Transition Penwith

The Trust provides grants of up to 50% of the cost of the chosen renewable technology.  The maximum award is £25,000.  However, most projects receive around £10,000. The maximum amount is only awarded to exceptional projects that tick all the boxes and demonstrate real value for money. Projects need to have a very strong community benefit and wider educational element.

Applications should be from local community groups and not-for-profit organisations and charities within the UK.

Eligibility

Grant requests must be to support the capital and installation costs of a renewable energy project which, in turn, must support the local community through education and public engagement.

All kinds of renewable technologies, including small-scale hydro, wind power, biomass, landfill gas, solar energy and ground source heat pumps, are acceptable. Applications involving other technologies may qualify for support.

Feasibility studies are not funded

Guidance

·     Education and public engagement is important in any application. Therefore it is essentail to specify the target audience. Explain how the project will be communicated to the wider community.

·     Explain why the project is important to the community and how it is going to make a difference. Also, describe how the community will be involved. Don't forget to specify the type of application being made and make sure the request is for an acceptable level of funding.

·     The Trustees need to know how the requested funding will be spent, so a financial summary, giving a breakdown of capital and operating costs, must be provided.

·     Grant requests are becoming very competitive. Provision of additional information to support the application will help the Trustees to reach a decision.

·     Supporting documents must be in the following formats:

o    Microsoft Word document (i.e. .doc),

o    Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (i.e. .xls) or

o    Adobe pdf document (i.e. .pdf) and must be less than 2Mb.

·     A maximum of four documents can be attached to the application.  

·     Remember to fully complete all the questions. If you're unsure of what you need to include then contact the Secretary who will be pleased to help.

What Happens Next?
1. The application will be reviewed by each Trustee and a decision made based on merit and the context of the aims of the application and the availability of funds.
2. If the application is received after the final deadline, it will be considered at the following Trustees' meeting, unless otherwise agreed by the Trust Secretary.
3. The Trust Secretary will write to you within 2 weeks of the meeting date to let you know if you've been successful or not. Due to the limited funds and the number of applications received each round; you can only re-apply with the same project if the Trustees invite you to. The Trustees decision is final.
4. If you have been successful then your offer is valid for 2 years from the date of the letter of offer. In order to claim the grant you need to provide evidence that the project is complete. You can do this by forwarding, to the Secretary of the Trust, copies of your contractors’ invoices and any PR surrounding the launch of your project. Once evidence has been received and verified, a cheque will be raised and forwarded within 28 days.

The Trust meets three times a year to consider applications – usually during the first week of April, September and December.

Please submit applications as soon as possible. They will be screened for eligibility and completeness provided they are received seven weeks prior to the Trustees' meetings, with the final deadline being four weeks before the meeting.

The Secretary of the Trust will contact you if any further information is required and you will have an opportunity to resubmit up to the final deadline of four weeks before the Trustees’ meeting.

The Secretary of the Trust will be only too pleased to assist withyour application and can be contacted by e-mailing greenenergytrust@scottishpower.com or calling 0141 568 3492. Alternatively you can write to:-

The Secretary, ScottishPower Green Energy Trust, Business & Community Relations, 3rd Floor Main Building, Cathcart Business Park, Spean Street, Glasgow, G44 4BE          Application forms are available online.