Aims/priorities:
Who can apply? To be eligible, applicants must:
Be run on a not-for-profit basis. This could include community groups, parish councils, charities, community interest companies, sports clubs, community associations, local authorities and voluntary organisations.
Own or hold a lease for the project site with at least five years remaining.
Be based at a project site which must be owned or leased by the applying organisation.
The Trust provides a postcode checker so that potential applicants can check the eligibility of the project's location.
For those applicants whose project area is governed by Lancashire County Council, an application should be made to the Lancashire Environmental Fund, which is a separate organisation that distributes the landfill tax credits raised by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK in the county. (NB Applicants whose eligible projects are within the unitary authorities of Blackburn and Blackpool may apply to this scheme.)
Grant amount: Between £3,000 and £50,000 are available. Projects must have an overall cost of no more than £250,000. Projects must start within six months and complete within 12 months of funds being awarded.
Contributing Third Party Payment (CTP)
Before the Trust can release funding for a project, they need to receive a payment called the Contributing Third Party Payment. This payment is necessary because, under the rules of the Landfill Communities Fund, SUEZ UK (the donor) can reclaim, as a tax credit, most (but not all) of the landfill tax contribution it makes to the Trust. The scheme regulator also requires a fee and each successful application incurs other minor costs. To make up the shortfall, SUEZ UK requires that 11.5% of the money provided is recovered from third parties.
SUEZ Communities Trust provides an online calculator to work out the CTP that will need to be paid.
Eligible third party contributors include the following:
- Applicant's organisation (providing it is not a registered Environmental Body).
- Donations from the community.
- Donation from an individual.
- Award from County Councils, Borough Councils, Parish Councils, 'Friends of' or other supporters of a project.
- Local businesses.
- Grants and other awards (not sourced from the LCF).
The CTP cannot be received from a person or organisation that has exclusive benefit from the project being funded (such as a contractor working on a project who receives payment through the project).
Applicants that can demonstrate successful efforts to raise contributory funds in support of the project (over and above the CTP) will be considered favourably, although those that don't will still be considered.
Application process: The application process is operated through a two-stage process via an online application system. Stage one applications will include a short eligibility check and brief questions about the project.
Successful applicants will be invited to submit a stage two application.
Applications will be thoroughly assessed and applicants will be visited (normally at the project site) by a SUEZ Communities Trust project manager.
Deadline: Wednesday 15 May 2024.
Contact information: Email: info@grantscape.org.uk
Website: SUEZ Communities Fund - England - Grantscape Grantscape