Check out the latest funding opportunities available to community groups and parish and town councils, with a particular focus on community buildings, community spaces and energy projects.

Cheshire West & Chester Welcoming Spaces Fund 2023-24

Grants up to £2,500

Deadlines for applications: 26th January and 1st March 2024

Geography: Cheshire West & Chester

This revenue funding is specifically designed to aid organisations in covering additional operational costs associated with establishing and maintaining a Welcoming Space, especially during the winter period and beyond. Grant recipients are encouraged to leverage these funds to enhance their financial sustainability, enabling them to continue their valuable activities beyond March 2024.

UKSPF Cheshire West & Chester – Community Building Capital Fund

Grants up to £10k

Deadline for applications: 8th January 2024

Geography: Cheshire West & Chester

This fund is targeted at community buildings, community groups and parish councils to develop their community buildings and spaces with projects that align with UKSPF priorities. The main outcomes of your project should be focused on financial sustainability – either saving or reducing costs or generating income.

Rural England Prosperity Cheshire East – Improved, Greener, Community Facilities Capital Fund

Grants up to £15k (25% match required)

Deadline for applications: 19th February 2024

Geography: Cheshire East

This was previously administered through Spacehive crowdfunding platform but is now open as a competitive grants programme. Grants are available to improve community facilities and buildings, energy efficiency and save carbon through the Improved, Greener Community Facilities Fund, funded by the UK Rural Prosperity Fund. Organisations can apply for 75% of projects costs up to a maximum of £15,000. Applications will be considered from organisations for local projects, meeting the fund objectives and criteria.

North West Community Energy Fund

Grants up to £40k for feasibility and up to £100k for project development

Deadline for registration of interest (not full applications): 5th January 2024

Geography: Cheshire and Warrington

This fund is aimed at projects that develop local renewable and low carbon energy projects (such as wind farms, hydro power and rural heat networks, community electric vehicle projects

(such as electric vehicle charging points and electric car clubs) and energy efficiency retrofit projects (where there is a business model for a sustainable service).

Chester Community Energy – Community Benefit Fund 2023/24

Grants up to £2,000

Deadline for applications: 13th January 2024

Geography: within 6 mile radius of Chester City Centre

Voluntary Community Faith Sector (VCFS) organisations within the Chester area, including West Cheshire and those parts of Flintshire within a 10 km (6 mile) radius of Chester city centre including Shotton and Connah’s Quay, for projects that help organisations and/or their beneficiaries improve energy efficiency, waste reduction or make use of renewable sources of energy.

Community Ownership Fund Round 3

Capital grants available: Up to £2million for all asset types, but most awards up to £250k

Revenue grants available: £50k or 20% of capital

Deadline for applications: 31st January 2024

This government fund aims to: support community groups to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community; support community groups where the asset is already in community ownership but needs essential renovations to be sustainable for the long-term benefit of the community; strengthen community ownership across the UK and; strengthen the social infrastructure that helps communities to thrive.

VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme

Grants available subject to energy assessment (see guidance)

Deadline for applications: August 2024

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. These assessments 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 install the recommended energy efficiency measures in their premises.