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.