Here you will find the latest opportunities for communities to bid for grants to support environmental projects.
npower Business Solutions Foundation
Let’s make meaningful change happen.
The npower Business Solutions Foundation [https://npowerbusinesssolutions.com/foundation#] is a new fund to help create stronger, greener and more sustainable local communities.
If you’re a not-for-profit or educational institution that’s at least two years old and based within a 50-mile radius of our two offices in Solihull and Leeds*, then you’re eligible.
The npower Business Solutions Foundation is controlled and managed by Charis Grants Limited [https://charisgrants.com/] – a specialist fund management organisation. Charis Grants will ensure the application process remains independent, and they will administer the funds on our behalf too.
Community Energy Fund
The Community Energy Fund (CEF) is a £10m grant scheme for urban and rural communities to develop energy services to benefit their local area.
The funding will help to kickstart clean energy projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points. It can also be used to fund fuel poverty alleviation schemes such as energy efficiency, retrofit, and advice projects.
The CEF aims to empower local people to take control of their energy future by:
- Increasing the number of community-owned low-carbon energy assets
- Supporting communities to reduce energy cost and demand
- Generating local income through community-owned energy assets
- Reinvesting income locally and kickstarting private investment
- Supporting local jobs, growth and volunteering opportunities
- Enabling places to benefit from clean, renewable, local energy
The fund will achieve its aims by supporting the earlier development stages of community-scale projects.
About the funding
Funding will be offered for:
- Stage 1 Feasibility Grant of up to £40,000 to produce a feasibility study to establish the technical and financial viability of a project and/or
- Stage 2 Development Grant of up to £100,000 for a more detailed investigation of the technology, for planning applications and to develop a business case.
Please note: the fund is for the development of projects from concept to investment-ready scheme. It does not provide capital funding for the installation of projects themselves.
The date for the next round of applications is:
- 8 November 2024
If you have any questions about the application process, email us at communityenergyfund@nottinghamcity.gov.uk [mailto:communityenergyfund@nottinghamcity.gov.uk].
Read more about it on the Midlands Net Zero Hub [https://www.midlandsnetzerohub.co.uk/community-energy/]
The National Lottery Community Fund [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/] distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK, raised by players of The National Lottery [https://www.national-lottery.co.uk/]
Aviva Community Fund
We're on a mission to build a brighter future. Our ambition is for the UK to become the most climate-ready large economy by 2030 and help people and communities feel positive about their financial futures. This is why our two key focus areas are:
- Climate action—promoting healthy, thriving communities by preventing, preparing for and protecting against the impacts of climate change
- Financial wellbeing—helping people take control of their wellbeing by giving them the tools to be more financially independent and ready for anything
- And it's about more than money - the Aviva Community Fund also gives causes access to volunteers, as well as tools and resources to help build their capabilities and achieve long-term sustainable success.
Aviva Community Fund [https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/]
IM Properties Community Fund
IM Properties [https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/im-properties-community-fund/] are a market-leading property company, specialising in innovative, sustainable construction and insightful investment, with a portfolio of award-winning projects.
Sustainability is at the heart of what they do, they recognise that as a property business they have an important role to play supporting and sustaining communities beyond bricks and mortar. As part of their Sustainable Futures strategy, they have established their own IM Properties Community Fund to build on the learning and good practice gained from their existing project funds.
They have partnered with the Heart of England Community Foundation to administer the fund on their behalf.
The Stobart Sustainability Fund
The Stobart Sustainability fund is aimed at supporting community-led sustainability projects and initiatives lead by non-profit organisations, community groups and educational facilities, such as schools and colleges, to help them transform their local community through projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance the environment.
Stobart welcome applications to the Stobart Sustainability Fund from community groups, educational facilities or small businesses. Applications need to be of a green, ecological or sustainability nature with the project benefiting the environment.
Apply here if you have a green initiative or project that needs help with funding.
The Stobart Sustainability Fund | Stobart [https://eddiestobart.com/the-stobart-sustainability-fund/#enquires]
Veolia Environmental Trust
To apply visit the Veolia Funding [https://www.veoliatrust.org/funding/] web page.