The £10 million Smart Energy GB in Communities Fund is currently available to local not-for-profit community groups that have a charitable purpose (for example, charities, clubs, social enterprises, residents associations, parish councils) that can help engage people and communities across Britain with information about how to obtain and use smart meters.
The programme is especially aimed at projects that can reach those who may face barriers to getting a smart meter.
This funding round is for projects which are specifically targeted at and engage people over 65 with no personal internet access to provide reassurance and handholding support to help them understand and realise the benefits of smart meters. This could involve a range of activities, including incorporating smart meter messages into existing services and events or running specific advice sessions on smart meters.
Small grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available during 2017. There is no match funding requirement. Funded projects must commence on or after 7 August 2017 and be completed by 1 December 2017. The funding is only available in England, Wales and Scotland.
Alongside the fund, an online resource centre will offer materials, such as posters, leaflets and training resources, to any organisation that wants to help people benefit from smart meters
During 2016, 62 small grants were awarded to local organisations and 18 large grants were awarded to regional organisations.
To be eligible, applicants must have:
o A UK-based bank account in the organisation's name;
o Financial procedures that require two signatories for withdrawals and cheques;
o A governing body with at least three members;
o A governing document such as a constitution or set of rules with a dissolution clause to ensure funds go to a charitable organisation;
o An annual report and accounts or an income and expenditure account;
o A safeguarding policy if working with adults at risk; and
o Adequate insurance cover.
o Financial procedures that require two signatories for withdrawals and cheques;
o A governing body with at least three members;
o A governing document such as a constitution or set of rules with a dissolution clause to ensure funds go to a charitable organisation;
o An annual report and accounts or an income and expenditure account;
o A safeguarding policy if working with adults at risk; and
o Adequate insurance cover.
There's a long list of exclusions for this fund, including:
o Activities which are not targeted at or do not engage people over the age of 65 who have no personal internet access;
o Existing activities;
o Projects or activities that are not focussed on programme outcomes and priority groups;
o Organisations that are not considered charitable;
o Retrospective costs;
o Beneficiary groups not in England, Scotland or Wales;
o Projects or activities that cannot be completed by the programme end date;
o Individuals;
o The promotion of political or religious objectives;
o Work that is primarily the responsibility of statutory authorities;
o Core funding for the applicant organisation (eg. general operating costs, central costs, running costs, management, administration and office costs, overheads and support costs);
o Projects or activities which do not demonstrate additional activity to ‘business as usual’ activities and are not smart meter specific;
o Costs to produce content for radio or television;
o Costs to produce content for social media;
o Costs for the design of monitoring and evaluation surveys (as these will be provided by Smart Energy GB) and any costs for research;
o Costs to print any items which may be downloaded for free from the partner section of the Smart Energy GB Resource centre;
o Costs for paid advertising or production costs of existing newsletters or brochures which are already being produced as part of the applicant’s ‘business as usual’ activities;
o Costs to undertake engagement with MPs or elected Local Authority members; and
o Organisations that are a member or branch of one of CAF’s national partners, where the project would duplicate existing activity with the national partner.
o Existing activities;
o Projects or activities that are not focussed on programme outcomes and priority groups;
o Organisations that are not considered charitable;
o Retrospective costs;
o Beneficiary groups not in England, Scotland or Wales;
o Projects or activities that cannot be completed by the programme end date;
o Individuals;
o The promotion of political or religious objectives;
o Work that is primarily the responsibility of statutory authorities;
o Core funding for the applicant organisation (eg. general operating costs, central costs, running costs, management, administration and office costs, overheads and support costs);
o Projects or activities which do not demonstrate additional activity to ‘business as usual’ activities and are not smart meter specific;
o Costs to produce content for radio or television;
o Costs to produce content for social media;
o Costs for the design of monitoring and evaluation surveys (as these will be provided by Smart Energy GB) and any costs for research;
o Costs to print any items which may be downloaded for free from the partner section of the Smart Energy GB Resource centre;
o Costs for paid advertising or production costs of existing newsletters or brochures which are already being produced as part of the applicant’s ‘business as usual’ activities;
o Costs to undertake engagement with MPs or elected Local Authority members; and
o Organisations that are a member or branch of one of CAF’s national partners, where the project would duplicate existing activity with the national partner.
There are two applications rounds in 2017:
o Round 1 is open from Monday 12 June until 5pm Wednesday 19 July 2017 with applicants notified in early August;
o Round 2 is expected to open in August 2017 and close in September with notification of decisions in October.
o Round 2 is expected to open in August 2017 and close in September with notification of decisions in October.
Guidance notes and an application form can be found on the CAF website.
The completed application form should be submitted online or by email.
Contact details for the Fund are:
Smart Energy GB in Communities
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4TA
Tel: 03000 123 346
Email: smartenergyGB@cafonline.org
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4TA
Tel: 03000 123 346
Email: smartenergyGB@cafonline.org
(Source: GRIN)
