National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET)

National Grid Electricity Transmission Community Grant Programme

Grants from National Grid Electricity Transmission for charities and community organisations in parts of England and Wales affected by its transmission construction or maintenance work. Communities affected by maintenance of existing infrastructure (e.g. overhead line or substation refurbishment) can apply for up to £10,000. Communities affected by construction of new infrastructure (e.g. new tunnels or substations) can apply for up to £20,000. Applications are taken quarterly through an expression of interest handled by Localgiving.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £20,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Registered charities, social enterprises and non-profit organisations whose project is in an area of England or Wales affected by National Grid Electricity Transmission's construction or maintenance work; the organisation itself may be based elsewhere
Eligibility depends on showing the adverse impact of NGET's works on the organisation or community (traffic, restricted access, noise, light and so on), not on proximity alone
Organisations need a bank account in their name with at least two unrelated signatories, a constitution if not a registered charity, a management committee of at least three unrelated people, and accounts for the latest financial year (or a projection if new)
CICs and social enterprises need a not-for-profit constitution and at least three unrelated directors
One application per deadline and one grant per financial year (April-March); previous grantees must have completed their project and final monitoring first
Communities affected by Yorkshire GREEN, Eastern Green Link 1 and 2, or Bramford to Twinstead must apply to those projects' own Local Community Funds instead

What it funds

Social benefits: initiatives supporting hard-to-reach members of the community and improving diversity and inclusion
Social benefits: community safety, from electricity safety to protecting at-risk people including the elderly and those with special needs
Social benefits: improved educational attainment by building the confidence and self-esteem of children and young people
Social benefits: education projects, especially those upskilling young people in STEM
Social benefits: health and wellbeing in the local community, for example addressing energy efficiency
Economic benefits: employment support through work placements or retraining that help people from lower-income communities back into work
Economic benefits: capacity building for community, charity or voluntary groups to improve their services
Environmental benefits: conservation projects or awareness raising that improves environmental behaviour or understanding
Environmental benefits: improving the energy efficiency of community facilities
Environmental benefits: helping people manage their energy usage and access affordable tariffs

What it will not fund

Communities where NGET has offices or fixed sites such as existing substations, unless construction or maintenance work there is affecting the community
Work by other parts of National Grid (National Grid Ventures, National Grid Electricity Distribution) or by distribution network operators
Increased energy costs from the cost of living crisis in areas not affected by NGET work
Land and building purchase
Planning permission, construction or development rights costs
Legal representation or legal case costs
Commercial or for-profit organisations, including private limited companies and companies limited by shares
Projects with a total cost over £40,000
Standalone feasibility and project development costs, including planning costs
Re-granting to individuals or other organisations
The advancement of religion (faith-based organisations can be funded for secular activities)
Political parties or causes
Medical research, equipment or treatment
Core running costs
Projects that only benefit individuals
Day trips and residential trips, including treks or expeditions
Statutory organisations such as local government, schools, the NHS or parish councils (PTA/Friends groups can apply for projects that also benefit the wider community)
Retrospective funding
Improvements to land or buildings the applicant does not have tenure over
Statutory responsibilities such as scheduled transport, public highways and public car parks
Organisations outside England and Wales
One-off community events such as fetes and fairs, or seasonal projects such as Christmas lighting or bonfires
Ongoing support for a previously funded project

How to apply

Check the project is in a community affected by NGET construction or maintenance work and read Who can apply, What we fund, What we do not fund and the FAQs
Submit the short expression of interest form online
Localgiving (National Grid's partner) contacts you with further information and the full application
Applications are checked against minimum requirements and scored by a National Grid funding panel
If successful, provide bank details; the grant is paid into the organisation's account
Report on progress and impact after 12 months or when the project is complete

Windows open quarterly (April, July, October, January), with panels in June, September, December and March. The window for the September 2026 panel has closed; applications sent now go to the December 2026 panel.

If you cannot apply online, email help@localgiving.org with your contact number.

Have ready

Impact summary statement naming the NGET project or location and describing the disruption to your community
Accounts for the most recent financial year, or a financial projection for a new organisation
Constitution (if not a registered charity)

Proof of tenure (e.g. a lease or formal agreement) is needed for improvements to land or buildings.

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