Other funding for organisations

There are several national funding streams or schemes that could help your organisation reduce its carbon footprint.

Funding

VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme

The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme is offering those in the voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations independent energy assessments for their building.  Once you have had the energy assessment, there are opportunities to apply for capital grants to carry out the works recommended. 

Innovate UK  

Part of the Government’s Sustainable Innovation Fund, Innovate UK provides funding for innovate projects.

Low-emission vehicles grant 

You can get a discount on the price of brand new low-emission vehicles through a grant that government gives to vehicle dealerships and manufacturers. The maximum grant available for cars is £3,000.

ULEZ van and minibus scrappage scheme

Sole traders, micro businesses and charities can apply for a grant of up to £9,500 to scrap or retrofit their vehicles that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standards.  The grant can be used to retrofit your current light van or minibus to make it greener, or can be put it towards the cost of a cleaner vehicle.  

Salix Finance

Salix provides interest-free government funding to the public sector to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills.

Other funding sources

Loan or investment funding to support carbon reduction is available from several organisations, including:

• Charity Bank – lends to charities, social enterprises, etc, where the loan is being used for social purposes.
• CO2Sense – invests in low carbon and renewable projects in the UK.
• Cooperative and Community Financing – provides competitive loans to the cooperative and social enterprise sector, like community owned shops, pubs, facilities, housing coops.
• Green Finance Institute – supports making the financial system more environmentally friendly through collaboration with financial regulators, policymakers, trade bodies, think tanks, and foundations. They are developing a range of initiatives to help fund the energy efficient retrofitting of buildings and the decarbonisation of road transport.
• Power to Change – supports and funds community organisations in the UK.
• Triodos Bank – supports positive social, environmental, or cultural change.

Schemes

WRAP  

WRAP is a charity that promotes and encourages sustainable resource use through product design, waste minimisation, re-use, recycling and reprocessing of waste materials. They often manage grant schemes to help organisations with waste reduction projects.

WRAP oversees the Courtald Commitment 2030 which is a voluntary agreement that enables collaborative action across the entire UK food chain to deliver farm-to-fork reductions in food waste, greenhouse gas emissions and water stress that will help the UK food and drink sector achieve global environmental goals. 

The organisation also manages the Guardians of Grub scheme, aimed at empowering professionals from across the hospitality and food service sector to reduce the amount of food thrown away in their organisations, with a suite of free resources.