Funding for Community Groups
Green group & project activity funding
West Berkshire Green Exchange has funding available for green groups old and new, as well as for groups following the principles. Funding is available up to around £500 per group, for groups wishing to start a new group or those that need help with funding projects in already established groups. Please contact us to discuss your ideas and requirements. If you would like to ask for funding, please fill in and return the below form to us which we hope will tell us everything we need to know.
West Berkshire Green Exchange has funding available for green groups old and new, as well as for groups following the principles. Funding is available up to around £500 per group, for groups wishing to start a new group or those that need help with funding projects in already established groups. Please contact us to discuss your ideas and requirements. If you would like to ask for funding, please fill in and return the below form to us which we hope will tell us everything we need to know.
| greening_group_funding_request_form.doc |
Greggs Environmental Grants- 6 months trial period with fairly open criteria
Greggs Foundation aims to make a difference to people in need at the heart of their local communities. The scheme is funded by the 5p levy on carrier bags sold in Greggs shops. The scheme is a pilot and the outcomes will be reviewed at the end of six months to ensure the programme achieves the desired level of impact.
Projects should aim to make a difference to a local area with preference given to projects which involve or benefit people who are disadvantaged. Any not for profit organisation can apply, preference will be given to small, locally based and community led organisations with a turnover not in excess of £300,000 per annum. Schools are also encouraged to apply.
Small Grants- up to £2500
Large Grants- between £2500 - £10000
Grants can be used as match funding up to a maximum project cost of £30,000.
Greggs Foundation aims to make a difference to people in need at the heart of their local communities. The scheme is funded by the 5p levy on carrier bags sold in Greggs shops. The scheme is a pilot and the outcomes will be reviewed at the end of six months to ensure the programme achieves the desired level of impact.
Projects should aim to make a difference to a local area with preference given to projects which involve or benefit people who are disadvantaged. Any not for profit organisation can apply, preference will be given to small, locally based and community led organisations with a turnover not in excess of £300,000 per annum. Schools are also encouraged to apply.
Small Grants- up to £2500
Large Grants- between £2500 - £10000
Grants can be used as match funding up to a maximum project cost of £30,000.
Tesco Local Community Scheme - Second round will run 18th April- June 2016.
Communities across England, Wales and Scotland will soon be able to apply for up to £12,000 for local green space projects thanks to a new grant scheme being launched with the proceeds generated from the sale of carrier bags by Tesco. It is anticipated that there will be two funding rounds per year over the next three years. The scheme is open to community groups, charities and some public sector organisations and will fund capital improvement projects such as parks, play areas, community gardens and other green spaces.
The scheme is managed by environmental charity Groundwork.
The grants programme will be open to voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, local authorities and housing organisations. It will fund capital projects that provide community benefit and have free and open access to all members of the community for a minimum of six days a week, during daylight hours.
Projects that would typically receive funding include:
Communities across England, Wales and Scotland will soon be able to apply for up to £12,000 for local green space projects thanks to a new grant scheme being launched with the proceeds generated from the sale of carrier bags by Tesco. It is anticipated that there will be two funding rounds per year over the next three years. The scheme is open to community groups, charities and some public sector organisations and will fund capital improvement projects such as parks, play areas, community gardens and other green spaces.
The scheme is managed by environmental charity Groundwork.
The grants programme will be open to voluntary/community organisations, registered charities, health bodies, Parish/Town councils, local authorities and housing organisations. It will fund capital projects that provide community benefit and have free and open access to all members of the community for a minimum of six days a week, during daylight hours.
Projects that would typically receive funding include:
- Parks, pocket parks and urban green spaces
- Green corridors – river and canals, cycle ways
- Formal and informal play areas
- Open access sports facilities within public parks and recreation grounds – eg football pitches, tennis courts and cricket pitches
- Informal outdoor recreation facilities; eg gym equipment, trim trails and woodland walks
- Nature reserves, community woodland, ponds and village greens
- Churchyards
- Seafronts
- Community allotments, community gardens, orchards and city farms
Grants for Community Projects - Building Community Together Fund - closes Nov 2017
West Berkshire Council “Building Community Together Fund” is available over the next two years and will close in November 2017.
Local community groups can bid for funds from this pot to help them take responsibility for providing projects and services in their communities to meet local needs. The primary purpose of the money is to provide “start up” or “seed corn” funding to assist community based projects to start up. Funding provided would be on the basis that any service established would need to be self financing from the outset.
WBC have created a fund of £150,000 (£100k capital and £50k revenue) to provide one-off funding to help communities get their ideas going. Grants up to a maximum of £12,000 will normally be permitted. However, in exceptional circumstances this amount may be exceeded. As part of this funding there will also be a “small bids” category for grants of between £500 - £1,000.
West Berkshire Council “Building Community Together Fund” is available over the next two years and will close in November 2017.
Local community groups can bid for funds from this pot to help them take responsibility for providing projects and services in their communities to meet local needs. The primary purpose of the money is to provide “start up” or “seed corn” funding to assist community based projects to start up. Funding provided would be on the basis that any service established would need to be self financing from the outset.
WBC have created a fund of £150,000 (£100k capital and £50k revenue) to provide one-off funding to help communities get their ideas going. Grants up to a maximum of £12,000 will normally be permitted. However, in exceptional circumstances this amount may be exceeded. As part of this funding there will also be a “small bids” category for grants of between £500 - £1,000.
RHS Elspeth Thompson Bursary- Annually closes 31st December each year
The National Gardens Scheme offers a bursary in memory of Elspeth Thompson. Administered by the RHS, it is intended to support community gardening projects. These projects must be open to everyone and should be aimed at bringing the community together by the sharing and acquiring of horticultural knowledge and skills, and by inspiring a love of gardening across all age groups.
No fixed amount is set, and more than one bursary may be awarded in a particular year; bursaries generally range between £1,000 to £3,500.
The National Gardens Scheme offers a bursary in memory of Elspeth Thompson. Administered by the RHS, it is intended to support community gardening projects. These projects must be open to everyone and should be aimed at bringing the community together by the sharing and acquiring of horticultural knowledge and skills, and by inspiring a love of gardening across all age groups.
No fixed amount is set, and more than one bursary may be awarded in a particular year; bursaries generally range between £1,000 to £3,500.
Urban Community Energy Fund - Ongoing with various application phase deadlines
The Urban Community Energy Fund (UCEF) is a £10m fund to kick-start renewable energy generation projects in urban communities across England. Community groups will be able to access grants and loans to support renewable energy developments.Grants of up to £20,000 are available for the more speculative, early stages of your project’s development, such as public consultation and preliminary viability studies.
UCEF will also provide loans of up to £130,000 to develop planning applications and a robust business case to attract further investment. This will help your project become ‘investment ready’, that is, at the right stage to secure a bank loan or another form of investment.
The Urban Community Energy Fund (UCEF) is a £10m fund to kick-start renewable energy generation projects in urban communities across England. Community groups will be able to access grants and loans to support renewable energy developments.Grants of up to £20,000 are available for the more speculative, early stages of your project’s development, such as public consultation and preliminary viability studies.
UCEF will also provide loans of up to £130,000 to develop planning applications and a robust business case to attract further investment. This will help your project become ‘investment ready’, that is, at the right stage to secure a bank loan or another form of investment.
Rural Community Energy Fund - Ongoing with various application deadlines
The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is a £15 million programme, jointly funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC). It supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to the community.
The fund provides up to approximately £150,000 of funding for feasibility and pre-planning development work to help projects become investment ready.
The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is a £15 million programme, jointly funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC). It supports rural communities in England to develop renewable energy projects which provide economic and social benefits to the community.
The fund provides up to approximately £150,000 of funding for feasibility and pre-planning development work to help projects become investment ready.
The Green Insurance Company - Quarterly
Green Giving grants up to £1000 to support your environmentally friendly green projects. All applications are reviewed before allocating the grants to the winning projects. The application form is very simple to fill in so your project really has nothing to lose by applying.
Veolia Environmental Trust - Ongoing
The Veolia Environmental Trust was established in 1997 under the Landfill Communities Fund. They support a wide range of community and environmental projects throughout the UK. The money for grants is made available through the fund. Veolia Environmental Services has supported this initiative by contributing £50m since they were established, which to date has been used to help 1450 projects.
Projects are supported in the following categories: Community Buildings; Parks and Paths; Play and Recreation Facilities; Nature Reserves; and Supporting Biodiversity. For more information visit www.veoliatrust.org
Green Giving grants up to £1000 to support your environmentally friendly green projects. All applications are reviewed before allocating the grants to the winning projects. The application form is very simple to fill in so your project really has nothing to lose by applying.
Veolia Environmental Trust - Ongoing
The Veolia Environmental Trust was established in 1997 under the Landfill Communities Fund. They support a wide range of community and environmental projects throughout the UK. The money for grants is made available through the fund. Veolia Environmental Services has supported this initiative by contributing £50m since they were established, which to date has been used to help 1450 projects.
Projects are supported in the following categories: Community Buildings; Parks and Paths; Play and Recreation Facilities; Nature Reserves; and Supporting Biodiversity. For more information visit www.veoliatrust.org
