Making energy efficiency improvements to your community building will reduce its carbon emissions and energy costs.

Some improvements may be low or zero cost, but for larger and more costly improvements you’ll need a budget. This page covers funding options for specific community buildings:

• Village halls
• Schools
• Churches

You can find out more about other options for funding a community energy project here.

Village halls and community buildings

Start by contacting your local council to see if they offer grant funding for your proposed measures. If your area has a Local Action Group or a Rural Community Council, they may also have a small grants scheme.

A loan could be an attractive option for improving your building’s heating or lighting efficiency, where the payback times are relatively short. Loan funding will most likely require a robust business plan as well as a legally recognised body to manage to project and be held accountable should anything go wrong.

The following offer loans for projects that have environmental or social impact:

• Charity Bank
• Triodos
• Big Issue Invest

In addition to those listed above, the Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund provides loans of up to £20,000 to fill temporary gaps in funding, either for specific projects or for urgent work connected with a building. It’s managed by Action with Communities in Rural England who also run a nationwide advice and information service for the volunteers who manage village halls. With a network advisor in every English county, they can support with funding applications and more. Find your ACRE advisor here.

If there’s a landfill site within ten miles of your community building, then you could be eligible for the Landfill Communities Fund.

Schools

If there’s school budget allocated for building improvements or maintenance costs you could make a strong case for money to be allocated to making energy efficiency improvements.

The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme from the central government provides grants for public sector bodies to fund heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures. The scheme is delivered by Salix Funding, guidance and application forms are available on their website.

Schools may also be able to raise a significant proportion of the money needed to install improvements through fundraising activities and donations from the school community.

Churches

Several funds are targeted specifically at churches and faith groups. Here are some examples:

• The Benefact Trust (formerly Allchurches Trust) offers financial support to Anglican churches, churches of other denominations, and the wider Christian community.
• The National Churches Trust aims to protect and support the built heritage of churches, chapels and meeting houses throughout the UK.
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund funds a range of projects which connect communities to the country’s built heritage.