Zero Carbon Communities Grant
Grants of £2,000–£19,500 for community groups and parish or town councils to cut emissions, store carbon or involve South Cambridgeshire residents in climate and nature action.
Esta oportunidade está atualmente disponível em inglês.
The 2026/27 round is closed. Its funding covered projects under one of two themes: reducing emissions or capturing and storing carbon; or engaging the community in climate change and nature. Each application had to choose one theme and make it central to the project.
Supported work includes improvements to community buildings, such as insulation, efficient lighting and solar panels; nature projects that store carbon; and community activities that encourage changes in behaviour. Nature projects under the engagement theme must put education and engagement at the centre, rather than treating them as a secondary benefit.
The grant can cover capital costs, project workers’ salaries, management staff time spent supervising the project, reasonable staff and volunteer expenses, and appropriate project publicity. The 2026/27 guidance allowed up to 100% of project costs within the grant range. Use costs excluding VAT where it can be recovered or is not payable, and including VAT where it cannot be recovered.
Contributions from other sources are encouraged but are not compulsory. If the fund is oversubscribed, proposals with cash or in-kind contributions are prioritised; contributions are particularly encouraged for requests above £5,000.
Successful applicants sign a grant funding agreement. Money must be used for the agreed purpose and spent within 12 months of the award, unless exceptional circumstances justify an extension agreed in writing with the grants officer. Unused grant money must be returned. Any savings or income must benefit the community, and publicity must acknowledge the council’s award. An end-of-project report with photographs is due one calendar year after the award, followed by an update one year after completion on longer-term outcomes and impact.
Eligibility
The following conditions applied to the 2026/27 round:
- Nonprofit groups must be based in South Cambridgeshire or benefit its residents. South Cambridgeshire parish and town councils can also apply. Sports and membership organisations must show benefits beyond their members.
- Applicants need a written constitution or mission statement, an elected committee or representative steering group, a bank account, up-to-date accounts and relevant insurance or protection policies. The bank account must be in the organisation’s name with at least two members as signatories. Organisations working with children, young people or vulnerable adults must have appropriate safeguarding procedures.
- Informal groups and local businesses may partner with an eligible nonprofit. That nonprofit must lead and be appropriately involved in the project; commercial businesses cannot apply themselves.
- Schools, educational organisations and parent-teacher associations can apply for projects accessible to the wider community and going beyond educational curriculum purposes. School buildings are excluded.
- Community buildings must be available to the whole community. Church halls and Scout or Guide buildings qualify when clearly advertised for multiple uses. Applicants need to own the hall as a freeholder or hold it under a lease (a leasehold interest). Any lease must have at least 21 years remaining. If the applicant does not own the land, written landowner permission is required before funding.
- Required planning permission or regulatory consent must already be secured or demonstrably in progress when submitting. Applicants must confirm that nobody delivering the project has an unspent criminal conviction relevant to it and that the organisation is not subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings.
- Solar panel or related battery proposals require feasible energy conservation and efficiency measures to have been completed or planned. Solar panel applicants must provide three separate quotes. Schemes using a significant proportion of generated electricity on site are prioritised.
- Biodiversity projects using introduced vegetation must use native vegetation suitable for the soil and conditions. Tree applicants are expected to explore free-tree sources. Planting on private land must consider community benefit, any right-of-way consent and preservation if ownership changes.
Funding excludes activities already completed, including staff development time; activities benefiting individuals rather than the wider community; private profit; projects carried out to meet statutory Biodiversity Net Gain obligations; religious activity or content; activities replacing or supplementing government funding; and loan repayments. Religious organisations may receive funding for wider community benefit. Renewable installations are excluded if the applicant intends to claim Renewable Heat Incentive or other payments for which public grant support makes the installation ineligible.
How to apply
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- Condições do período de candidaturas
- The 2026/27 round is closed.
The 2026/27 application window has closed. Check South Cambridgeshire District Council’s official grant page for scheme updates. The ZCC team can provide scheme information and add you to its quarterly newsletter at zcc@scambs.gov.uk.
Applications for that round used the online form linked from the grant page. Choose one theme and explain the project, delivery plan, community benefits, lasting impact and costs. For the carbon theme, provide projected emissions reductions or carbon capture/storage; use the guidance’s calculation method unless you can clearly evidence an alternative. For the engagement theme, explain the number of people meaningfully engaged, expected behaviour change and how you will measure it.
Supporting documents include the constitution or mission statement (except for parish or town councils), latest accounts, relevant safeguarding and equal opportunities policies, quotes, applicable landowner permission and lease, specialist reports and project plans. Parish and town councils can point the council to relevant documents online.