Frequently asked questions

These have been compiled to provide an at a glance reference concerning our funding process.
Click on each question to reveal the answer.

• Who can apply for a grant?

You can apply for a grant if you are a not for profit group with a constitution, annual elections and a bank account. If you are not such an organisation, the Charity Commission is a good source of advice on how to become one. In order to qualify for a Trust grant, a project needs to meet specific criteria relating to location and project detail. Further information can be found on this website.

• How long will the process take?

There is no set timescale for an application to be processed but it could take between four to six months from initial submission to the Finance Agreement (contract) being issued. This website features both a timetable for submission of applications and dates of our Board meetings, during which decisions are made.

This period could be longer as we may ask for extra information. These requests often relate to a project’s compliance with Trust and Entrust criteria. In order to minimise the risk of such requests being made, we advise you ensure that you use the information on this website and Entrust’s to check all aspects of your project are compliant before you submit an application.

• How much money should we apply for?

As a guide, the average award is £20,000 - £25,000. Our maximum grant is £100,000 although those over £70,000 are rare. We cannot consider schemes with a total cost of over £500,000. If the Board decides your project can be supported, the amount awarded is up to them. Therefore we are unable to offer any further guidance on the amount you should apply for.

• Do we need 20% of funding before we apply?

If the total cost of your project is more than £25,000, before you apply for a grant, you will need to have already obtained 20% of the total cost of the entire project. 

e.g. if the total cost of your project is £45,000, you will need to have already secured £9,000 towards the project. You cannot count grants pending as part of the required 20%, only monies confirmed for your scheme and not already spent on preliminary works such as surveys, investigations and planning fees.

• If our application is turned down, how long before we can re-apply?

If the Board decides a grant cannot be awarded for your project, you will have to wait 12 months from the date of it being turned down before you re-apply.

• When can we start work on elements of our project?

You cannot start work on any element of your project as a whole until the process of drafting and signing the Finance Agreement (contract) is completed and the document has been signed by yourselves and one of our Trustees.

• When can we have the money?

Once the Finance Agreement has been signed by yourselves and a Trustee, work on your project can commence. Payments are only made on evidence of expenditure after the date of the Finance Agreement. We do not give the money in a lump sum before work starts - the grant is only released following the submission of invoices. In very exceptional cases some help may be available to ease cash-flow difficulties.

• What is a third party contribution?

If your grant is £40,000 or above, we will ask that you find an independent third party contributor who will reimburse the appropriate landfill operator the approximate 10% shortfall. This contribution could be from another funding organisation, a local council or even an individual.

• What if our project gets into difficulties?

You will need to inform us as soon as possible if you experience difficulties with your project. We may be able to help you and will need to know what is happening and why. It is our priority to see a completed project and will do everything to ensure it succeeds.

• At what stage do we need planning permissions etc?

Yes. All permissions need to have been sought and obtained prior to an application being submitted. This is so that the Trustees can be assured that the project they are considering can be undertaken.

• Do we need to be an Environmental Body?

If you are not already an Environmental Body and your funding application is successful we will register your project with Entrust.