Ongoing and time-limited funding from a wide range of sources and regions
Featured Funding Opportunity
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.
Energy Saving Trust has been appointed by Ofgem to distribute payments from energy companies that may have breached rules. The Redress Scheme funding is available to support a wide range of activities, from engaging vulnerable customers to the installation of energy-saving or renewable energy measures. The Innovation Fund and the Carbon Reduction Fund, representing 25% of total, are open to community businesses. The Main Fund targeting vulnerable customers, currently requires a charity to lead any partnership application. The amount of funding available through the scheme varies throughout the year and will be reviewed on a quarterly basis in October, January, April and July.
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.
The Bath & West Low Carbon Fund (‘the BWCE Fund’) funds community projects in Bath and the surrounding area. To be eligible for funding the project must aim to reduce carbon emissions and/or address fuel poverty in Bath and the surrounding area. The Bath & West Community Energy Fund Grant Programme is open to groups or projects working in Bath and the surrounding area. It is particularly targeted at small organisations with charitable aims. The deadline for applications is 30 October at 1pm.
A total of up to £630,000 is available across three funding streams: feasibility, development, and delivery for community energy projects in London. A key objective of the fund is to strengthen the capacity of London’s community energy sector, with up to 25% of each grant available to support the core costs of community energy organisations. Funding is also open to other community organisations undertaking clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 7 December 2025, at 11.59pm.
National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment
Closing date: 17 December 2025
National Lottery Awards for All England – Environment has funding of between £300 and £20,000 for community-led projects that improve the environment and help people connect with and enjoy nature where they live.
They will fund projects that meet one of the following priorities:
make a positive difference to the environment
help people connect with and care for nature in their area
Aviva has partnered with Crowdfunder to support small charities and community groups with innovative ideas that benefit their communities and are looking to raise up to £50,000. Eligible causes can apply at any time.
This provides an opportunity for co-operative and community benefit societies to fund vital green measures such as installing solar panels or heat pumps, improving insulation, switching to LED lighting, upgrading to double glazing, draft proofing, and purchasing energy-efficient equipment and transport. Find the full application guidance and eligibility criteria here.
Church of England’s Boiler Replacement Hardship Grant Fund
The new Boiler Replacement Hardship Grant 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. Grants of up to £45,000 are available. Applications are open now.
This fund supports new and existing community businesses in England that are at all stages of a community share issue and has extended its support to 2025 and beyond. The Booster Fund has been hugely successful, having already invested over £4m into 88 organisations alongside. The additional £560,000 allocation will be split, with £200,00 allocated to the development of grants through Co-operatives UK and £360,000 for matched equity investments for community share offers through Co‑operative and Community Finance and their investment partner Community Shares ICOF.
This 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. To be eligible your organisation must have been operating for at least two years and have a minimum turnover of £400k in its last financial year.
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 Trust currently offers two funds: Individuals and Families Fund , which is currently open to credit and pre-payment meter customers. British Gas Energy Support Fund which is open to applications now.
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.
(£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.
This fund is noted as particularly useful for helping organisations support employment and staff costs associated with projects: Awards4All is up to £20,000 – the application window is ongoing. Apply at least 16 weeks before you want to start the activities or spend any of the money.
Funding programmes | The National Lottery Community Fund
ACRE offer grants of up to to £75,000 to support larger improvement projects to rural community buildings in England such as full refits and extensions. Awards could be made to cover 20% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum amount of £75,000. There is not currently a closing date for Stage 1 applications.
ACRE offer grants of up to to £75,000 to support larger improvement projects to rural community buildings in England such as full refits and extensions. Awards could be made to cover 20% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum amount of £75,000. There is not currently a closing date for Stage 1 applications.
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.
Outdoor brand 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.
Power to Change has launched this support package as part of the Community Business Renewal Initiative. The package includes funding, support to fundraising, guidance for community business leaders and help to continue and adapt services to ensure community businesses are at the heart of national recovery.
The Matthew Good Foundation has launched a new fund for small charities and social enterprises. Every three months, five organisations are offered a share of a £10,000 pot. The fund is open to new projects with innovative ideas as well as established charities whose average income is less than £50,000 per year.
This fund has been established to accelerate carbon reduction efforts across the King’s Cross Estate and the surrounding community, supporting the estate’s ESG priority areas. This fund is dedicated to empowering local projects that can demonstrate a tangible carbon reduction benefit, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable King’s Cross. Organisations or residents that will deliver a local project that can demonstrate a carbon reduction benefit to the King’s Cross area are eligible to apply for the Fund, including; community groups, public sector organisations. You can apply to the fund by filling in the application form which will be reviewed once a quarter.
This grant offers one-off, small grants (up to £3,000) to registered charities with an annual income below £200,000. This funding opportunity re-opens on Monday 3 November at 10am
“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.
The government offers a range of grant schemes to support the wider use of electric and hybrid vehicles via the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).
This fund is designed to nurture a diverse range of projects rooted in our vibrant local communities. 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.
Simple and flexible financing for charities and social enterprises. Focusing their investment on your organisation both to become more financially self-sufficient and to generate more social impact.
Grants to fund registered charities or activities with clearly defined charitable purposes. The trusts work in many fields, including the environment, social inclusion, education, scientific research, the arts, and heritage.
Grants to fund community renewable energy and social enterprise projects. The Trust is committed to addressing a broad range of environmental challenges, including tackling climate change, promoting renewable energy, protecting biodiversity, and encouraging sustainable living practices.
Launched in collaboration with Octopus Energy and Midcounties Co-Operative, Community Energy Kickstart is here to help plug the funding gap for community energy projects. With £1.5m of funds available, this bridging loan is for projects across England, Scotland and Wales who are building and managing local renewable generation to benefit the local community while creating more cheap, green energy.
The Camden Climate Fund can provide up to 50% of costs to reduce the carbon used in our homes, businesses and community spaces. The advice is to apply ASAP.
Triodos Bank UK has a long track record of financing community energy projects. They provide loans for project construction, operations and/or re-financing with facilities from £ 1 million up to £20 million. Triodos also helps community energy groups raise capital through Triodos Bank crowdfunding platform, they can raise amounts from £400,000 to £5m.
Ethex has a track record of successfully raising more than £70m for over 70 enterprises from a committed network of more than 15,000 people who want to use their money to create impact. Over £50m of the funding raised has been for community energy projects
The Severn Trent Community Fund is open to projects that focus on increasing community wellbeing, ideally which incorporate People, Places and Environment.
The Community Environment Fund has been created to compensate communities that are demonstrably disrupted by the construction of Phase One of HS2 from London to the West Midlands.
Capital revolving loan fund for RE projects (100kW – 5MW) (set up and overseen by BIS). Loans are available for development costs (feasibility), bridging loans (planning stage to construction) and short-term loans to cover construction.
Securing funding and planning for the future is vital. Community First Yorkshire can help you on your funding journey by finding the right funds to apply for, assisting you with the application and helping you become ‘funding ready’.
The Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and the Combined Authority, are working with local authorities to offer grants of up to £50,000 to fund climate friendly schemes. Funding of between £5,000 and £50,000 is available for projects that prioritise (1) Local, clean, and flexible energy solutions; (2) Healthy, affordable and efficient buildings; (3) Walking, cycling and public transport; or (4) Green and climate-ready nature solutions.
The government’s “Find a grant” service allows you to search government grants. You can use it to access government grant funding, search and filter to find a grant that matches your needs, find out if you are eligible to apply for a grant and how to apply for a gra
Community foundations manage funds from individuals, businesses and other donors who want to support causes in their local area. They work with community foundations to inspire place-based philanthropy, bring communities together and fund vital work in neighbourhoods across the UK.
