Western Power Distribution
Community Chest Guidance and Eligibility
Heating, lighting and insulation grants for community buildings
Introduction
Western Power Distribution (WPD) in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE)is running another £50,000 grant scheme for communities in the Midlands, South West and South Wales to help reduce their energy use.
The aim of the grant scheme, funded by WPD and administered by CSE, is to help community groups carry out simple but effective energy efficiency improvements in village halls and community buildings, after carrying out their own energy audits. The maximum award per group will be £1,000.
As part of the scheme, groups are provided with a template and guidance for carrying out an audit of their community building, from which they will be able to identify energy saving improvements that will reduce the building’s CO2 emissions.Improvements could include things like low energy lighting, heating controls, draught proofing and insulation, which can have significant impacts on reducing energy use and fuel bills.
These notes outline the eligibility criteria and the application process – please ensure you have read them thoroughly before submitting your application.
Guidance for applicants
To qualify for a grant, you need to demonstrate that:
1) You are a legitimate, not-for-profit community or voluntary group with a bank account (schools and publically owned buildings will not be eligible), and your building is used by a wide cross-section of the community for a variety of activities. Certain businesses, such as community-run village shops may also be eligible.
2) Your community building is geographically located within the WPD network area (Midlands, South West England and South & West Wales as defined by WPD’s postcode database). The map belowshows this area or you can use this postcode checker: You can also email with the address and postcode of the community building if you want to check that you are within the WPD geographical boundary before submitting an application.
3) You have undertaken a full energy survey of the building using the format, checklist and guidance prepared by CSE and available to download at the requested energy efficiency improvements are appropriate in this context.
Note: the energy survey template has been designed as a straightforward ‘walkaround’ checklist so that it can easily be carried out by a representative of the community building. You should not need to employ a professional energy auditor or consultant to carry out this task for you. If you’ve already received a professional audit you’ll still need to complete oursurvey template to demonstrate your own understanding of the building’s energy needs.
4) You are committed to arrange and deliver at least one, energy saving event for the community once the efficiency measures have been completed. Further details are given below.
5) You are willing for WPD or CSE to use your project as a case study for publicity purposes – which may include photographs and quotes for press releases.
6) You have not previously received a grant through the WPD Community Chest.
WPD distribution area
Grant maxima
The scheme will award a maximum grant of £1,000 (per group/building). Actual amounts awarded will depend on the improvements approved and quotes obtained.
Eligible measures
The scheme will fund the installation of simple energy saving improvements to community buildings including, but not limited to:
- Lighting upgrades
- Heating system upgrades (in particular improved heating controls)
- Insulation
- Draught proofing
- Minor repairs (for example to door and window frames that will have a positive effect on the energy efficiency of your building)
- Energy efficient appliances (where they are replacing older/inefficient appliances)
Other energy efficiency measures will be considered on a case by case basis.The grant will cover the full costs, or 100% of a clearly defined energy-saving element, of works undertaken.Improvements must be carried out within 3months of receiving the grant.
What is not eligible under this scheme
The WPD community chest is not designed to part fund major building renovations or renewable energy technologies.
This is because improving energy efficiency is a more effective way to achieve carbon reductions in community buildings, and energy efficiency measuresshould always be the first step before considering renewable technology.
If you are looking at renewable energy as a next step, there is guidance via CSE. Please contact .
Previous beneficiaries are not eligible to apply again.
Applications that exceed the maximum grant of £1,000 are not eligible.
Note: Improvements costing up to £1,500 may be eligible as long as the remaining costs of the installation come from your own reserves and that the funds are already in place.
Application process
/ Download the application form and information documents from the CSE website./ Use the templates and guidance notes to carry out an energy survey of your community building.
/ Identify appropriate energy saving improvements and seek a minimum of 2 quotes for each improvement.
/ Submit your application form, completed energy survey and quotes, stating the preferred contractor for each measure.
Submitting your application
Send the completed application form, together with the completed energy survey and supporting documentation, to CSE.
Email address:
Postal address: Western Power Distribution Community Chest, CSE, 3 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster Parade, Bristol BS3 4AQ
For enquiries: 0117 934 1400
Due to the popularity of this scheme, Western Power Distribution will not accept applications which are incomplete. Please make sure all the relevant documents are included before sending them. We cannot hold any funds aside while you gather additional information.
Decisions process
Your application will be checked for:
- Group eligibility (location, type of group, constitution, not a previous beneficiary)
- Use of facility (extent of building usage and number of beneficiaries)
- Suitability of proposed measures (based on energy survey undertaken by the group)
- Costs (quotes or evidence of cost have been obtained,your preferred quote for each measure is indicated, the costs of proposed improvements are reasonable, and the total requested is not more than £1,000).
Applications will initially be accepted for three months from 5 September 2016until 30 November 2016, or until the grant pot has been awarded, whichever is sooner. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis – grants for successful applicants will be awarded on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. You will be informed about the decision within 4 weeks of submitting your application.Grants will be paid viaBACS.A confirmation email will be sent upon payment.
Following the installation
Western Power Distribution request that grant recipients commit to deliver one or more energy advice events in the community, to showcase the improvements you have made and to share your knowledge of energy saving with community members. How you run the event(s) is up to you, you could host an energy day in your hall, run an advice stand in a public location, attend a local fayre or festival, or set-up a regular drop-in advice session. Advice on running community events can be found at:
WPD will post some leaflets to you to hand out at your event. CSE have produced a series of energy advice factsheets which you may download and print from
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t decided what kind of event to run yet, but we’d love to hear about any ideas you do have. Once you’ve set a date please contact Tracy Carr at WPD () to let her know as they may want to come along to take some photos. We’d love to hear how the event goes too so do send us some information and photos afterwards. We hope you can inspire your whole community to be energy savers!
Future contact
CSE will store your information in a central database and will not share your details with other organisations but may contact you with information about other projects and funding that you could benefit from. WPD may contact you directly for the purposes of publicity, photographs and writing up case studies. WPD may also contact you to arrange a visit to check that the grant was spent appropriately.