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How to Apply

People & Skills Applications

Introduction

Darwin Plus People & Skills is aimed at building capacity through training, education, and professional development opportunities. Darwin Plus People & Skills is intended to fund UKOT nationals and/or long term residents and/or those with a long term relationship with an OT where it does not have a permanent resident population, to increase their knowledge and ability to meet long-term strategic outcomes for the natural environment in UKOTs.

Darwin Plus People & Skills offers grants of up to £100,000 to projects lasting up to 24 months.

*Please note that Darwin Plus Fellowships has been renamed to Darwin Plus People & Skills.

Applications to Round 14 of Darwin Plus People & Skills are now open.

Applications to Darwin Plus People & Skills is a single stage process.

The applications for Round 14 opened on Friday 8th May 2026.

  • Deadline for applications: Monday 7th September 2026.

The expected start date for successful Round 14 projects is from 1st April 2027.

Guidance

Before applying, you should first read the following documents:

How to Apply

Once you have read the guidance, complete the Darwin Plus Round 14 People & Skills application form on the Flexi-Grant application portal. For drafting purposes, you may find the Word version of the application form below useful.

You will also need to complete and upload a Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget form below. Choose the form in accordance to your grant size - either over or under £100,000.

 

Darwin Plus People & Skills Round 14 application form - Word template Darwin Plus People & Skills Round 14 application form - Word template
Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget form (grants under £100,000)Biodiversity Challenge Funds budget form (grants under £100,000)

For further queries, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

 

Please note: following the Multiyear Spending Review, the UK Government has committed to make more than £9 million per year available for Darwin Plus until March 2029. Funding beyond March 2029 for Darwin Plus will be requested via the next Spending Review. Therefore, funding for projects that go beyond this date is not guaranteed. Applicants must note and accept this risk before sending their proposals to Defra and manage any commitments associated with the proposal, accordingly.