FUNDING AND AWARDS

Resource Awards 2008

The awards are available to any non-profit community organisation working in the field of waste education, reduction or recycling.

The awards take place at the CRN UK and LCRN annual conference, which traditionally attracts the largest audience among the community sector, in addition to government officials, industry and local authority representatives. This year's conference and awards will be held in London on 4 June and will see the sum of £10,000 given away to winning organizations - £2,500 to each project.

2008 categories:

• Novelis Community Recycling Project of the Year
• Yell Best Partnership Project
• Biffa Climate Conscious Award
• Berryman Kerbside Project of the Year
• Individual Contribution to the Community Waste Sector (this is a non-financial award.

The winner receives a year's subscription to Resource magazine and recycled glass award.)

http://www.resourcepublishing.co.uk/resource-awards.php

E.on Source Fund

To support community energy projects which either result in the production of energy from a sustainable source or which reduce the amount of energy used by a community organisation.

Local community groups and not for profit organisations located in England, Scotland and Wales. Joint proposals (e.g. with local authorities) will also be considered. Applications for grants of up to £30,000 are invited.

Applications welcome from organisations that are committed to introducing sustainable energy projects and who can demonstrate an understanding of the importance of not only reducing the energy we use but also creating that energy from renewable sources.

Projects that would be considered include:

• The purchase and installation of one or more renewable energy technologies (e.g. wind, solar thermal, PV, wood etc)
• The renovation of existing facilities to incorporate micro-generation technology (e.g. the reinstatement of a watermill and the purchase of a turbine to produce hydro-electricity)
• An energy efficiency makeover for your building that could demonstrate significant energy savings and also behavioural change amongst users
• The use of new or innovative technology to deliver either energy savings or micro-generation capacity
• A project which can demonstrate the intelligent use of waste energy (e.g. a district heating system that uses waste heat from one building to heat or power another)

Application 2008 deadline:

Friday 3 October

http://www.eon-uk.com/about/2689.aspx

Bio-energy Capital Grants Scheme - Round 4

The scheme supports the installation of biomass-fuelled heat and combined heat and power projects in the industrial, commercial and community sectors. Capital grants will be awarded to support the installation of biomass-fuelled heat boilers and biomass-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) equipment, including anaerobic digesters for heat-only or CHP. 

There will be a variable rate of up to 40% of the difference in cost of installing the biomass boiler or CHP plant compared to installing the fossil fuel alternative.  This is subject to a maximum single award of £100,000 per installation. There is no minimum award threshold.

Subject to funds being available, Defra hopes to run a further application round in Autumn 2008, and several rounds in 2009 and 2010.

www.bioenergycapitalgrants.org.uk

The Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) : Funding for Low Carbon Technologies

The Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) is a new initiative to bring forward the development of new low carbon energy and energy efficiency technologies in the UK. The fund formally began operation on 1 April 2008, and will be jointly administered by Defra and BERR.

Funds within the UK element of the Fund will total £400 million during the period 2008/09 to 2010/11.

The Environmental Transformation Fund itself will not be open for funding requests. Instead, schemes funded by the ETF, such as those operated by the Carbon Trust and BERR, will be publicised via their websites and in the usual ways when funding becomes available.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/energy/fund/

Carbon Trust Interest Free loans

Energy-Efficiency Loans from the Carbon Trust are a cost effective way to replace or upgrade your existing equipment with a more energy efficient version.

Small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in England and Scotland, or all businesses in Wales that have been trading for at least 12 months, could borrow from £5,000 to £100,000. It is unsecured, interest free and repayable over a period of up to 4 years. There are no arrangement fees and applying is straightforward.

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/takingaction/loans.htm

Carbon Trust Enhanced Capital Allowances

Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) are a straightforward way for a business to improve its cash flow through accelerated tax relief. The ECA scheme for energy-saving technologies encourages businesses to invest in energy-saving plant or machinery specified on the Energy Technology List (ETL) which is managed by the Carbon Trust on behalf of Government. The ECA scheme provides businesses with 100% first year tax relief on their qualifying capital expenditure. The ETL specifies the  energy-saving technologies that are included in the ECA scheme.

http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/energy/takingaction/eca.htm

Local Food Fund  

Local Food, grants programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund, is now open for applications. The £50 million programme aimed at making locally grown food accessible and affordable to local communities has been developed by a consortium of organisations, and is managed on their behalf by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT).

Local Food is the first Award Partner scheme funded by the Big Lottery Fund's Changing Spaces programme to open its doors for applications, and will look to distribute grants to a variety of food-related community projects across England. Grants from £2,000 up to £500,000 are available for not-for- profit groups and organisations in England delivering such projects as growing, processing, marketing and distributing local food; composting and raising awareness of the benefits of such activities. There are three levels of funding available through Local Food: small grants, main grants and beacon grants.

Contact: www.localfoodgrants.org/index.php/home

Community Spaces programme (run by Groundwork UK)
Funds community groups who want to improve local green spaces such as play areas, community gardens, parks, wildlife areas and village greens.

£10,000 - £49,999.
www.community-spaces.org.uk

Community Sustainable Energy programme (run by Building Research Establishment)

Organisations can apply for up to £50,000 or 50 per cent of the project cost (whichever is lower) for installing microgeneration technologies and energy efficiency measures (such as wind turbines and solar panels) and energy saving measures (such as roof and cavity wall insulation).
www.communitysustainable.org.uk

Access to Nature programme (run by Natural England)
Funds a range of organisations who want to encourage people from all backgrounds to learn more about and enjoy the natural environment.

£50,000 - £500,000
www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature

Ecominds programme (run by Mind)
Funds a range of groups who want to encourage people with experience of mental distress to get involved in environmental project. Examples of eco-projects eligible for funding could include returning habitats to their natural state, starting up recycling initiatives or community agricultural projects.

www.ecominds.org.uk

Organics Capital Grant Programme VI - Expansion of Food Waste Processing Capacity

The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Organics Capital Grant Programme VI is now open and can provide financial assistance of up to 30% towards the capital costs of plant, equipment and infrastructure for food waste processing capacity compliant with the Animal By-Products Regulations in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Closing date: 30/6/2008

www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/funding/
capital_grants/organics_capital.html

The phone Co-op Fund

The Phone Co-op has launched a new fund to help social enterprises start and develop. The Phone Co-op Social Enterprise Start-Up and Expansion Fund will provide resources to social enterprises to help them at critical stages in their development.

The Fund, which has been started with an initial allocation of £10,000, will offer £250 to each social enterprise in the form of a credit on their Phone Co-op bills, which can be used to pay for any telecoms products or services provided by The Phone Co-op. These include fixed line and mobile telecoms, broadband, web hosting, and phone systems.

www.thephone.coop

The Community Chest Fund - Spirita (East Midlands)

This new fund will be launched in April to offer grants of up to £1,000 to help groups working to improve life at a local level.   The Community Chest Fund will be run by East Midlands housing provider Spirita. To be eligible for a grant, a group must have a formal constitution, an equal opportunities policy and a clear plan for the funding, and must offer some benefit for Spirita residents. Information will shortly be available on their website.

www.spirita.org.uk

The People's Millions

There will be four head-to-head competitions in each of the 18 ITV regions. That means 72 winning projects. In addition there will make another 18 bonus awards for the runners-up who score highest in each region.

Funding projects that transform the local environment or provide opportunities or facilities to allow people to take part and enjoy their local area.

For areas: UK

Maximum grant: £50,000 + VAT
Total available: £5.5 million for 2008

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_peoples_millions

Awards for All

Awards For All (£300 - £10,000 in England / £500 - £10,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland / £500 - £5,000 in Wales)

If you are a local group (small community groups, parish/town councils, schools, health bodies are eligible) and need a small grant (£300 - £10,000 in England / £500 - 10,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland / £500 - £5,000 in Wales) then Awards for All may be able to help you. In partnership with other National Lottery distributors, grants are made through Awards for All to involve people in their local community and bring them together to take part in a wide range of activities.

www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/index.html

Heritage Lottery Fund

For a list of all funds relating to heritage including Grass Roots and Landscape Partnerships visit:

www.hlf.org.uk/English/HowToApply/OurGrantGivingProgrammes/

Futurebuilders England - changes

Futurebuilders England's £215m fund has widened to enable third sector delivery of all public services.

Futurebuilders England which is now under the management of the Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) has announced it is actively seeking applications from third sector organisations working across all public service areas who are looking to win contracts with statutory bodies such as local authorities, primary care trusts and learning and skills councils.

Futurebuilders provides 'tailored' finance packages combining loan, grant and capacity building elements.

To apply for an investment, or to find out more about how Futurebuilders England & the surgeries www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk or call Marianne Patterson   0191 261 5200.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

This Working Neighbourhoods Fund is a dedicated fund for local councils and communities to develop more concentrated, concerted, community-led approaches to getting people in the most deprived areas of England back to work. It replaces the existing Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) and incorporates the Department of Work and Pensions Deprived Areas Fund (DAF).

65 local authority districts will receive full WNF funding from April 2008 and a further 22 authorities which currently receive NRF but will not receive WNF will receive transitional payments.

The new fund will replace Communities and Local Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and incorporates the Department for Work and Pension's Deprived Areas Fund to create a single fund.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/
neighbourhoodrenewal/workingneighbourhoodsfund/

WORKSTEP changes

More money will be available to help disabled workers move into sustained employment. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain has announced changes to WORKSTEP, a programme that helps disabled people find and retain paid employment. The changes will mean the sustained progression payment will be increased fourfold from £500 to £2000.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employmentsupport/
WorkSchemesAndProgrammes/DG_4001973

ESF Community Grants

These are small grants of up to £12,000 for voluntary and community organisations to help them reach disadvantaged people who are not working.

http://esf.gov.uk/introduction_to_esf/

CSV Action Earth

Action Earth provides grants of up to £50 (funded by Morrisons) to assist groups in England, Scotland and Wales in carrying out environmental projects. This year, there are also a limited number of £250 grants, only available in Scotland and funded by Scottish Natural Heritage, specifically intended for biodiversity projects.

www.csv.org.uk/actionearth.

The European Social Fund (ESF)

This fund was set up to improve employment opportunities in the European Union and so help raise standards of living. It aims to help people fulfill their potential by giving them better skills and better job prospects.

As one of the EU 's Structural Funds, ESF seeks to reduce differences in prosperity across the EU and enhance economic and social cohesion. So although ESF funding is spread across the EU , most money goes to those countries and regions where economic development is less advanced. The other main Structural Fund is the European Regional Development Fund which invests in projects to improve innovation, the environment and infrastructure.

The 2007 to 2013 ESF programme has two primary objectives:

The Convergence Objective aims to develop areas where the economy is lagging behind the rest of the European Union. In England, only Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly benefits from ESF funding under the Convergence Objective.

The Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective covers all areas outside of the 'Convergence' objective. The whole of England is covered by this objective, except Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Within this objective, Merseyside and South Yorkshire benefit from transitional funding as former Objective One regions in 2000-2006

In Priority 1 resources are focused on helping people who are unemployed or have become inactive in the labour market. In particular, it focuses on people who are most likely to face disadvantage or discrimination.

In Priority 2 resources are focused on people in the workforce who lack basic skills or good qualifications. In particular, it focuses on those who are least likely to receive training. It also supports training for managers and employees in small firms

http://www.esf.gov.uk/events_and_awards/

The Big Give

The Big Give helps donors find charity projects in their field of interest. All UK regulated charities can register and post projects on The Big Give

http://www.thebiggive.org.uk/

BT Community Connections

BT Community Connections offers organisations the opportunity to apply for a multi-media internet-ready PC and a contribution towards a year's broadband internet access through BT Total Broadband.

http://www.btcommunityconnections.com/

v cashpoint

This funding initiative offers young people the cash they need to turn their ideas for volunteering projects into a reality. vcashpoint offers grants of up to £2500 for young people aged 16 to 25 in England to set up their own volunteering projects in their local community.

Now open for applications from young people 16-25 years old (not youth workers or organisations).

http://www.vinspired.com/vbuzz/campaigns/171/

Capacity Builders
Three Year Funding Investment Programme Capacitybuilders has announced the roll-out of a new three year funding investment programme - to support strategic change and modernisation in the way support for third sector organisations are supported at local and regional level. The £30 million fund for 2008-11 has two principle strands, both of which will commence in April 2008:

• £12m in consortium development grants to local and regional consortia, tied to agreement of delivery of core roles and strategic outcomes, and a clearer relationship with Capacitybuilders. 
• £18m modernisation project fund, to help achieve a step change in the way third sector support services are delivered locally and regionally.

www.capacitybuilders.org.uk

 
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - New Funding Approach
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has launched a new funding approach. The majority of their funding will now be channelled through the Main Fund which will be an open, less prescriptive way of working, through which they will listen to ideas.  They expect to fund a wider range of work than before, although their core interests remain in the fields of culture, education, environment and social development.

As part of their new funding approach they are also running a number of smaller, more focused funding strands.  These will be in areas where they think a more direct intervention may have a greater impact.  The first three will be: Biodiversity, Museum and Heritage Collections, and New Approaches to Learning.  They plan to launch further funding strands later in the year. 

www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/funding/main-fund

WRAP
Has a range of support available which, at times includes the provision of funding. Further details about the funding and support that is currently available can be found on their website and include:

SME recycling - funding support for recycling service providers
Whether you need extra staff to expand your collection round, help with selling your service to more businesses, additional collection sacks and bins to provide services to more customers or a combination of measures, WRAP’s funding support scheme may be able to help your organisation.

Who is eligible?
If you are a new or existing provider of recycling services based in the UK, and you want to expand your recycling service to new areas, customers or materials then you are eligible to apply to the support fund. Applications are welcomed from organisations in the public, private and community sectors. 

Support for recycling businesses
WRAP can help businesses with their expansion plans through a range of business support services targeted at the recycling/reprocessing sector. Available support includes:
Paid consultancy support to help with attracting investment, developing a marketing strategy and guiding you on operational/ production issues;

Who is eligible?
If you are a Small or Medium Sized Enterprise operating in the UK recycling sector and recycling one or more of the following materials: aggregates; glass; plastics; organics; paper; wood; tyres; plasterboard and batteries then you may be eligible for support.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/funding/index.html

Johnson Wax Charitable Trust
The Johnson Wax Ltd Charitable Trust gives grants from £25 000 - £50 000 for projects in the field of children and youth, social welfare, the arts and particularly the environment.

Info: 01276 852000

Community Action Programme
The Community Action Programme provides local grants of up to £10,000 to support a diverse range of projects, from funding equipment at a special needs school to supporting a debt advice service in an economically deprived area. HBOS Foundation donations must fit within the two key themes of:

Money advice and financial literacy
Developing and improving local communities

http://www.hbosfoundation.org/index-community.html

Unity Trust Bank
Unity Trust Bank has launched a £50m social economy fund that will provide loans to third sector organisations.
Each organisation applying for funding will be able to borrow between £500,000 and £5m.

Contact: Mark Davies, Charities Manager 0121 616 4301 mark.davies@unitygroup.co.uk

EEDA's Carbon Reduction Funding (East of England only)
Communications campaign and competition being planned by the East of England Development Agency, the regional development agency responsible for driving economic development in the six counties of the East of England: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

It aims to inspire communities to change behaviour and reduce carbon emissions. The Campaign will launch in January 2008 and will support EEDA's objectives of helping the region to become carbon neutral by 2010.

A competition for £2.5 of EEDA funding - seeks visionary and innovative ideas for projects that go beyond day to day efficiency savings and demand a higher level of community engagement.  The funding is likely to be available across a series of rounds at roughly 6 month intervals over 3 years but all communities will be able to access support and advice to ensure that everyone gains from participating, irrespective of funding.  

http://www.eeda.org.uk/files/invitation_for_expressions_of_interest_
_all_sectors_except_energy_supply.doc

KPMG Foundation
The focus of the KPMG Foundation is on education and social projects for the disadvantaged and under privileged, with particular emphasis on unlocking the potential of children and young people up to 30 years of age, who for primarily social reasons have not fulfilled their educational potential.

In particular, the trustees have chosen to support four very distinct groups within this broad umbrella of ‘disadvantage’. Those groups are:

Refugees
Young offenders
Children and young people who have been in care
Children and young people with dyslexia/literacy difficulties

WRAP Funding for Senior Management Training Scheme
This fund is to enhance senior management skills in the recycling sector it offers recycling businesses financial support to train senior executives in all areas of business management and is designed to raise levels of knowledge and skills within the sector. Successful applicants can claim up to £5,000 towards training costs under the scheme. No match funding is required.

Any small or medium sized enterprise (SME) within the UK recycling sector, whether an existing or start-up venture, can apply to the scheme for support as long as it recycles one or more of the materials within WRAP’s remit - aggregates, glass, plastics, organics, paper, wood, tyres, plasterboard, batteries, WEEE and ELV - or operates in one of its target markets of construction, manufacturing or retail.

http://www.wrap.org.uk/businesses/support_for_recycling_businesses/
management/funding_for.html

Abbey Charitable Trust is committed to supporting local communities and disadvantaged people, particularly in those areas where Abbey has a significant presence. They would be particularly interested in funding environmental projects as well as activities which help bring different groups together. Most donations will be between £500 and £4,000. However, in those areas where we have a Community Partnership Group you can apply for up to £20,000:
Borough of Camden
Milton Keynes area (includes Bedford, Buckingham and Northampton)
Sheffield (covers South Yorkshire)
Bradford (covers West & North Yorkshire)
Teesside (Redcar to Darlington and Sunderland)
Greater Glasgow
Northern Ireland

http://www.abbeynational.com/csgs

Changing spaces
Changing Spaces is an environment led programme focusing on three priority areas – community spaces, local community enterprise and access to the natural environment. The programme will be delivered in partnership – through organisations delivering large strategic portfolios and through organisations delivering open grant schemes on our behalf (award partners).

RSWT will use the money to encourage communities to grow their own food by managing land, developing understanding of sustainable farming and encouraging community enterprises such as farmers’ markets.
Groundwork UK will concentrate on improving community spaces by supporting groups to create or regenerate areas such as parks, ponds, community gardens and village greens.

Award partner grant schemes are not yet open to applications.  Once schemes are launched there will be considerable opportunity for individual projects to apply for funding.
General info: http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_changing_spaces?
fromsearch=-uk

For more info & to register for updates:
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/
qa_groundwork_uk_rswt?fromsearch=-uk

Loans
The ethical bank Triodos has pioneered a new system of loans that will allow charities and social enterprises to repeatedly take out and pay back loans up to a fixed amount within a fixed time period.   The revolving credit facility has been used before in commercial markets but has not previously been applied in the third sector.

http://www.triodos.co.uk/uk/business_banking/?lang=

It's Your Community
Awards from £100 - £1000 available to local groups and individuals for anything that you can show will benefit your community

http://www.itsyourcommunity.co.uk/

Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards
Applications from organisations supporting elderly people and people with disabilities. The scheme also provides funding for organisations that support children's welfare and children's educational projects, including special needs schools. Between £1,500 and £5,000 are awarded as one-off contributions through the Community Awards Scheme.

The closing dates for writing to the Trust will depend on the round for which you are applying: Children's welfare and education (including special needs schools) 31 January each year; Elderly and disabilities 30 June each year.

http://www.tesco.com/everyLittleHelps/TescoCAGs.pdf

Big Invest finance
Big Issue Invest is a specialised provider of finance to scale up social enterprises. Founded by The Big Issue, it is led by social entrepreneurs and staffed by social financiers.

They provide loans as well as innovative financing products including royalty structures, guarantees and loan conversions. Average loan is around £200,000, minimum is £50,000. Their team can also provide support during the investment appraisal process that will reflect and respect the social enterprise's financial and social objectives.
Visit www.biginvest.co.uk

Adventure Capital Fund
Aims to provide organisations with a combination of finance and support, as well as providing mentoring and support services to help with organisational change and development. Applications invited from organisations who feel that they are ready to use investment as part of a finance package that will enable them to grow and become truly sustainable.

www.adventurecapitalfund.org.uk/index.jsp

The Conservation Foundation - 'It's Your Community' Grants
Funding for projects designed to improve local environments throughout the UK. Awards of up to £1000 are available to local groups and individuals for the hire of tools or equipment and to purchase plants, paint, signs, materials etc. All types of environmental projects, from anywhere in the country, are welcome to apply.

http://www.conservationfoundation.co.uk/ActLocalAwards.php

Lloyds TSB
The Community Open Programme, The Community Priority Programme, The Collaborative Programme

Funding supports charities working in the fields of social and community needs and education and training, and the main grants programmes are designed to address essential community needs.

OTHER FUNDING LEADS AND INFO

SITA Trust funding programmes
Awards for All
Introductory Pack on Funding and Finance     
HOMEBASE forging links with Furniture Projects
It's your community - O2 launches new community fund
NCVO Sustainable Funding Project
CAF Grants
Re-use credits guidance
Trusthouse Charitable Foundation
WRAP funding opportunities
Connecting Community Plus
BIG Lottery Funding

Other links:

http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/Default.aspx
http://www.companygiving.org.uk/Default.aspx
http://www.grantsforindividuals.org.uk/Default.aspx
http://www.trustfunding.org.uk/Default.aspx