GrantRadar

Uttlesford District Council

Zero Carbon Communities Grant

Grants of £500 to £10,000 per project for parish and town councils, community groups and CICs in Uttlesford taking action on climate change and nature recovery: energy efficiency in community buildings, community energy, nature recovery, sustainable transport, and climate campaigns and education. Staff costs can be funded as well as capital. The current round closes at midday on Friday 4 December 2026, with a launch webinar on 14 October.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£500 – £10,000
Deadline
47 days left
4 December
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • A parish or town council within Uttlesford district; a formally constituted community group or community interest company working within Uttlesford district; or a 'not for profit' group that is not formally constituted but is supported by a constituted mainstream service, town or parish council or community group willing to administer the funds through an organisational bank account
  • You can apply for more than one project, though the council aims to spread funding across the district
  • For projects asking for more than £5,000, part-funding or in-kind contributions are not required but are prioritised if the fund is oversubscribed
  • Projects must report on progress 6 months after completion, register on Sustainable Uttlesford's project directory and commit to sharing their learning

What it funds

Projects that contribute to one or more of: reducing carbon emissions or carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; nature recovery, particularly through new habitats and semi-wild spaces; or wider community engagement and behaviour change around climate change. Themes include:

  • Carbon emission reduction in community buildings: energy conservation measures (draught proofing, insulation, replacing doors or windows), energy efficiency measures (lighting upgrades, smart heating controls, infrared heating) and solar PV, which may include battery storage, once feasible conservation and efficiency measures are done or planned
  • Community energy: business startup activities as part of a costed business plan, community events, initial stage feasibility studies, providing energy saving advice, and developing a thermal imaging and information service
  • Nature recovery: for example hedge creation, Local Wildlife Site enhancement, nature-based solutions for waterways, climate resilience planting, community orchards, planting for pollinators, Farm Clusters and community monitoring schemes
  • Sustainable transport: community cycling and walking events, and cycle shelters or stands on publicly accessible land
  • Climate change campaigns and education: for example food waste reduction, repair cafes or libraries of things, community allotments, community nature areas, biodiversity mapping or citizen science, and climate or creative events and workshops
  • As well as capital costs: salaries of project workers
  • Salaries of management staff who supervise project staff, in proportion to the staff time spent on the project
  • Reasonable expenses of project staff and volunteers
  • Marketing and publicity for the project (as appropriate)

What it will not fund

  • Activities, events or services which have already taken place, including staff development time
  • Activities that benefit individuals, rather than the wider community
  • Activities that generate profits for private gain
  • Religious activity or content (religious organisations can be funded if they are providing benefit for the wider community)
  • Activities that replace government funding (for example, only school activities that are additional to the curriculum)
  • Renewable energy installations where it is intended to claim Renewable Heat Incentive payments, or any such payments where the use of public grants renders the installation ineligible
  • Loan repayments

How to apply

  1. Optionally join the launch webinar on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 7pm (Microsoft Teams)
  2. Read the Zero Carbon Communities Grant guidance notes
  3. Apply using the council's online form by midday on Friday 4 December 2026, uploading your documents or emailing them
  4. You get a confirmation email with a copy of your application
  5. An evaluation panel of 3 councillors, including the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, scores the applications
  6. Successful applicants receive a funding agreement setting out how the grant will be paid

you should be the person authorised to apply on behalf of your organisation. Advice on planning permission should be sought before applying for building or cycle shelter projects.

Have ready

  • Your organisation's most recent audited financial accounts
  • Constitution
  • Equalities policy
  • Safeguarding policy, if you have one
  • A quote for the project costs
  • Details of the methodology used to calculate carbon dioxide reduction or capture
  • Sketch or planting plan if applicable to your project

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