Funding opportunities
Ongoing and time-limited funding from a wide range of sources and regions
Energy Redress Scheme - 15th Round is now open! Deadline 5pm on 2 March
Closing date:
Grant Value: £20 million available
Status: Open
Summary: The scheme funds projects that support vulnerable energy consumers, the development of innovative products or services and the empowerment of consumers to reduce their carbon emissions. Read more about this fund on our dedicated Energy Redress webpage
Who can apply? Registered Charities and Community businesses (Coops, CBSs, CICs) can apply to these Funds
What will it fund? .
Small Project Fund
- Amount available: Up to £1 million
- Priority: Support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
Main Fund
- Amount available: Up to £12.5 million
- Priority: Support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
Impact Fund
- Amount available: Up to £500,000
- Priority: Monitoring the impact to households, of energy advice and other interventions.
Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund (CERF)
- Amount available: Up to £2 million
- Priority: Projects that will reduce UK carbon emissions and empower households to reduce their carbon footprint.
Just Transition Fund
- Amount available: Up to £1 million
- Priority: Projects that develop community renewable energy which will benefit energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
Northern Powergrid Energy Resilience Grant - Expressions of interest are now open
Closing date:
Provider: Northern Powergrid
Grant Value: up to £20,000
Status: Open for expressions of interest
Summary: To submit an expression of interest, all you need to do is complete a short eligibility quiz, and if you are eligible give a little detail about your project. You’ll then be told within 14 days if you can proceed to a full application.
Who can apply? Charities, CIC’s, CIO’s who are:
- Based within Northern Powergrid’s operating area of Northeast of England, Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
- Have an annual income under £500,000
- Have been operating for at least one year
What will it fund? Projects can include energy generation and backup solutions and may also include small energy efficiency improvements, as long as these support a wider community resilience plan.
For this round, NPg are especially keen to support projects that help communities stay open, safe and supported during emergencies such as storms or long-duration power cuts.
The Great British Energy Community Fund (formerly the Community Energy Fund)
The Great British Energy Community Fund (formerly the Community Energy Fund) is a government programme which specifically funds community energy projects to do feasibility and development. £10m was made available through the fund initially in 2023 and the government has recently announced another £5m. The aim of the fund is to help kickstart projects including small-scale wind farms and rooftop solar partnerships, as well as battery storage, rural heat networks, electric vehicle charging points, and fuel poverty alleviation schemes – all proposed, designed and owned by local people.
Mayoral Renewables Fund - £10M Investment for regional energy projects
The government has announced a £10m partnership between Great British Energy and the Metro Mayors, called the Mayoral Renewables Fund. This funding is not specifically for community energy, however some organisations may benefit from the scheme. Applications are open to Mayoral Combined Authorities, so if you are active in one of the areas listed below we encourage you to connect with the Combined Authority to discuss any opportunities for joint projects.
Grant application advice & resources
CEE convened a Grant applications workshop during Community Energy Fortnight in 2023. You can find the recording on our YouTube channel.
You can access our top tips for funding applications and notes from the workshop to help your grant writing process.
The Energy Efficiency Sharematch Fund
Closing date:
Provider: Co-operatives UK
Grant Value: The fund will provide grant funding to match money raised from community investors, to pay for measures that reduce their energy bills and carbon footprint.
Status: Open
Summary This sharematch fund provides an opportunity for co-operative and community benefit societies to fund vital green measures.
Who can apply? Community businesses must be either:
- Co-operative society
- Community benefit society
- Charitable community benefit society
- Applicants would need to use the Crowdfunder platform to run their share offer before March 2026
What will it fund? Examples of eligible measures include:
- Installing solar panels or heat pumps
- Insulation
- LED lighting
- Double glazing
- Draft proofing
- Purchasing energy efficient equipment and transport
Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund
Closing date:
Provider: partnership between the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and Bristol City Leap
Grant Value: range of grants up to £50k
Status: Open/Rolling
Summary: Whether you’re passionate about generating renewable energy, connecting to heat networks, making energy efficient building improvements, or championing low-carbon transportation solutions, the fund could help get your project off the ground. A range of funding options are available, from a starting grant of £500 to help you test your project idea, to more substantial funding up to £50,000.
Who can apply?
- local community groups driving down carbon emissions in Bristol
What will it fund?
- This fund is designed to nurture a diverse range of projects rooted in our vibrant local communities.
Ebico Trust
Closing date:
Provider: Ebico trust
Status: Open
Summary: Ignite with Ebico 2 offers selected early-stage start-ups fully funded tailored support packages, including expert commercial guidance and specialised design assistance. The programme is designed to accelerate competitive technological innovation, driving forward sustainable solutions that enhance home comfort, efficiency, and environmental performance. This is a fully funded grant.
Who can apply?
- Must be a registered UK business
- Must be innovating in household carbon reduction
- Must be addressing the issues of affordability and sustainability
What will it fund? Support in:
- investment readiness
- market evaluation and commercial strategy
- logo and brand identity
- concept generation and prototyping
Patagonia Grant Scheme
Closing date:
Grant Value: £5k to £15k
Status: Open
Summary: Patagonia supports organisations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change. Patagonia provides funding for organisations that build involvement and civic engagement and work to build an inclusive and diverse environmental movement, among other criteria.
Who can apply? organisations that:
- builds an equitable, inclusive and diverse environmental movement
- confronts systemic bias, discrimination and injustice in environmental policy or outdoor spaces
- focuses on root causes
- identifies specific goals and objectives that can be effectively measured to evaluate success
- builds public involvement and civic engagement
- work to build an inclusive and diverse environmental movement
What will it fund? organisations that:
- organisations that have or can create a strong base of support
The Community Shares Booster Fund
Closing date:
Provider: Co-operatives UK
Grant Value: Development grants between £2k to 15k, Equity match investment ranging from £10k to £50k
Status: Open
Summary This fund supports new and existing community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue.
Who can apply? The Booster Fund supports community businesses.
- Community businesses can be any type of business that trades products and services.
- They will fund community businesses that have charitable purpose and reinvest their profits for the benefit of the community they serve.
What will it fund? Key themes for applicant impact area
- Reduce social isolation
- Improve health and wellbeing
- Increase employability
- Create better access to basic services
- Enable greater community cohesion
- Foster greater community pride and empowerment
- Economic regeneration:
- Feasibility studies
- Hardware/Installation costs
- Community engagement workshops
Camden Climate Fund
Closing date:
Provider: Camden Council
Grant Value: Up to £5k/£50k depending on fund
Status: Open
Summary:The purpose of the Camden Climate Fund for Community Energy projects is to support community groups, charitable groups, and non-profit organisations to develop and deliver community-led energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that enhance the energy efficiency of community buildings while providing co-benefits to the community. There are two types of funding available:
Capital funding: Funding of up to £50,000 to cover 50% of the costs to support with capital costs associated with installing an energy efficiency or renewable energy project, this can include purchasing materials and technologies.
Feasibility funding: Funding of up to £5,000 to support groups to obtain advice on an energy efficiency or renewable energy project: this includes elements such as consultancy fees, business case assessments or pre-application planning advice and retrofit assessments for flat blocks.
Who can apply?
- The fund is available for non-for-profit groups, organisations and institutions in Camden
What will it fund?
For the feasibility fund:
- elements such as consultancy fees, business case assessments or pre-application planning advice and retrofit assessments for flat blocks. There is no match-funding required.
For the Capital fund
- e.g. purchasing materials and technologies (including insulation, LED Lighting or renewable energy technologies such as Solar PV or an Air Source Heat Pump).
Better Futures Fund
Closing date:
Provider: Bristol Water
Grant Value: between £2,000 – £10,000
Status: Open
Summary: The Better Futures Fund supports projects and charities in areas supplied by Bristol Water, helping to build stronger communities.
Who can apply?
- Located in the Bristol Water supply area.
- Schools, colleges, or academies.
- Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations.
- Constituted groups or clubs.
- Community Interest Companies (CICs).
- Local community groups (e.g. cricket clubs, allotment groups, scout groups, garden clubs).
What will it fund? Your project must focus on one or more of these areas:
- Nature & Environment – Projects protecting nature and improving community wellbeing.
- Education – Helping people of all ages grow and develop.
- Community – Bringing people together and creating a sense of purpose.
- Vulnerability – Supporting people who need extra help.
The Leathersellers' Company
Provider: Small Grants Programme
Grant Value: Up to £5k
Status: Rolling
Summary: This grant offers one-off, small grants to registered charities with an annual income below £200,000.
Who can apply? Charities and CIOs must meet the following criteria:
- Deliver activities to meet an identified need for vulnerable members of the community
- Provide evidence of effective impact/ difference made e.g. testimonials gathered from feedback and questionnaires
- Have a consistent charitable income of less than £200,000.
- Have a planned expenditure of under £200,000 during the financial year in which you are applying for funding.
- Demonstrate financial need. Due to overwhelming demand from charities with high financial need, the fund is unlikely to be able to prioritise applications from organisations holding more than 6 months’ free/unrestricted reserves.
- Have a publicly accessible website clearly showing who you are and what you do.
- Have a minimum of one year’s published accounts available via the Charity Commission.
What will it fund? Charities and CIOs that:
- Understand the needs of their local community
- Are open and transparent about their work and finances
- Work in partnership with others
Idea Fund
Provider: The prospectory
Grant Value: £250 to £3k
Status: Open
Summary: “I’ve got an idea” is a micro fund for individuals (or small groups or organisations) who have a novel technical idea that they want to try out that will have a social or environmental benefit. It will cover a variety of different costs and there is no set deadline.
Who can apply?
- Applicants must be resident in the UK.
- Applicant that don’t use AI
What will it fund? ideas that:
- That are technically inventive and novel
- That could deliver a social or environmental benefit.
- That are intriguing and have an element of fun
- only funds the costs of making and/or testing the idea itself
Church of England’s Boiler Replacement Hardship Grant Fund
Provider: Church of England
Grant Value: £45,000 (The level of grant available for each church will vary according to the indices of multiple deprivation by ecclesiastical parish.)
Status: Open
Summary This fund aims to support churches/church halls with limited budgets with the costs of replacing a gas boiler with an alternative low carbon heating system.
Who can apply? Churches in all dioceses (excluding the Channel Islands) can apply. To apply, churches must meet the following criteria:
- The church/church hall’s existing oil or gas boiler is at the end of its life or has failed.
- Churches and church halls where activities are taking place in a building owned by part of the Church of England.
What will it fund?
The fund is from the Church of England’s NetZero by 2030 programme, which aims to equip, resource, and support all parts of the church to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions from the energy used in its buildings, schools, and work-related transport.
The Community Builders Fund
Provider: Social Investment Business
Loan Value: £100k – £1.5m (Repayment Term 1 – 6 years)
Status: Open
Summary: The Community Builders Fund provides loans of between £100k and £1.5m to UK charities and social enterprises based in England, Wales and Scotland. The fund is supported by the Government guarantee scheme – Growth Guarantee Scheme.
Who can apply? The Community Builders Fund is for UK charities and social enterprises based in England, Wales and Scotland who are improving people’s lives, or the environment they live in, who
- Are primarily constituted for social benefit improving people’s lives or the environments they live in.
- Have been operating for at least two years.
- Has a minimum turnover of £400k in its last financial year (or £200k if the organisation is based in Scotland or Wales)
British Gas Energy Support Fund
Provider: British Gas
Grant Value: customers that owe up to 2k in debt
Status: Open
Summary: The British Gas Energy Trust, is an independent charity funded by British Gas, and was set up to support individuals and families who are struggling to pay their bills, regardless of energy provider. The British Gas Energy Trust will only consider clearing arrears in full, partial payments will not be considered
Who can apply?
- You are a British Gas customer
- You are a credit or pre-payment meter customer living in England, Scotland or Wales
- You have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 12 months
- You are seeking a grant to clear outstanding debt on a current energy account in your name and place of residence. We cannot consider applications for closed accounts (i.e. if you have moved home or changed supplier)
- Your account balance will be verified with British Gas at the time of assessment and if they exceed the total combined arrears threshold of £2,000, your application will be declined. Please continue to maintain your payment arrangement whilst your application is in progress.
- You have received help from a money advice agency or used our trusted partner’s self help Benefit Calculator tool within the last 6 months.
What will it fund?
- Pre-payment meter customers who owe between £50 – £2,000 in energy debt
- Credit account customers who owe between £250 – £2,000 outstanding in debt
The North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub has a £1m pot of funding for a Strategic Projects Pipeline
Projects should meet NZ Hub priorities: Heat Decarbonisation; Renewable Energy Technologies; Natural Carbon Sequestration; Circular Economy. Proposals should be strategic in nature with a focus on investigating, scoping, informing, demonstrating, evaluating, and developing insights to inform net zero strategy. New submissions to the Strategic Project Pipeline can be accepted at any time and should be sent to enquiries@NEYnetzerohub.com. Submissions will only be appraised within the re-fresh periods in the spring and autumn.
Baywind Energy Co-operative Ltd
(£1 million for solar and hydro sites)
Baywind Energy Co-operative Ltd is a mature community energy organisation actively looking for solar sites (above 20kW) and hydro sites. They are focused in Cumbria, but are open to support projects across the country. They will also be able to help install, maintain and own solar systems for 20 years at cost of a unit price much lower than commercial rates for those interested. For more information, please contact Steve Lawer.Awards4All
Provider: Community fund
Grant Value: £300 to £20k
Status: Open
Summary: The organisation provides funding for projects that bring people together to build strong relationships and improve communities in England.
Who can apply?
- constituted voluntary or community organisation
- constituted group or club
- registered charity
- charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
- not-for-profit company
- community interest company (CIC) limited by guarantee or limited by shares (if limited by shares, you must follow the Regulator of Community Interest Companies’ guidance on sharing profits)
- school – they can only fund your project if it mainly benefits and involves the communities around the school
- statutory body (including local authorities, town, parish, and community councils)
- community benefit society
What will it fund?
- running costs for your organisation
- equipment
- one-off events
- staff and training costs
- transport
- utilities
- volunteer expenses
- small land or refurbishment projects
The application window is ongoing. Apply at least 16 weeks before you want to start the activities or spend any of the money.
