The Purpose of the Fund

The overall aim of the programme is to support and strengthen small Community Organisations operating in the rural areas, market and coastal towns of the South West Region. The focus will be on activities that enable people from diverse backgrounds to become engaged in their neighbourhoods and communities and to support those organisations that are bringing about real change to the lives of the people who live in those communities.

Where and who should projects be aimed at?

 Community Renewable Energy Grants

The Naturesave Trust now provides start up 'seed corn' grants for community renewable energy projects, whatever type of renewable power generation you, as a community, are considering.

The costs involved can be onerous and The Naturesave Trust recognises that many lenders and investors may be reluctant to put money into a project at an early stage as it may or may not get past the planning stage.

The Government has renewed its commitment to low carbon transport by announcing (19.01.12) that the Plug-in Car Grant has been extended until 2015 and a new Plug-in Van Grant has been created.

According to the Government these grants will enable the purchase of ultra-low carbon vehicles which may otherwise be unaffordable. The existing Plug-in Car Grant offers 25% - up to £5,000 - to motorists buying a new plug-in car. Under the terms of the new scheme, van buyers will be able to receive 20% - up to £8,000 - off the cost of a plug-in van.

£15 million in risk funding for community renewable energy projects has just been announced as part of the Chancellor’s autumn statement. This will mean Government support for communities to meet the upfront cost of developing renewable energy projects and thus remove a major barrier to community-driven renewable energy project development.

The brief statement can be found in the Autumn Statement document (paragraph A.117, page 64): http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/autumn_statement.pdf