Funding opportunities
Ongoing and time-limited funding from a wide range of sources and regions
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 MCS Main grant call 2026
Closing date:
Provider: The MCS Foundation
Grant Value: Up to £50,000
Status: Open
Summary: We are looking to fund projects that have a close strategic fit to our mission:
‘To transform the way our homes are heated, cooled and powered by reducing carbon and increasing electrification, energy efficiency and affordability.’
Our vision is that every UK home benefits from being carbon free.
What will it fund? In particular we are looking for applications which address one of our four themes, however applications outside of these themes which still work towards our vision are welcome.
The four themes are:
- The role of heat pump system efficiency and flexibility
- How to better utilise data
- Ways to support commissioning organisations to deliver low carbon heating
- How to use comfort as a driver for retrofit demand
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.
Better Futures Fund
Closing date:
Provider: South West Water
Grant Value: Between £2k to £15k
Status: Open
Summary: The Better Futures Fund supports projects and charities in South West Water’s supply area, helping build stronger communities.For South West Water customers, the fund will provide £850,000 over five years.
Who can apply?
- You need to be located within their service area.
- Schools, colleges or academies
- Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations
- Constituted groups or clubs
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Local community groups such as: cricket club, allotment group, scout group, garden club etc.
What will it fund?
- Equipment hire and purchase
- Skills and training
- Employee salaries for time dedicated to working directly on the project
- Professional fees i.e. builders, groundworkers or an interpretation design agency.
Better Futures Funds
Closing date:
Provider: Bournemouth Water
Grant Value: Between £1k – £4k
Status: Open
Summary:The Better Futures Fund supports projects and charities in areas supplied by Bournemouth Water, helping to build stronger communities. They believe in supporting projects and charities in the places where we live and work, helping to build stronger communities. For Bournemouth Water customers, the fund will provide £235,000 over five years for community funding.
Who can apply?
- You need to be located within their service area
- Schools, colleges or academies
- Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations
- Constituted groups or clubs
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Local community groups such as: cricket club, allotment group, scout group, garden club etc
What will it fund?
- Equipment hire and purchase
- Skills and training
- Employee salaries for time dedicated to working directly on the project
- Professional fees i.e. builders, groundworkers or an interpretation design agency
Better Futures Fund
Closing date:
Provider: SES Water
Grant Value: Between £1k to £7k
Status: Open
Summary: The Better Futures Community Fund supports projects and charities in areas supplied by SES Water, helping to build stronger communities.For SES Water customers, the fund will provide £353,000 over five years for community funding.
Who can apply?
- You need to be located within their service area
- Schools, colleges or academies
- Registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations
- Constituted groups or clubs
- Community Interest Companies (CICs)
- Local community groups such as: cricket club, allotment group, scout group, garden club etc
What will it fund?
- Equipment hire and purchase
- Skills and training
- Employee salaries for time dedicated to working directly on the project
- Professional fees i.e. builders, groundworkers or an interpretation design agency
Friends Provident Foundation
Closing date:
Provider: Friends Provident Foundation
Grant Value: Various funding amounts and opportunities available
Status: Open
Summary: They offer grant funding to support projects and organisations, who are working to shape a fairer, more sustainable economy. The challenges are vast. The financial system dominates our economy and too often serves its own interests. Meanwhile climate breakdown and inequality continue to worsen. There is no shortage of ideas in the UK for how to change this: we have a wealth of evidence, intelligence and ideas about how to start improving things.
Who can apply?
- Based in the uk
- For the benefit of the uk economy
- Charitable purpose
What will it fund?
- any costs associated with your work
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
OLEV Grant Schemes for Electrical Vehicles
Provider: office for zero emission vehicles
Grant Value: Various funding amounts and opportunities available
Status: Open
Summary: 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).
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.
