A new funding scheme will soon be opening to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England improve their energy efficiency. The VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme is 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.
This scheme will have two 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. This assessment will be useful to organisations whether or not they apply for the second element
- organisations with an energy assessment may then be eligible to apply for a capital grant to support the cost of installing recommended energy efficiency measures in their premises
Full eligibility criteria will be published when the scheme opens, but organisations must be based in England, be a voluntary, community, and social enterprise, deliver frontline services and not be suitable for blended finance or loan support through other schemes. Priority will be given to organisations for whom energy is the biggest concern and those directly supporting individuals and communities with critical needs, particularly those related to the rising cost of living.
In order to help deliver this scheme, Groundwork are seeking to build a network of experienced energy assessors able to deliver energy assessments from January to August 2024 to support applicants.
For more information and to sign up to be altered when the scheme opens for applications:
https://www.groundwork.org.uk/vcseenergyefficiencyscheme/
Applications for free independent energy assessments will open in December 2023. Applications for the installation of energy efficiency measures will open in January 2024.
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.