• Energy prices from 1 July 2023 will be set by Ofgem’s price cap.
• Annual energy bills for a typical household will be around £2,074, down from £2,500.
• But, energy bills are predicted to remain high until the end of this decade, and they are still higher than before the pandemic.

What will happen to prices?

• Ofgem has announced that from 1 July – 30 September 2023, the cap on the unit cost of electricity will be 30p per kWh and 8p per kWh for gas.
• This rate falls below the current Energy Price Guarantee. At the moment, under the guarantee, a typical household is paying around £2,500 a year for energy bills.

Does it apply to me?

Most of us are on the Standard tariff, and it will apply to us. If you are on a fixed term tariff, or an exempt one, it won’t apply.

Help from CCB

Helen Dean, who runs our Family Fuel and Water Poverty Project continues to support low-income families struggling with their bills by giving telephone advice, advising families at groups, and training frontline workers. Contact her at helen.dean@ccberks.org.uk for more information, or visit our website at https://ccberks.org.uk/our-projects/energy-advice-and-fuel-poverty/

£2.5 million fund will support the work of Rural Housing Enablers who broker conversations between residents, councils and builders about securing housing that meets local need.

The government announced the new funding as part of a package of support intended to unleash rural opportunity.

Richard Quallington, Executive Director of the charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), said: “The money being proposed for Rural Housing Enablers is significant, timely and very much welcome. The shortage of affordable housing is perhaps one of the biggest threats to opportunity in the countryside. But rural communities need to have a say in the homes that get built.

Members of the ACRE Network (including CCB) have lengthy experience of working with residents and parish councils to conduct housing needs surveys – evidence that is used to secure planning permission for small scale rural developments which typically include affordable homes made available to people with a connection to the local area”.

The past few years have seen housing prices in the countryside rise at a quicker rate than in urban areas placing additional strain on household finances and forcing many people to move. In turn, this can affect the viability of local businesses and services.

According to recent government statistics, the most affordable homes in rural areas cost 8.8 times earnings compared to 7.6 times in urban areas (excluding London). A reduction in the number of private rental properties has also caused monthly rents to soar in the countryside since the pandemic.

Whilst the scale of the rural housing crisis is significant, there are good examples of where communities have risen to the challenge and welcomed small-scale housing developments tailored to local needs.

In Roxwell Essex, Laura Atkinson, the Rural Housing Enabler employed by RCCE helped the parish council identify households in need of affordable housing locally and brokered relationships between planners and housing association, English Rural. This led to the development of Glebe Meadow, a small development of seven homes, five of which were affordable rental properties benchmarked at the local housing allowance rate. One such home went to Abi and Gabriel, a young working couple with strong connections to the village who had previously moved from one private rental property to another in a desperate search for somewhere affordable to live.

The £2.5 million committed by Defra to rural housing enabling demonstrating the government is keen to scale-up these locally led schemes.

To read more about our work in this area please click here. Unfortunately funding for our Rural Housing Enabler role ceased in 2017 but it is a matter we feel passionately about and have kept on the Berkshire agenda by providing Community Led Housing training and support with Housing Need surveys.

Every day, millions of people across the UK are making a difference by volunteering.

Each year, outstanding examples of this work are celebrated through the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), this Award has been shining a light on the fantastic work of voluntary groups from all across the UK for many years. Equivalent to an MBE, the KAVS is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and it’s awarded for life.

Please find a link on how to nominate groups for this Award which is completed online at The King’s Award for Voluntary Service – official website (dcms.gov.uk)

There are many fantastic voluntary groups across Berkshire making a difference in their communities and now’s your chance to show them what a huge impact they are having and nominate them for this prestigious Award.

Advancing Life Changes
Applications close on Friday 23rd June.
Through our grants programme we will support charitable organisations that help communities in various locations across the UK. This localised approach has been selected to maximise the impact of the programme, allowing grants to improve outcomes for communities in multiple and intersecting ways and amplifying the impact in each area. Find out more.

Armed Forces Communities
Applications close on Monday 3rd July.
Grants are available to not-for-profit groups across the UK for projects which address the hidden and complex needs of specific beneficiaries within Armed Forces communities
in a meaningful way. We want to hear from those who know the most about what is needed and that’s why this year we are running such a broad programme. If you apply for a grant, you need to show how this would help to address hidden, compelling and complex needs, particularly those of vulnerable Armed Forces communities who are most impacted by cost-of-living challenges, and where evidence has highlighted gaps in support and provision. Find out more.

Veolia Sustainability Fund
Applications close on Friday 29th September. Grants are available for not-for-profit organisations and community groups in the UK who can raise their initial funding through
a crowdfunding campaign to support projects that create a better environment or a more sustainable local community. Find out more.

Big Bike Revival Grants

About Us: The Big Bike Revival is all about helping everyone and anyone to begin or return to cycling through a programme of FREE activities and services., delivered by local community organisations.
Criteria: For voluntary and community cycle groups and other not-for-profit organisations across England to deliver projects and activities delivered between 15 May 2023 and 30 September 2023 that achieve the following objectives:
• Encourage people who don’t cycle to cycle.
• Encourage people to cycle more often.
• Increase short cycling trips.
• Improve the perception of cycling safety.
• Improve people’s confidence to cycle.
The Big Bike Revival Grants Programme will support events and activities that use the ‘fix-learn-ride’ model to provide sessions for people groups that are underrepresented in cycling, such as:
• People on low incomes.
• People who suffer from poor mental health.
• People who are not meeting physical activity guidelines.
• People who are homeless.
• People lacking confidence.
• People who are unemployed.
• Military veterans.
• People who are experiencing substance abuse.
• People who are ethnically diverse.
• Refugees and asylum seekers.
• People experiencing transport poverty.
• People with perceived barriers to cycling.
Grant Size: up to £2,000
Deadline for applications: 31 July 2023. Find out more.

The National Lottery Climate Action Fund
This funding aims to inspire and support communities across the UK to address the energy and climate crisis. We’re looking for projects that show how communities can address climate change while tackling the energy challenges through community-led climate action.
We want to fund projects that:
• encourage communities to use energy in an environmentally friendly way
• bring communities together so that they can explore ways to promote energy efficiency
• enable communities to understand and engage with opportunities for clean energy generation, which do not use fossil fuels.
All projects should consider how everyone in the community can get involved with climate action. They must also address any reasons why some people might be left out.
We’re looking for projects that will bring a range of benefits to communities, including:
• improving health and well-being
• creating local ’green’ jobs, such as jobs providing low-carbon heat for homes, community energy champions and energy advisors
• reducing carbon emissions
• supporting communities to be more resilient.
We want to fund projects that aim for long term change. And projects that have the potential to have a positive impact beyond the communities they’re directly working with.
We’ll accept applications from either:
• Local partnerships
• UK-wide partnerships
• single voluntary or community organisations

Projects can apply for up to £1.5 million over 2 to 5 years, with most projects over £500,000. Minimum grant £500,000. We aim to fund around 8-12 projects.

Climate Action Fund – Energy and Climate | The National Lottery Community Fund (tnlcommunityfund.org.uk)

Delamere Dairy Foundation
Delamere Dairy Ltd has been instrumental in the concept and thinking behind the Delamere Dairy Foundation and is proud of the association and the support it can provide. Delamere Dairy’s sustainable approach to business, its ethics, values and vision inspired the concept of the Corporate Foundation, driven by a desire to ‘do the right thing’, now and in the long term, by giving back to the communities in which it operates.

Though financially supported by Delamere Dairy Ltd and affiliated by name, the Delamere Dairy Foundation, established in October 2020, is a self-governing, independent registered charity with a clear purpose of giving back to local and wider communities through the provision of discretionary grants and other financial assistance.

The Foundation is run by independent trustees and grant panel members who consider applications for funding in line with the Foundation’s objects as set out in its Constitution and with the charitable support of Delamere Dairy. Applications are welcome from charities and organisations whose purpose fits with the objects of the Delamere Dairy Foundation for the benefit of the public, namely
• The advancement of agriculture and of environmental protection
• The advancement in life of young people by developing their capabilities so that they may mature as contributory members of society
• The relief of financial hardship
• The advancement of education
• The relief of sickness
A minimum of £250 up to £5000. Charities and organisations may apply once per calendar year.

Home – Delamere Dairy Foundation

Deadline: 31st August 2023

The Ford Britain Trust

Working with our local communities to sow the seeds of change.

We are committed to supporting the communities that we work and live in. That is why we created the Ford Britain Trust. Since April 1975 we have been able to help fund the education and advancement of our neighbours.

We pay special attention to projects focusing on education, environment, children, the disabled, youth activities and projects that provide clear benefits to the local communities close to our UK locations. The Ford Britain Trust particularly encourages applications supported by Ford employees, but is open to all, provided that the qualifying organisations meet our selection criteria.

There are two types of grants to apply for:

• Small grants for amounts up to £250
• Large grants for amounts over £250 and up to a maximum of £3000

Grant applications from the following organisations will be considered:

• Registered charities
• Schools/PTAs (Non-fee paying, state sector schools only. Independent/private; fee paying schools will not be considered)
• Non-profit organisations (including small clubs and societies)

Grant applications are considered for the following purposes:

• Contributions to capital projects (e.g. refurbishments)
• Capital expenditure items (e.g. furniture/equipment/computers)
• Contribution towards the purchase of new vehicle (maximum grant £3,000*)

Grant applications supporting the following activities will be considered:

• Work that has clear benefits to the local community/environment
• Work with young people/children
• Education/schools (mainstream)
• Special education needs
• People with disabilities

The Ford Britain Trust | Ford UK

Deadline: 
We will be accepting applications for small grants from 1^st April to 30^th June for review in July 2023.
We will be accepting applications for large grants from 1^st March to 31^st July for consideration in September/October 2023.

The Henry Smith Charity

The Henry Smith Charity is a UK-based grant-making foundation that aims to reduce social and economic disadvantage.

The Henry Smith Charity funds a wide range of projects that aim to improve the lives of people who are facing disadvantage, particularly those living in areas of high deprivation. They support projects that focus on a number of areas, including:
• Improving social cohesion and community involvement.
• Providing support for vulnerable or isolated individuals.
• Tackling financial hardship and promoting financial inclusion.
• Supporting people with disabilities.
• Providing access to education and training.
The Henry Smith Charity offers a number of different funding programmes to support a range of organisations and projects. The amounts of funding available vary depending on the programme, and generally range from a few thousand pounds up to around £100,000.
Some of their funding programmes include:
• Main Grants Programme: This programme provides grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 to support organisations that are working to reduce social and economic disadvantage.
• Strengthening Communities Programme: This programme provides grants of between £20,000 and £60,000 to support organisations that are working to bring about positive change in their local communities.
• Holiday Grants for Children Programme: This programme provides grants to enable children from disadvantaged backgrounds to have a holiday in the UK.
https://www.henrysmithcharity.org.uk/
Deadline: Rolling

Sport England – Small Grants Programme

Grants are available to help not-for-profit sports clubs, local authorities and schools in England to carry out local community sports projects and encourage more people to be involved in sport. Application deadline: 30 June 2023. For further information click here.

Landscape Recovery Scheme (Part of the Environmental Land Management Scheme)

Funding is available to farmers and land managers to support projects to create new habitats for wildlife, help protected sites and boost efforts to reach net zero in England.
Application deadline: 21 September 2023. Further details click here.

Community Ownership Fund
Grants are available to voluntary, community and charitable organisations in the UK to support them in taking ownership of local assets such as sporting and cultural venues, meeting spaces, community centres, pubs and shops.
Application deadline: N/A. Further details click here.

National Lottery Awards for All – England
Grants are available for charities, voluntary groups, schools and local authorities in England to carry out projects that will improve their local community.
Further info here.

The Rank FoundationPebbles is our small funding stream for UK registered charities and recognised churches which are raising money for projects where the total cost is less than £150,000. This money can be spent on short breaks (such as an annual respite break or holiday for disadvantaged young people), equipment (such as white goods), or capital costs (refurbishment or minor building work). 

Pebble grant applications are processed on a quarterly basis. It can take up to 4 months for a decision and payment to be made. Grants are awarded on a discretionary basis; the Rank Foundation’s contribution ranges from £250 up to and including £4,000, depending on the total cost of the project.

If you are applying for charitable status, please wait until you have your charity number before submitting an application. Organisations that apply are expected to have evidence of good governance.

Pebble Grants – The Rank Foundation

Deadline: Pebble grants are awarded on a quarterly basis. Applicants should be aware that it will take approximately 4 months for a decision and payment to be made. 

The Adint Charitable TrustThe Adint Charitable Trust makes grants of between £250 and £15,000 to registered charities for general charitable purposes, but has a preference for charities working in the fields of education, training, disability, sport and/or recreation.

Applications should be in writing to the email address below and include full details of the charity for which funding is requested.

Email: adintct@btinternet.com
 

The Trust does not operate a website, but more information can be found on the Charity Commission’s register of charities.

Charity overview, THE ADINT CHARITABLE TRUST – 265290, Register of Charities – The Charity Commission

Deadline: Rolling

Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants
Bupa Foundation Green Community Grants support practical projects which help both people and planet health through funding amounts between £250 and £2,500. The scheme, which is part of Bupa’s Healthy Cities campaign, is open to all to schools, registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, local authorities and social housing providers across the UK.
Priority will be given to the regeneration of green spaces for community use, however other examples include:
• Improving green spaces for community activities to improve wellbeing
• Tree planting to improve air quality and biodiversity
• A school wanting to create an outdoor classroom or forest school
• A community group who’d like to create an allotment
• A voluntary organisation wanting to install sustainable equipment, such as a heat pump
This is not an exhaustive list and other project ideas are welcomed. Link to further information here.

Deadline Friday 30th June.

International Tree Foundation – UK Community Tree Planting Programme 

Funding is available to protect, promote and plant trees in local communities in the UK. Application deadline: 15 December 2023. Click here for more details.

Power to Change’s Discovery Fund

About Us: The Discovery Fund is a new fund offered by Power to Change.

Running over six months, the fund is looking to work collaboratively with 20 community businesses who have an idea they want to explore about how they could use community tech to solve a challenge either the business or their community are facing. The programme is for feasibility and speculative work, where a community business wants time and space to scope out what they might want to do in relation to community tech. Further info here.

Thank you to Berkshire’s wonderful CVS’s for providing content for this blog – West Berkshire Volunteer Centre, Wokingham & Bracknell InVOLve, Reading Voluntary Action and Slough CVS.