The
Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) is offering a funding package to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations improve their energy efficiency.
The
VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme aims to help VCSEs deliver more efficient services for people and communities by saving money on their energy bills.
led by
Groundwork UK, the scheme is being delivered by a collection of partners and supported by
Energy Saving Trust,
Centre for Sustainable Energy,
Locality, and
Social Investment Business.
The scheme is funded as
part of a package of over £100 million of support being delivered by the Government to help frontline delivery organisations with the increased cost of living
The scheme has two main components:
Independent Energy Assessment (IEA)
The Independent Energy Assessment is a
complete evaluation of a charity’s energy usage, efficiency, and potential for energy savings of a charity’s location, which would be carried out by a qualified and experienced energy assessor.
This independent assessment includes an on-site collection of data on costs and energy usage, examining a charity’s existing systems, providing recommendations, estimating savings, and providing an action plan.
With an acceptable IEA, a charity can then be eligible for a Capital Grant through the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme.
Capital Grants
If a charity has a suitable IEA, they can
apply for a Capital Grant to support the delivery of their frontline services.
The Grants can be used to install the energy efficiency measures which had been identified in the charity’s Energy Assessment to reduce their building’s energy costs. This can include:
- Building insulation enhancements (insulation, draft-proofing, glazing and thermal doors)
- Space and water heating measures (efficient boilers, heating controls, etc.)
- Lighting upgrades (light fittings and lighting controls), and
- Renewable energy measures that reduce energy costs
The Capital Grants scheme is relaunching very soon, with another round of funding to be announced before the programme’s final deadline of 30th August 2024.
For
more information and
how to apply, visit the Groundwork
website.
MVA continues its efforts to provide coverage of local and national news and events from the Voluntary and Charity Sector.
If you would like to see coverage of specific news or subject to help your charity, your project, your community group or enterprise, you can get in touch by email at info@mva.org.uk, you can also contact MVA via the website.