Future Routes Fund 2026
Apply for funding before 19th June 2026.
Leugh ann an Gàidhlig / Read in Gaelic
Do you have a big idea to help young people connect with nature and take positive action for biodiversity and the climate? The Future Routes for Nature Fund is open for applications from 11 May 2026.
What’s the fund for?
The Future Routes for Nature Fund is for young people, by young people. The fund supports projects run by 11-26-year-olds and aims to help young people improve their local environment, provide more opportunities for them to connect with nature, increase their knowledge and understanding of Scottish biodiversity, and empower them to take positive action for nature and the climate.
Any individuals or teams (2+) of young people, living anywhere in Scotland, who are aged between 11-26 can apply.
An individual can apply for £500 to £2000.
A team (2+) can apply for £1000 to £5000.
How do I apply?
This fund is designed to be applied for by young people themselves. Please read the Guidance before submitting your Idea – this guide will tell you everything you need to know about applying. You will also find the Idea Submission form on this page.
Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or need these in a different format or language, or if you have any other support needs.
Key Dates
Idea Submission Deadline – 19 June 2026
- If you would like to submit an idea for Future Routes funding, you will need to complete an Idea Submission form by 19 June 2026.
Decisions – 10 July 2026
- Your submission will be assessed by a decision-making panel made up of young people and NatureScot. They will decide which ideas receive funding and you will hear back from them before the 10 July 2026.
Make your Idea a Reality - by end of November 2026
- Successful projects will need to be delivered by the 30 November 2026
More about the fund
The Future Routes for Nature Fund was created by Scotland's youth biodiversity panel, ReRoute. The young people on the ReRoute panel developed the aims, outcomes and criteria for fund in collaboration with NatureScot and YoungScot. They designed it to be for the benefit of young people, easy to apply for, and they worked hard to encourage submissions from a wide range of young people, regardless of their level of interest in nature.
The Future Routes Fund was launched in 2018 as part of Scotland’s Year of Young People, with funding available for young people to deliver activities, projects and ideas which engage people with nature. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a break in the fund, however it is now back and ready to help young people take action!
If you would like to promote the Future Routes Fund to your network and require a communications pack, please email [email protected]
Recipients of the previous round of Future Routes funding are:
- Ullapool Sea Savers – Sea Routes Project
- Eat, Sleep, Ride CIC
- Keiss Village Community Garden
- Our Future in Our Hands
- Turn the Tiles
- Barrhead High School – Eco-leadership group
- Good Chives Only
- Skel Well Festival
- Nature Pioneers
Any questions about this fund? Please email us at [email protected]
Find out more
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