Grant Directories

East Midlands Airport (EMA) awards funding for projects and events that benefit local communities affected by the airport’s operations. Through the EMA Low Carbon Energy Fund, charities, community groups, parish councils, schools and other statutory bodies can apply for grants of up to £10,000 to install energy-saving measures in community and public buildings, such as village halls, schools and sports facilities. The Fund will contribute towards solar panels, LED installations, electric charging points, air and ground source heating, and similar proven low carbon technologies. Projects must be completed within twelve months.

The Department for Transport is making funding available to help local and combined authorities in England to plan and deliver LEVI electric chargepoint infrastructure for residents without off-street parking. The Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund provides Capability Funding to ensure that local authorities have the staff and capability to plan and deliver chargepoint infrastructure. The fund is also open to partnerships or consortia led by a tier 1 local authority. Capital Funding will also be available to support chargepoint delivery.

The Workplace Charging Scheme enables UK businesses, charities and public sector organisations to request vouchers towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle charge-points on their premises. Installation must be completed and the voucher claimed within six months of the voucher’s issue date. The scheme is run by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by the National Lottery to support local communities. The Climate Action Fund - Energy and Climate, provides funding of between £500,000 and £1.5 million over two to five for projects that encourage communities to use energy in an environmentally friendly way.

The government is providing grants to encourage property owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps, through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS). These grants can help property owners overcome the upfront cost of low carbon heating technologies.

The Clean Growth Fund (CGF) invests in technology businesses that are driving the transition to net zero through developing disruptive products and services. The clean growth sector includes innovations that can improve the resource efficiency of industry and commerce, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, pollution or other adverse environmental impacts and also deliver substantial financial returns.  CGF will invest across the technology spectrum, including hardware, software, process systems, materials, deep tech and business model innovations, capable of driving real and rapid change on a global scale.

The MCS Charitable Foundation funds a range of projects that accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and low carbon technologies. Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are available to public sector organisations, charities and not-for-profit organisations for projects that have a UK-wide impact, either through having a national reach or through developing/demonstrating an innovative approach that could be replicated, adapted or scaled up. Projects should fall under the following themes: education, skills and CPD; public awareness/information and consumer confidence; zero carbon planning; or local zero carbon delivery initiatives. Grants of up to £100,000 will be considered in exceptional cases. Applicants should initially submit an expression of interest

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) is designed to help businesses with high energy use, such as energy intensive industries, to cut their energy bills and carbon emissions through investing in energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies.  

The People's Postcode Trust is a grant-giving body funded by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery. The small grants scheme distributes funds to small organisations, community groups and registered charities in the East of England, through grants ranging from £500 - £20,000. The Trust funds projects that: Improve mental wellbeing; Enable community participation in the arts; Support marginalised groups and promote equality; Improve biodiversity & green spaces; Enable participation in physical activity; Respond to the climate emergency & promote sustainability; Increase community access to outdoor space.

Energy Saving Trust (EST) has been appointed by Ofgem to distribute payments from energy companies who may have breached rules. Through the Energy Redress Scheme the Trust provides grants to registered charities to deliver a range of new and innovative energy related projects designed to help vulnerable energy consumers and address households that may have been impacted by COVID-19.

The Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a long-term financial support programme for renewable heat, offering homeowners payments to offset the cost of installing low carbon systems in their properties. The scheme is open to everyone - home owners, social and private landlords, and people who build their own homes. It is available to households both on and off the gas grid. The technologies currently covered by the scheme are Biomass heating systems; Ground or water source heat pumps; Air to water heat pumps; and Solar thermal panels Homeowners in England, Scotland and Wales can receive quarterly payments over a seven year period to fund the purchase and installation costs of a renewable heat source.

Naturesave Limited is an ethical insurance company providing funding to support environmental and conservationist projects. Financial assistance is available in the form of start up finance to new organisations which seeks to promote greater awareness of sustainable development or for existing companies and charities which are seeking funding for a specific project. The Trust has funded hundreds of projects since it's inception, ranging from installation of a wind turbines to the conservation of water voles in Dorset. The Trust prefers to provide start-up capital to small projects to get them going, rather than to contribute to the general administration costs of a larger charity or company.

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy's mission is to encourage the greater use of local sustainable energy to address climate change, alleviate poverty and improve quality of life worldwide. Award categories vary from year to year. Previous categories have included: Energy business award - for the company that has made local renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services more accessible. Local authority award - for councils that have undertaken effective initiatives and programmes to improve energy efficiency, increased the supply of local renewable energy (heat and electricity), and also promoted the wider use of sustainable energy through local planning and policies. And the Charity award - open to not-for-profit organisations and charities that have carried out local projects to increase energy efficiency and cut energy consumption.