Rural Community Carbon Network

Some of you may already know about this -  Grassroots Grants is a £130 million programme that aims to invest in a thriving community sector.

It is funded by Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and delivered by the Community Development Foundation (CDF).

The programme, which will run from 2008-2011 is divided into two parts: an £80 million small grants fund for community organisations; and a £50 million endowments programme to enable local funders to generate additional donations on a matched basis and invest them in endowments, thereby building their capacity to provide long-term funding for frontline community organisations.

Local community groups should apply directly to their local funder, whose contact details can be found by clicking the link below.

Click here to see a list of Local Funders - Small Grants

Click here to see a list of Local Funders - Endowment Fund

For more information visit the Grassroots Grants sections of the CDF’s website

The O2 Energy Saver Fund is a joint initiative between O2 and the Energy Saving Trust. It has been designed to help local communities of between 10-25 households to install energy saving measures in their home that will help in the fight against climate change.
If an application is successful a “hit squad” will be sent into individual’s homes to install priority insulation measures.

For more information on the initiative please see the CAfE website:

The Energy Saving Trust also runs the CAfE (Community action for Energy) programme. CAfE is a network of people who share a common interest in community energy projects and ideas. Membership of the network is free and by joining you can keep up to date with news on community-based energy initiatives, as well as hearing about funding opportunities, training sessions and other news from the network.

Finally public sector and not for profit organisations can apply for funding through the Low Carbon Building Programme Phase 2 (managed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) which offers funding for micro generation technology.

As I mentioned earlier, the RCCN has made it through to Stage 2 of the NESTA Big Green Challenge. We are very happy about this as we feel that joining people, ideas and innovation up is really important in inspiring and supporting action; we are pleased that NESTA recognised this. Now, after an informative workshop session in Birmingham and 4 hours spent chatting through our initiative with our lovely adviser, plus many many hours spent writing the detailed project plan - the final application has gone to NESTA. Fingers crossed now.

Some Challengers will get an opportunity to pitch their idea to the NESTA team and judging panel in July (I am imaging something like Dragons Den, but hopefully less scary) - with successful finalists (there will be 10) being announced thereafter.

Good luck to all the Big Green Challengers!