The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme will help voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations across England to deliver more efficient services for people and communities by saving money on their energy bills.
The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme is offering independent energy assessments to help identify energy-saving opportunities in your building.
From January, the scheme will also be offering capital grants to implement measures recommended in your assessment. There will be three capital grant rounds with applications opening in early January 2024, mid April 2024 and early July 2024
Applicant organisations must be a VCSE based in England and delivering frontline services. They must be able to demonstrate that they are financially sustainable, require support around energy and are not suitable for blended finance or loan support through other schemes.
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.
Use the eligibility checker to see if you’re eligible to apply for the cost and delivery of an Independent Energy Assessment (IEA). If you’re successful, Groundwork will match you up with an independent energy assessor who will work with you to assess your building and help identify energy-saving opportunities.
An IEA is a comprehensive evaluation of your building’s energy usage, efficiency and potential for energy savings, conducted by a qualified and experienced independent energy assessor.
With a satisfactory IEA, and provided you meet the wider eligibility criteria, your organisation may also apply for a Capital Grant. Capital Grants of between £2,000 and £150,000 can be used to install capital energy efficiency measures, identified in your IEA, to reduce your building’s energy costs and support the delivery of your frontline services.
Groundwork is delivering these community grants, designed to support unemployed and/or economically inactive people with complex barriers to move towards employment and digital inclusion.
These grants support projects that meet health and wellbeing related needs, and build strength within communities. We'll be offering grants up to £10,000 with possibility of two year funding.
A wide range of UK registered charities based and working in the UK can apply for one-off grants of up to £5,000 for garden projects or up to £10,000 for building or indoor projects.