Aims/priorities: The Partnership Grants Scheme offers funding to not-for-profit organisations with projects that address one of the following themes:
- Built Environment projects should restore, modernise and/or improve facilities such as cultural, heritage or visitor centres. The facility should be inclusive and promote learning, curiosity, and participation to large numbers of visitors on a national scale.
- Natural Environment projects should restore and/or improve the environment and the natural systems or habitats that support it. Projects should be working to Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services, its predecessor, or a Local Biodiversity Action Plan.
Who can apply? Not-for-profit organisations in England and Northern Ireland can apply.
Applicants must:
- Be a fully constituted, charitable or not-for-profit organisation with no share capital.
- Enrol with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body to access funding. An administrative fee of £100 is payable to ENTRUST for this.
- Be located within 15 miles of a significant Biffa Operation or active Biffa Landfill site.
- Be located within 10 miles of any licensed landfill site (not necessarily owned by Biffa Group Limited) in England and Northern Ireland.
- Have a project site open for a minimum of 104 days of full public access to the project per year.
- Have, if not the landowner, a signed landowner agreement in place agreeing to access for maintenance, surveying and monitoring for a period of not less than 25 years.
- Have a management plan in place for the key species/habitat(s) involved for each site, if applying for a Natural Environment themed grant.
- Have all planning permissions in place, if required.
Applicants should check their project location's eligibility using Biffa Awards Postcode Checker which can be found on the Biffa Award's website.
Groups and their projects must be eligible for enrolment and registration with the scheme regulator ENTRUST. There will be conditions of any grant approved.
Grant amount: Between £250,000 and £1 million are available for projects that finish within one year.
The 2024 funding is for work starting from February 2025 and completed by February 2026.
Applications can be made for 100% of the projects costs; however, only 90% of the grant can be paid by Biffa Award using Landfill Tax Credits. The remaining 10% needs to be provided by another source (third party contribution).
Application process: This is an annual grants programme. The 2024 round is now open for applications.
There is a two stage application process:
- The first stage is to complete the Expression of Interest form by the deadline of noon on 31 May 2024. Notification of decisions can be expected by July 2024.
- The second stage is for those who are invited to complete a full application form. The outcome of full application submissions is November 2024.
The Expression of Interest guidance notes can be found on the Biffa Award website and should be read first.
Deadline: Friday 31 May 2024, noon.
Contact information: Email: biffa-award@wildlifetrusts.org
Website: Biffa Award