding will be granted directly to the lead delivery organisation. The project lead will be responsible for outcome reporting to Wildlife Wise.

Applications will be assessed by the Suffolk Coast RAMS Steering Group initially with recommendations taken forward for the Executive Group approval. Projects will be assessed against the criteria set out in the application form.

Wildlife Wise funded projects will be required to align with the current Suffolk Coast RAMS Strategy.

This may include the following site-based projects, which should be focused on reducing recreational pressure and disturbance to European sites:



Paths: Path re-routing where feasible, creation of new paths, upgrading and resurfacing existing paths.



Dog Walking Locations: Creating new dogs off lead areas away from European sites.



Car Parking: Changes to car parks (improving, reducing and/or expanding in specific locations).



Infrastructure: Fencing at European sites to prevent disturbance to species and habitats.



Screening: Screening around European sites to prevent visual disturbance to species.



Monitoring and Data Gathering: Monitoring and data gathering will inform our understanding of recreational disturbance, or inform future projects or other mitigation measures.



Educational and interpretation Projects: Educational and interpretation projects, engagement events, or interpretation (long form signage) to educate and inform people about European site sensitivities, or promote responsible visitor behaviours.

While not essential to accessing funds, projects may also:-

demonstrate scalability, or the potential to be adopted across the Suffolk Coast RAMS sites
attract and match with other local or national funding programmes
link and add value to existing Wildlife Wise programmes.

Successful applications must demonstrate how they deliver against:-

clear and measurable outputs and outcomes that demonstrate value for money

Word counts provided on the application are for guidance only. However, applicants should focus on:-

clearly illustrating and evidencing the current disturbance issue that the project addresses
describing the delivery/activity to meet this need
describing the outcomes that will be met through the project
how the project demonstrates value for money

Reporting

The Wildlife Wise team will require quarterly summary update reports on each project for the duration of the project. A template will be provided.

How to apply

Applicant organisations must complete and submit the application form below.

The form itself contains information about what is required in each section.

If you have any queries or issues with the application form below – please email info@wildlifewise.co.uk

Wildlife Wise Project Fund Application

Note: Applications must include all ‘required’ fields before submission.
Please ensure you have all relevent information available before you start the application process.

Project Contacts

Project Name *The name or working title of the project

Name of Project Manager *

Project Manager's Email Address *

Project Manager's phone number

Name of Lead Organisation and key partners *

Delivery Organisation Type

Other Organisation Type

If Registered Charity - please state number

If registered as a company, please state number:e.g., Community Interest Company or Limited by Guarantee

Which of the following policies do you have in place? *Constitution/Set of rulesChild Protection PolicyVulnerable Adults PolicyHealth and Safety PolicyEqual Opportunities Policy

We would expect most organisations that we fund to have all of the policies listed in the previous question in place or at least be ‘work in progress’. If your project/service/event is operating under an ‘umbrella’ partner organisation and their policies & procedures formally cover you, then they will suffice. However, If you do not have any of the policies - please explain why, here.0 / 500

Project Description

Please give a brief description of the project proposal, including any objectives and milestones (max. 750 words). Please ensure you detail the location of your project and the wildlife and habitat which will benefit (see later detail on outcomes as well). *0 / 750

How does the project meet the Suffolk Coast RAMS priorities and recommendations? (max. 500 words) - Please refer to the Assessment of Application section above to ensure you consider local priorities or actions. *0 / 500

What resources/investment are you seeking? (Please include total amount of funding sought and detail the key items of expenditure. Please ensure the key items total 100% of funding sought.) Set out whether the funding will cover elements of capital or revenue expenditure. *

Project Funding and Budget

Total Project Cost - Capitol *

GBP

Total Project Cost - Revenue

GBP

Capital Funding - Please list items of expenditure and amount

Revenue Funding - Please list items of expenditure and amount *

Have you secured any partnership funding or non-financial support for the project? If yes, please detail amount/source/any conditions attached to funding.

Please indicate below when you will spend the funding received from Wildlife Wise. *

Projects Outputs and Outcomes

Please detail the short (immediate) and medium-term (within 1 year) outputs you expect the project to deliver. You should quantify these where possible and indicate the timeline for achievement. If Wildlife Wise monies are to support a project that is integrated with existing local projects, you should highlight this and explain how the outputs might be enhanced. *

What are the longer term (12+ months) outcomes that will be delivered? Please note outcomes should detail the change that is proposed will take place as a result of the project and quantify this change where possible. *

How sustainable is the proposal? Will it require longer term investment? *

What are the risks if funding was not available? *

Upload any supporting documentation (optional)

(Up to 5 files, max file size is 5MB each)

Consent

The information you have supplied is being collected to enable Wildlife Wise (East Suffolk Council) to process your application for funding in accordance with the grant scheme guidance.

If you do not provide your consent, East Suffolk Council will not be able to process your application.

Your Information will not be used for any other purpose unless East Suffolk Council obtains your consent or unless permitted by law. Due to corporate retention requirements for financial information relating to this scheme, information relating to this application will be retained for 7 years. You can request that your information be deleted at any time.

Where you have supplied any personal data relating to other individuals, you confirm that you have made the individuals aware and provided them with a copy of the below privacy notice.

Data will be processed and held securely and in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018 (and any updates). Further information about data protection can be found on the Wildlife Wise website:

Privacy Notice | Wildlife Wise

I confirm that:

I have the authority to represent the organisation making this grant application.
All information provided in this application form is correct and complete to the best of my knowledge.
I confirm I am not withholding any information that would be likely to affect the outcome of the application.
I shall inform Wildlife Wise if, prior to any grant funding being awarded, I become aware of any further information which might reasonably be considered relevant in deciding whether to fund the grant application.
I have informed all individuals whose personal data has been included in this application or supporting paperwork that their information has been collected and shared, and I have advised them of the relevant Privacy Notices.
I understand that without prior reference to me, the information given in this application may be submitted for checking against records held by East Suffolk Council or other organisations (such as government departments, other agencies, local authorities and the police) for the purposes of assessing my eligibility for grant funding or for the purposes of the prevention and detection of crime.
I understand that where checks against other departments or organisations are made and discrepancies are identified, the Council may provide details of this application to those departments and organisations, and this may result in changes being made to those external records.
I understand that data recorded by or on behalf of Wildlife Wise is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, including information provided in relation to grant applications.

Your name *

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