A new funding scheme, to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England improve their energy efficiency has opened -it is being administered by Groundworks https://www.groundwork.org.uk/vcseenergyefficiencyscheme/

It is part of the package of over £100 million of support being delivered by the government to help frontline delivery organisations with the increased cost of living.

The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme will have 2 elements:

• Eligible organisations can apply for the cost and delivery of an independent energy assessment. This will help identify how to reduce bills through measures such as improving or installing new energy features in the building, or changing how energy is used. These assessments will be useful to organisations whether or not they apply for the second element.

This is the part of the scheme that opened on 7^th December.

• Organisations with an energy assessment may then be eligible to apply for a capital grant to install the recommended energy efficiency measures in their premises.

This part of the scheme will open to applications in January 2024.

There is a eligibility checker available on the groundworks website (link above).

To apply for an independent energy assessment, organisations must:

• be based and operating in England
• be a VCSE organisation, with charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes
• be delivering frontline services or operating a hub that delivers multiple frontline services
• be able to evidence the need for energy efficiency support
• be able to evidence that they are financially sustainable
• not be suitable for blended finance or loan support through other energy focused schemes

Additional eligibility criteria will apply to the capital grants. These criteria will focus on the organisation’s relationship to their building and the evidence and impact of the requested energy measures.

Priority will be given to organisations:

• for whom energy is the biggest concern
• directly supporting individuals and communities with critical needs, particularly those related to the rising cost of living
• with a turnover of less than £1m a year

Practical support will be available to help organisations manage capital installation projects. All measures will need to be installed and paid for by March 2025.

Community First Oxfordshire (CFO) is looking to appoint new Trustees

CFO is seeking to recruit new Trustees to our Board. We are looking for people who have an interest in our work and, ideally, experience or knowledge (or interest!) in one or more of the following fields: the charity sector generally, planning and community development, climate action, governance, policy, charity law or health & safety.

Trustees need to have an interest and enthusiasm for working to improve community life in Oxfordshire and the ideal person will also have strong networks or alliances within the County. Post holders will be expected to attend up to six Board meetings per year (these are currently held in the morning and are virtual). In addition, there may be a small number of other meetings including the Annual General Meeting and a Board/Staff Away Days.

CFO – what we are and what we do

Community First Oxfordshire (CFO) is a community development charity working with communities to strengthen community infrastructure, focusing on transport, community buildings, community led-plans, community shops and enterprise. We support and advise volunteer-led actions in Oxfordshire, helping hundreds of volunteers fulfil many roles in their communities.

We run a highly regarded Neighbourhood Planning support service. We are leading on new initiatives, such as placemaking with emerging communities (new developments) and a new community-led housing hub (Collaborative Housing).

CFO is part of a national network of 38 rural community councils. We seek to work in collaboration with the network, with statutory bodies, with the local voluntary sector and with businesses to improve our impacts on the ground by working together.

To find out more about our charity and what we do, please visit our website – https://www.communityfirstoxon.org/ and check out our CFO Trustee Recruitment Pack 2023. For an informal chat please contact Emily Lewis-Edwards or Tom McCulloch on 01865 883488 or email [email protected]