The application process
- Decide if you are applying for a Community Grant or Habitat and Biodiversity Grant
- Answer the questions in our Eligibility checker to see if your project meets the first of our criteria requirements
- Check your project meets all aspects of our Funding criteria, please contact us if you have any questions
- Choose When to apply by finding the funding round right for your project
- Read our Funding guidance and sample application form to prepare what you need to make an application, and consider how to make your application stronger
- Recheck the eligibility of your project to Apply for funding you will then be automatically directed to create a Veolia Environmental Trust User Account, where your online application form is located
To apply for a grant, you will need to complete our online application form. If you need help to complete the online form, please contact us.
It is essential that you have fully read and understood our funding criteria before you begin your online application form. Your application will not be considered if it’s not a project we’re able to consider funding.
We always receive more applications than we have the funds to support. It is the projects that are most aligned with our strategic goals which our Trustees choose to support. Therefore we recommend you read ‘How to make your Community Grant Application Stronger’ before you begin completing your online application form.
We have a sample application form to help you prepare. Reviewing this will make you aware of the questions we will ask and the documents you will need to upload to your application form. Every question we ask in our application form provides us with important information about your project. If you’re not sure how a particular question relates to your project please call us so we can support you with the form.
The table below has been drawn up to help you see how closely your project outcomes match our funding priorities, and the evidence you should provide in your online application form. The more evidence you are able to provide to back up your statements the stronger your application is likely to be.
Please do remember that this document is only a guide to help you with your application and we understand that your project may not be able to meet all the priorities.
Please note that whilst your project outcomes may match our funding priorities, your application may not be awarded funding as this is a competitive process and there are limited funds available
Priority:
Creation of sustainable carbon-neutral community spaces.
Project aims – what should you tell us about your project?
- How your project will reduce the carbon footprint of the site.
- What energy saving changes are you making to reduce the site’s consumption of fossil fuels?
Upload any expert advice you’ve received which has helped you work out what improvements are possible. – Tell us how you’re aiming to minimise carbon use in the delivery of this project.
If this project does not directly reduce energy use, tell us about any plans you have to reduce the site’s carbon footprint in the future.
Guidance – what are we looking for?
A project that will help reduce carbon emissions by installing:
Community Buildings
- Insulation/Double or Triple Glazing (to replace single or less efficient existing system)
- Renewable Heating Supply (e.g. Ground/Air Heat Source Pump replacing Gas boiler)
- Renewable Energy Generation (e.g. Solar Panels)
- Evidence seen of energy feasibility reports from an accredited supplier
Community Outdoor Space
- Use sustainable products (eg timber play equipment over steel)
- Maintain Carbon storing infrastructure eg Peat Marsh/Woodland to be maintained or expanded
- Ensure the site is accessible to as many people locally via public transport which is encouraged
Any
- Recycle/Repurpose existing equipment to reduce manufacturing emissions
- Use contractors/suppliers with measurable sustainable goals on carbon reduction – Offsetting carbon output eg plant trees etc – Transport to the site by users as well as contractors/suppliers is kept to a minimum
Future
- Please tell us how the project will help reduce carbon emissions
- What are your organisations aims in terms of aiming for Net Zero
- Is your organisation part of a scheme or initiative (eg EcoChurch)
Evidence – what you should upload to your application form?
- EPC Report / Energy Audit
- Solar Feasibility Report – Any industry recognised audit to show the carbon footprint reduction of your project
Priority:
Protect and enhance biodiversity and natural habitats
Project aims – what should you tell us about your project?
- How this project will create additional habitats for biodiversity.
- Please also confirm if this project will see the loss of already established habitats for biodiversity.
- Upload any advice you’ve received to work out what improvements are possible.
- If it is not possible to protect or enhance biodiversity as part of this project, please explain why.
Guidance – what are we looking for?
A project that will help increase or improve biodiversity at the project site by installing:
- Bird/Bat boxes or bug hotels/mansions
- A new pond
- Creating a Wildflower Garden or Meadow
- Planting Trees
- Not replacing a natural environment with man-made (i.e. AstroTurf replacing a rich biodiverse space)
- Adding wildlife access gates to perimeter fences
- Installing a green roof
- Are you offsetting any potential damage to a biodiverse space, if so how?
Please see this online guide from The Wildlife Trust for some free or low cost options https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions
Evidence – what you should upload to your application form?
- Biodiversity Action Plan
- Species Surveys
- SSSI Monitoring Assessment and Reporting Standard – Report from an external expert
Priority:
Community action and Wellbeing
Project aims – what should you tell us about your project?
- How do you know the project is wanted and needed by the community?
- Include any requests from the community for the project. We ideally like to see community volunteers are involved in delivering the changes needed.
- Also what opportunities there are for the community to volunteer at the project site in the future. If volunteering has not been possible please explain why.
- If it has not been possible to consult your community, or to use volunteers (now or in the future) about this project please explain why.
Guidance – what are we looking for?
- You will have consulted with the local community and the users (current and potential) on what this project should deliver. The elements in your consultation/surveys are included in your aims and budget. The community groups and users are the driving force behind the project
- Volunteers are taking part in the physical work on the project
- Volunteering opportunities at the project site will increase as part of this project
Evidence – what you should upload to your application form?
- Evidence of Consultation or surveys with the local community including current and future users
- Letters of support from current and potential user groups – Social Media/Online feedback – Photographs and/or a video to show the physical need for the project to be completed
Priority:
Diversity & Inclusion – Provide access for all
Project aims – what should you tell us about your project?
- How you know the project will meet the needs of everyone in the community. Tell us about the changes that will be made to show how anyone will be able to and/or encouraged to use the project site.
- If it is not possible for the project site to be used by certain people please explain why.
Guidance – what are we looking for?
- Project will deliver the needs/requests of diverse/discriminated against community. Diverse/discriminated against users are the driving force behind the project
- You will have consulted with all potential user groups and show evidence that people specifically from diverse/discriminated against are included
- How you have identified the needs of people from diverse/discriminated against backgrounds and ensure that any barriers they face are removed as part of this project
Evidence – what you should upload to your application form?
- Evidence of Consultation or surveys which includes members of diverse/discriminated against backgrounds
- Letters of support from members of diverse/discriminated against backgrounds
- Photographs and/or a video from members of diverse/discriminated against backgrounds to evidence that their needs have been included in the project plans
You must submit your online application form by midday (12 noon) of the funding round closing date. Any applications that are not complete or submitted after this time, or which do not meet our funding criteria will not be considered for funding and the data deleted from your User Account. You are able to download your application on the final page of the form, should you wish to maintain a record of your answers for future use.
Once we receive your completed application, we will review it to check we have all the information needed for our Trustees to make a funding decision. We receive a huge number of applications on the closing date, they are then reviewed in submission date order, and it can take us up to four weeks after you have submitted your application to contact you.
We will send you a secure message via your Veolia Environmental Trust User Account to request additional information required for your application to continue to be considered for funding. It is important you respond promptly when requested to provide additional information, as our Trustees will not consider incomplete applications.
We will email you within 10 days of the Trustees’ Board meeting to let you know their decision.
If you have been awarded a grant, the email will state the amount of the grant you have been awarded and the Contributing Third Party payment amount. A further email will then be sent containing a list of the documents and information we require you to provide in order to draw up the Funding Agreement (the agreement governing the terms of the grant) and the Contributing Third Party Agreement.
The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is a tax-credit scheme through which we award grants. Click here to find out more about the LCF Scheme.
The Landfill Communities Fund is a regulated scheme, and as a result there are strict rules which must be followed. We will advise you what information you will be required to provide and when. Please ensure you read all the guidance and information we provide to familiarise yourself with the type of information which will be required, and contact us if you have any questions.
An organisation called ENTRUST regulates the LCF. Every project awarded a grant through the LCF has to be registered with them. ENTRUST assesses all project registrations to ensure they comply with the regulations of the LCF.
Your organisation does not need to be an Environmental Body (EB) enrolled with ENTRUST to apply to us for a grant. If your organisation is not an EB enrolled with ENTRUST, and we award you a grant, we will register your project with ENTRUST on your behalf.
If you are not sure if your organisation is a registered EB, click here to check.
If, at any time, your organisation becomes an EB registered with ENTRUST, you must let us know immediately.
Environmental Body (EB)
If your organisation is already registered as an EB you must tell us.
If your organisation is already an EB, you will need to register your project with ENTRUST before applying to us for a grant. Please upload your ENTRUST approval letter and Project Summary to your online application form.
If your grant application is successful, we can only pay your grant within the project dates that you register with ENTRUST. If your project is not completed by the registered end date, you will need to seek approval from ENTRUST for an extension and provide us with a copy of this approval to allow us to make further payments of your grant.
In order to safeguard the Landfill Communities Fund we conduct a range of checks on the people and organisations applying to us, as well as the information provided as part of grant applications or subsequent processes. The results of these checks are used to inform an ongoing risk assessment. If, at any point or for any reason, the Trust determines that an individual, organisation, or project presents an unacceptable risk, we reserve the right to reject an application or withdraw a conditional grant offer without notice. In order to preserve the integrity of our processes and internal measures, we are unable to offer any further feedback or explanation under these circumstances.
1. Submit Application Form
The current funding round dates (opening, deadline and Trustees board meeting) can be found by clicking here. We will acknowledge receipt of your submitted application form by email.
2. Application Review
We will review your submitted form to check it is complete and contact you by email if we require further information.
3. Funding Decision
Our Trustees meet quarterly to consider applications. We will email you within 10 days of the meeting to tell you if your application has been successful or not.
If you are awarded a grant, physical works to your project must not begin until all formalities and agreements have been completed.
4. ENTRUST registration
We will register your project with our regulator, ENTRUST
5. Funding Agreement
If you have been awarded a grant, we will email you within 10 days of the Trustees’ meeting, to request the following information via our online Post Award Details Form:
- The Main and Second Contact details for this project
- The name and address of your Contributing Third Party
- Evidence your project will achieve value for money. You must provide three quotes for each contracted element of the project and evidence of a competitive tender process
- Evidence your project is fully funded
- The anticipated start and finish dates of physical works
- Your organisation’s bank details
The above information must be provided within two months of the Funding Decision date or your grant may be withdrawn. When we receive the above information from you, we will draw up your Funding Agreement (the contract containing the terms of your grant) and send it via AdobeSign. You must sign and return it to us within the confirmed deadline.
6. Contributing Third Party (CTP) Agreement and Payment
Along with your Funding Agreement, we will send the CTP Agreement, which you must arrange to be signed electronically (via Adobe Sign) by the organisation / individual named in your Post Award Details Form. We will provide instructions on how to make the CTP payment, by BACS transfer, to the Landfill Operator. The CTP Agreement should be signed and returned to us, and the payment made, within seven days.
7. Consent to Start
When we receive your signed copies of the Funding Agreement and CTP Agreement, and the Landfill Operator confirms they have received the CTP payment, we will email you giving consent for your project to begin.
We will also return countersigned copies of both Agreements to you for your records.
Physical works to your project must begin within four months of the Funding Agreement being signed by all parties or your grant may be withdrawn.
8. Payments
You will receive your grant, normally in four separate payments.
An upfront payment, this would usually be 25% of your grant, when we give you consent to start. In order to fulfil our duty to safeguard LCF funds, we reserve the right to make payments only in arrears.
Further payments following the review of a Grant Claim Form may be made if your project is progressing to the agreed timescales and upon submission of compliant invoices
A final payment (a minimum of 5% of your grant award), will be released following receipt of your final completed grant claim, your project completion form, confirmation your project site is open to the public and photographs of the amenity in use.
9. Project Completion
Your project must be completed and open to the public within 12 months of the Funding Agreement being signed by all parties.
10. Post Completion Monitoring
We are required by our regulator to monitor your project and funded assets for up to five years following its completion. Failure to provide us with an annual statement and photographs may result in you having to return some or all of your grant.