Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

Name of Fund: Climate Challenge Fund

Brief Description of Fund

The Climate Challenge Fund aims to help Scottish communities make a real difference by significantly reducing carbon emissions. The Scottish Government fund is £27.4 million over three years from 2008 to 2011. The fund is administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The projects funded will be expected to be ambitious in their work to reduce emissions. Priority is given to ideas that help strengthen local economies, improve community cohesion and other social objectives alongside making significant carbon emissions reductions. There is no requirement to find funding from other sources. 

What activities does it fund?

The types of projects that can be considered for funding follow many different themes including:

• Energy
• Food
• Transport
• Waste
• Capacity building
• Costs of establishing a partnership, setting up a company etc.
• Behaviour change
• Feasibility studies
• Eco-builds
• Eco-refurbishment
• Awareness raising

• Community consultation

What can't be funded?

• Activities outwith Scotland
• Project costs incurred after the end of March 2011
• The purchase of energy generating equipment or installation costs associated with the equipment
• Any project which shows that the CCF grant will contribute directly to a company's operational costs or profits
• Any form of endowments, loan repayments or activities which build up reserves or surplus within an organisation's finances
• Project activities which promote religious or political beliefs (Religious and political organisations can apply for funding as long as the project does not promote the religious or political views of the organisation.)

You can get more information on what is eligible here.

Examples of projects that have received funding

• Fintry Development Trust, Stirlingshire, received £67,541 for the Fintry Community Energy Project for survey work to reduce energy use within the village and ultimately make it a zero carbon and zero waste community.
• Stepping Stanes Youth Cycling Club Development Project, Dumfries, received £2,700 to increase cycling opportunities for additional cycle training in schools.
• Assynt Renewables Ltd, Highlands, received £74,220 for an energy audit of houses, community buildings and businesses in the Assynt parish area with support from Energy Saving Trust.

You can find out more about projects that have received funding on the Climate Challenge Fund website.

How much funding is available to applicants?

There is no set grant minimum, but a £1million maximum.

Who can apply?

To apply you must be:

• Based in Scotland
• Legally constituted
• Not-for-profit distributing community groups
• From the community sector and not householders or individuals

A community may be a group who have an interest in common, are living in the same local area or are a legally constiuted group. Organisations may include, but are not restricted to, local voluntary organisations, schools and not-for-profit organisations. Community groups could be working in partnership with local authorities, housing associations, universities and colleges and other voluntary sector, NGOs and local government partners.

Is there a deadline?

The 2011/12 funding round is now open for applications.

Where can I find out more?

You can find out more on the Climate Challenge Fund website and on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website.

Who do I contact?

You can call Keep Scotland Beautiful on 01786 471 333 or email ccfenquiries@ksbscotland.org.uk.