Rural Community Energy Fund

The Centre for Sustainable Energy's communities team is offering support to groups who want to apply to the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF). RCEF is a £15m funding initiative to support community groups in developing low-carbon projects in rural areas.

Are you a member of a constituted community group residing in a rural area, wanting to develop a community renewable energy project? If so, RCEF could be the opportunity you have been waiting for.

The funding provides a grant of up to £20,000 for investigating the viability of renewable energy in your area.

To find out more go to http://www.cse.org.uk/projects/view/1227

They are also holding an advice cowrkshop for groups considering an application on Tuesday 18 March in Bristol, see http://www.cse.org.uk/downloads/file/Ready%20for%20RCEF%20event%20invitation.pdf

Bracknell Forest Homes Starfish Programme Community Fund

Bracknell Forest Homes have a Starfish Programme Community Fund which provides small grants that local organisations and groups can apply for to help them to carry our services and projects that directly benefit Bracknell Forest Homes Customers.

Each application will be assessed by the grant panel.  The maximum amount that can be awarded is £5000.  The grant panel will favour applications between £250 and £2000, with grant requests for higher amounts up to the maximum to be considered in exceptional circumstances.

The Community Fund is open to customers of Bracknell Forest Homes, voluntary groups and not-for–profit organisations working within communities in Bracknell Forest.

The deadline for a 2013/14 award is Monday 24th February 2014.

For further information contact:
Joanna Flaxman, Community Development Manager
Telephone: 01344 382886
Email: joanna.flaxman@bracknellforesthomes.org.uk
http://www.bracknellforestpartnership.org.uk/494

Parish Plan Grants awarded in West Berkshire

Parish Plan Grants have recently been awarded to four West Berkshire Communities. Ashampstead and Padworth have received money towards the refurbishment of their Village Halls and Aldworth have received the grant towards re-building their hall.  Inkpen are buying goals and nets for their Junior Football team.

The grant is available to any community for a project which is identified in the Action Plan of an endorsed Community Led Plan (formerly Parish Plan).

The funding is for capital costs not revenue and applicants must have access to at least 15% of the total cost from other sources either in cash or in-kind and demonstrate other sources. Applications may be for a minimum of £50 and a maximum of £5,000.
The grant is there to help projects that the community is supporting through their Community Plan, get off the ground.

If you have would like to apply for a grant to help with a  project from your plan   please contact :
Jo Naylor email jnaylor@westberks.gov.uk or phone 01635 503019 Ext 3019 or Tessa Hall  email: tessa.hall@ccberks.org.uk  or phone 07966 236408

The Peoples Postcode Trust Small Grants Programme - start thinking about your application!

Does your organisation fall under one of these types? If so, then you are probably eligible to apply for funds. 

• Registered charity (requires a number from OSCR or Charity Commission) 
• SCIO 
• Constituted voluntary or community group 
• Social enterprise 
• Community interest company (CIC) 
• Not-for-profit organisation 
• Sport club 

Grants of up to £20,000 are available, depending upon eligibility criteria. 

The Small Grants Programme has four funding rounds in 2014 and their opening and closing dates are April 5th and May 20th 2014 respectively for organisations from the South East so you could begin thinking about your application now.

For more information go http://www.postcodetrust.org.uk/small-grants.aspx

Latest national affordable housing funding launched

The Homes and Communities Agency launched the prospectus inviting housing 
associations, councils, developers and others to bid for a share of up to £1.7bn of 
grant funding for delivery of new affordable housing outside London for 2015-18. 
Homes delivered with this funding during this period will contribute to the 
Government’s ambition to deliver up to 165,000 new affordable homes across the 
country. The HCA has introduced some improvements based on learning from the 
current programme. 

Full details on the HCA’s website 

Courtesy of AcreHeadlines

Funding Central

Funding Central is a free website for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
Run by NCVO the site provides access to thousands of funding and finance opportunities, plus a wealth of tools and resources supporting organisations to develop sustainable income strategies appropriate to their needs.

Go to www.fundingcentral.org.uk to find out more.