BIG launch Energy Efficient Venues Programme

The Big Lottery Fund today announced their new Energy Efficiency Venues Programme.

Grants are available to voluntary and community organisations in NI that want to make their venues more energy efficient. As well as having a positive effect on the environment, this programme will help voluntary and community organisations to make savings on their heating and lighting.

Grant sizes

There are two grant sizes available: grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 and grants of between £15,000 and £50,000.  

You can apply for a single grant of between £2,000 and £10,000 or a single grant of between £15,000 and £50,000.  You can also apply for up to two grants in either of the following combinations:

• a grant of between £2,000 and £10,000 followed by another grant of the same size
• a grant of between £2,000 and £10,000 followed by a grant of between £15,000 and £50,000.

The maximum amount of funding available is £60,000.

Examples of projects:

• installing double glazing, installing or upgrading the insulation of the venue or installing a more energy efficient heating system.
• a grant of £2,000-£10,000 can be used to complete an energy audit to identify how to make the venue more energy efficient or to develop an application for a grant of £15,000-£50,000 (by ensuring an Energy Audit has been conducted or to pay for the costs associated with any necessary statutory approvals).
• micro-generation technology - such as solar panels (photo-voltaic and passive) , wind turbines or biomass technologies.

Some key features include:

• There is an approximate budget of £5 million
• The Programme will be open for TWO years.
• If you apply for a grant of between £2,000 and £10,000, the decision will be made within three months of sending your completed application.
• If applying for a grant of between £15,000 and £50,000 , the decision will be made within six months of sending  your completed application.

The programme outcome:

Organisations have been supported to create energy efficient community venues across Northern Ireland.

Applicants will need evidence that they own the venue where the project will happen and in order to apply for the larger grant of £15,000 - £50,000 an energy audit must be carried out. It is possible to use the smaller grant of £2,000 - £10,000 to carry out the energy audit.

If your project requires statutory approval, this must be in place before you apply for any funding. This can be applied for via the smaller grant of £2,000 - £10,000.

For further details please contact :

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Information team
Big Lottery Fund
1 Cromac Quay
Cromac Wood
Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 2JD

Phone: 028 9055 1455
Fax: 028 9055 1445
Textphone: 028 9055 1431
Email: enquiries.ni@biglotteryfund.org.uk