For advice and support on external funding opportunities in Suffolk, covering a range of different sectors and activities, please visit the Suffolk County Council webpage to sign up to the VCSE bi-weekly Grants Alert.
The following document has been put together by Suffolk County Council to signpost towards grants: SCC Green Environment Grants
These other grants are available to help communities implement carbon saving actions and enhance biodiversity in Suffolk.
Suffolk Climate Action Community Match Funder – This fund is designed to assist charities, community interest companies, parish councils, voluntary groups and other not for profit organisations who wish to deliver community-based carbon reduction projects that contribute to Suffolk’s Climate Emergency Plan and our vision for Suffolk to become carbon neutral by 2030. The fund will support up to 50% of costs (up to a maximum of £10,000) for applications demonstrating that others in the community support the project in the form of contributions from a minimum of two other sources (not including your own funds) to make up the remaining project costs.
Let’s Go Zero OVO Foundation Nature Prize – The OVO Foundation Nature Prize is a competition for schools to win cash prizes of up to £1,000 for a nature project. The aim of the prize is to bring students closer to nature, boost biodiversity on school grounds, and kick start climate action. There are 10 prizes of £1,000 and 15 prizes of £200 available. More information can be found here, and case studies of previous winners are here for inspiration. The competition closes 25th Nov.
Community Shares Booster Fund – Equity Applications – The Booster Fund supports Community Businesses at any stage of Community Share issue. For Equity Match investments, these range from £10,000-£100,000, acting as an offer of investment to match money raised from the Community, providing the minimum target has been reached. Applications for Equity Match are open to businesses that are investment ready. This fund closes 27th November. You can find out more at Apply to the Booster Fund | Co-operatives UK.
Felixstowe Town Council Occasional Grants –For the year 2024/25 a total of £25,000 has been made available to support community organisations which are able demonstrate a clear need for financial support and which contribute towards the vision and aims for Felixstowe. Projects and activities must have a specific benefit to residents of Felixstowe. We are particularly keen to hear about any Environmental projects that you are planning and require funds towards. The deadline to apply for Round 2 of Occasional Grants is 30 November 2024. Visit Occasional Grants – Felixstowe Town Council to find out more.
Rural England Prosperity Fund – If you are based in Babergh & Mid Suffolk, you can apply for The Rural England Prosperity Fund! This is a capital grants scheme with three separate funds than can be used for a number of projects including:
- The 1:1 Model is for Charities seeking to raise up to £10,000 in public donations (to be doubled by match funds).
- The Pledge model is for charities looking up to £100,000 in public donations (to doubled by match funds). Charities can receive up to £50,000 in champion funds.
Charities must have an annual income of £25,000. A full list of criteria can be found at Green Match Fund – Big Give. The deadline is 17th January.
Energy Efficiency Sharematch – Energy Efficiency Sharematch will support Co-operative Societies, Community Benefit Societies and Charitable Community Benefit Societies based in England to undertake activities which reduce their energy usage, or identify alternative sources of energy, leading to a reduction of both the organisation’s carbon footprint and energy bills.
Energy Efficiency Sharematch will provide grant funding to match money raised in community shares. Most grants awarded will be between £10,000 and £15,000. The minimum grant is £5,000 and the maximum grant is £30,000. Find out more at Energy Efficiency Sharematch | Crowdfunder.co.uk. The fund will run until March 2025.
linking climate action to the everyday lives and interests of local communities. And inspiring them to take action.
influencing communities at a regional or national level. Like linking up groups across locations. Or a campaign that inspires change across one country, or the whole UK.
The minimum grant amount is £500,000, with an estimated deadline of early 2025.
Aviva Community Fund – The fund helps local causes build stronger communities across the UK, with a focus on climate action and financial wellbeing. Funding is available for organisations looking to raise up to £50,000.
Energy Resilience Fund – The Energy Resilience Fund is an initiative assisting community businesses in retrofitting their buildings with energy-saving measures. The programme is funded by Power to Change and delivered by Key Fund. Your business can get an investment from £10,000 to £150,000, with an interest rate of 6.5% flat and a term of 12 months – 7 years. To find out more and apply, visit Energy Resilience Fund – Power to Change.
I Dig Trees – Community Tree Packs – The Conservation Volunteers I Dig Trees project are giving away Community Tree Packs to help you tackle Climate Change. There are multiple tree packs with different benefits: from pollinators to wildlife booster packs, there’s something for everyone! Trees must be planted on public land. To get your tree pack, visit I Dig Trees.
Material Focus: Funding to Reuse and Recycle Small Household Electricals in the UK – Material Focus, an independent not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to stop electricals from being hoarded and thrown away, is offering grants to communities across the UK to reuse and recycle small household electricals.
A total of £750,000 is available to support two types of projects:
Growing existing services – grants of up to £100,000 for projects that grow existing collection methods for small electricals.
Innovating new methods – grants of up to £50,000 to come up with new approaches to repair, reuse and/or recycle electricals.
The funding can be used for:
- The purchase of new bins/collection points (‘bring banks’).
- The adaptation of waste collection vehicles to include cages for kerbside WEEE.
- Vehicle rental.
- Installation of bins.
- Communication and marketing materials.
- Staffing costs to cover the time spent planning and delivering the project.
- Salaries if the person is working to deliver the funded project.
A range of registered organisations can apply, including charities, local authorities, waste partnerships, private waste contractors, other private companies, and compliance schemes. Material Focus will provide successful applicants with project management support. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Pledges will be matched at a rate of £3 to every £1 donated up to 75% of your project target
- 3:1 match funding will apply to pledges of up to £250. Example; if a project receives a pledge of £50, The Mortgage Advice Bureau Foundation Fund will provide £150. If a project receives a pledge of £1000, The Mortgage Advice Bureau Foundation Fund will provide £750.
- The maximum value of 3:1 match funding a project can receive is £5000
- Only one pledge per supporter will be matched, this will be the first amount pledged by a supporter.
National Lottery Awards for All – The National Lottery offers funding from £300 to £20,000 to support your community activities. You can apply for funding to deliver a new or existing activity or to support your organisation to change and adapt to future challenges. This fund is for Community or Voluntary organisations, and you should apply at least 16 weeks before you want to start activities.
CASE STUDY: Silver Jubilee Sports Club (Rickinghall, Mid Suffolk) received £9,999 in September 2023 to replace roof lights and install a new solar photovoltaic cells & battery system. The funding will be used to replace the roof lights and install solar panel and battery system at the village hall. The project aims to provide a more financially and environmentally sustainable community space.
You can find out more at about the grant at National Lottery Awards for All England.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund – Landscape Connections – The Landscape Connections Fund supports long-term projects boosting nature recovery and connecting people to landscapes. If you have a vision for your project, you can submit an expression-of-interest form, before applying for a grant between £250,000 and £10m. You can read more about the fund at The Heritage Fund website.
Nature First Small Grant scheme – The Nature First Small Grant scheme, run by Greenprint Forum, is available to voluntary organisations and community groups who have Community-led projects linked to the goal of Nature First. Projects have to take place in the district of East Suffolk. Grants from £250 – £1,000 are available. You can find out more info, including a full list of eligibility, at East Suffolk Council.
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. You can send an initial application form at eddiestobart.com
The Wickes Community Programme – The Wickes Community Programme is a project fund to support initiatives for Community areas. The fund is open to local community groups and charities. There is a pot of money available for materials for community groups. Up to £200 can be signed off by the store manager and more agreed by the regional manager. You can find out more by popping into your local Wickes or visiting their page.