Charities and social enterprises, especially those based in disadvantaged areas, struggle to find investment for energy resilience and to make the transition to Net Zero. To help organisations access the right funding and improve their energy efficiency, Social Investment Business has joined up with Big Issue Invest, Charity Bank, Co-operative and Community Finance, GMCVO, Groundwork UK, Key Fund, Resonance, The Architectural Heritage Fund and The Ubele Initiative to launch the Energy Resilience Fund. It’s a fund worth £15m funded by Better Society Capital, Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, and Social Investment Business Foundation.
The new Energy Resilience Fund (ERF) provides a blended funding package of loan (60%) and grant (40%) to bolster the energy resilience of eligible charities and social enterprises in England. The Energy Resilience Fund succeeds the pilot Energy Resilience Fund managed by Key Fund.
The Energy Resilience Fund opened to applicants on 6th November 2024. The fund is for charities and social enterprises based in and delivering impact in England, who are looking to improve their energy resilience. This could be for many different reasons, for example reduced carbon emissions, energy cost savings, upgrading energy efficiency ratings to meet future regulations, increased use or comfort of buildings, replacing older vehicles and equipment with modern energy efficient versions.
Eligible organisations can apply for blended funding of between £25,000 and £250,000 to install energy saving measures or energy generation technology to buildings or land (including new builds), and/or to purchase energy efficient or environmentally friendly vehicles or equipment.
The Energy Resilience Fund could pay for a range of energy efficiency measures, for example, energy efficient lighting systems, insulation upgrades, glazing upgrades, small scale wind turbines, solar PV panel systems, battery storage systems, solar water heating systems, heat pumps and electric vehicles. The funds could also be used to pay for related costs including capital costs, labour costs, project management costs, revenue losses and contingency.
If you’re not sure if this fund is for you, would like to talk about your eligibility, or have any questions about the application process, we are happy to help. Get in touch with us at gmsocinvest@gmcvo.org.uk
Find out more here.
