February 17th 12:01

Funding opportunities - The Co-operative Community Energy Challenge and Plan LoCaL workshops on community led planning

The Co-operative Community Energy Challenge – a new initiative supporting large scale community renewable projects throughout the UK. Groups at all stages of project development can apply to get 12-18 months of expert mentoring, technical advice and community facilitation. www.cse.org.uk/coopenergychallenge

Plan LoCaL workshops on community led planning – a series of free one day workshops for community groups, and those working with community groups, to access information and resources to support communities to engage in the planning system. www.cse.org.uk/downloads/file/planlocal_dissemination_event_flier_feb_2012.pdf

February 16th 17:24

Funding opportunity - Western Power Distribution Community Chest

Western Power Distribution (WPD) have just launched their Community Chest grant scheme, and £50,000 is available to enable communities to install energy efficiency measures in community buildings. The grant is being administered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) who can also provide expert advice and guidance to help groups to carry out an audit of their buildings.

Community groups within WPD’s distribution area, which serves the Midlands, South and West Wales and the South West of England, can apply for grants of up to £1000, in order to pay for simple but effective energy efficiency measures to not only reduce their energy costs but also reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings they use for their activities.

Eligible measures include insulating loft spaces, installing energy monitors, draught proofing windows and doors, fitting effective heating controls and installing low energy lighting.

The application process is simple. Groups are asked to submit a short application form and provide quotes for recommended improvements, as well as completing an audit of their building. Guidance is provided on CSE’s website here, www.cse.org.uk/wpdcc or email wpdcc@cse.org.uk for more information.

February 15th 09:19

Congratulations to all of the successful applicants. LEAF received a phenomenal amount of interest and we are looking forward to watching your projects over the next few weeks. Please ensure your lead organisation have signed and returned your grant claim form to enable us to pay your initial 25%. If your project was eligible for community engagement and / or bid development this will follow at the earliest opportunity.

Commiserations to our unsuccessful applicants, competition was tough. We understand the benefit of feedback and will be looking to publish a number of hints, tips and useful pointers for applicants within this section of the website over the coming weeks. We appreciate that this result is disappointing, however please be assured that we will report our findings to DECC, and hope to generate further awareness for community grant schemes in the future.

January 30th 10:02

We received a great deal of interest for Phase 2 and are currently reviewing applications. Announcements will be made by February 6th.

Successful applicants from Phase 1 awaiting their initial funding will receive an update on this via email by the end of the week.

January 18th 11:44

We are currently receiving a large volume of enquires and apologise if we are yet to come back to you. Please be assured that we are working round the clock to support both submissions, and resubmissions for Phase 2. Successful applicants from Phase 1 have been emailed and posted paperwork, unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback via email as soon as possible.

We thank you again for your interest in the LEAF Programme, and wish you all the best with your proposal.

January 16th 17:00

Following a large number of submissions we have put together a brief list of ‘hints and tips’ to help those applying, or reapplying for Phase 2;

Some common problems with phase 1 proposals were:

• Missing quotations – The most common issue with applications for Ph1. Please remember, all items over £1k must include a quote, and items totalling over £25k must have 3 quotations
• Missing documents – Don’t forget your signed accounts, actions of associations and supporting letters where possible
• Poor outcomes and details of project monitoring/reporting - Lack of information about the outcomes and how they relate to the aims of the programme and how they will be monitored
• Community involvement and engagement - Lack of clarity about how the projects will engage and involve local community members, how many, over what duration and with what resulting change in behaviour
• Carbon emissions - Lack of detail about how carbon emissions will be achieved, the possible amounts and over what duration

When completing your online application you must clearly demonstrate that your project;

• Has clear outcomes, deliverables and an affective monitoring/evaluation schedule
• Is responding to a clearly identified need
• Has a clear vision of how it fits into any long term plans for the community
• Has the ability to be replicated amongst other communities
• Delivers a potential carbon and energy saving
• Has clear strong community engagement
• Is achievable within the timescale as well as the scope and reach of the community involved
• We will not fund capital projects in phase 2 other than in exceptional cases where you are able to show very clearly that you will definately have time to install them before the 31st March 2012. We will also only fund capital for carbon saving measures that need to be demonstrated (e.g. solid wall insulation), not well established measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation and heating systems. Please also refer to the LEAF guidance for further information on eligibility
• Has members who can demonstrate relevant experience and a clear ability to successfully lead the project
• Represents value for money

Please take the above into consideration before submitting for Phase 2 to ensure your project displays its full potential to our Assessors.

Good luck with your proposal and we look forward to working with you!

January 10^th 10:00

All applicants will be notified of their result via email and letter. If you are unsuccessful you will be able to reapply for Phase 2.

Feedback may be available – please contact the LEAF helpline should you wish to discuss this in detail.

January 9^th 14:06

Due to the high volume of applications, the results of Phase One will now be announced no later than January 16th by the Secretary of State. We apologise for the delay, please be assured that you will be notified as soon as possible.