Month: March 2023

Grab a Grant

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Capital Community Fund (we’re going supersize)

There’s an exciting new project on the horizon, with capital funding available. Our Capital Community Fund is aimed at supporting organisations to design, own and deliver an integrated community hub offer that meets the needs of their local residents.

Building on the successful Talk Community hubs model, the funding scheme will help provide community organisations with the funding to provide an enhanced ‘one stop shop’ wellbeing offer – accessible wellbeing support from a range of services under one community facility.

The funding could be used for adapting existing buildings, improving accessibility and enabling multi-agency working. For examples of how the fund could be used, visit the Talk Community Directory.

If you’re a community group or service provider who would like to be involved in this new project, there’s a short form that you can complete to register your interest on the Talk Community Directory. We look forward to hearing from you.

Magic Little Grants (nice and easy)

If you’re a small charity or community group, we think you’d like to know about something small, but magical, Magic Little Grants (what it says on the tin).

Localgiving are once again offering their small one-off grants of £500, for projects under certain themes. The themes include providing support to improve mental health, enabling participation in physical activity or in the arts, preventing or reducing the impact of poverty, responding to climate emergency and improving green spaces.

There’s a simple 20-minute application process and an outcome within six weeks, which helps grass-roots organisations to access the funding they need to launch or strengthen their services.

For more information and to apply, visit the Localgiving website. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31 October 2023.

 

Free insulation an other money saving improvements

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Connected for Warmth Scheme

Scheme: Connected for Warmth funded by National Grid as part of their affordable warmth obligations.

The scheme has no strings attached and is FREE for all residents in Council Tax Bands A-D.

 Some info about the scheme is as below:

This is open to all Council Tax Bands A-D households and owner occupier or privately rented in Herefordshire

Residents have to apply via a portal: https://www.connectedforwarmth.org.uk/apply-for-insulation

  • Eligible for FREE Cavity Wall (CWI) and Loft Insulation (includes top up)
  • Must be owner occupier or privately rented
  • If able to install CWI and/or Loft Insulation, then secondary measures can be installed
  • Secondary measures are Heating Controls and RadBots
  • Other measures are also available, these are Reflective Radiator Panels, Low Energy Light Bulbs, Draughtproofing and Chimney balloons.
  • Other outcomes for the householder is a  pre EPC and post EP

Fully funded retrofit plans for a warmer home

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People across Herefordshire are recognising the importance of making their homes as energy efficient as possible, but knowing where to start can be a challenge. That’s where a retrofit plan comes in.

Home retrofit means adding or changing things in your home to make it more energy efficient. This could include upgrading windows and doors, adding insulation to lofts, walls and floors, or installing technology such as an air source heat pump or solar panels. These changes are designed to make your home warmer, healthier, and potentially cheaper to run. Retrofit can be complex and costly, so to get the impact you want for your home, it’s worth taking the time to get it right.

The Future Ready Homes scheme is currently offering fully funded retrofit plans to home owners across Herefordshire that would usually cost hundreds of pounds. The plan considers your house as a whole and suggests improvements tailored to your home and lifestyle. They outline the expected costs and potential savings, helping you make informed decisions whether you plan to retrofit gradually or in one go.

The scheme is being delivered across Herefordshire by Severn Wye Energy Agency, which runs Keep Herefordshire Warm on behalf of Herefordshire Council.

Lisa Whitaker, Senior Project Manager at Severn Wye, commented:

“Future Ready Homes is a fantastic project which recognises the part energy efficiency has to play in tackling the energy crisis and the climate emergency. Many people want to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes, but simply don’t know where to start, so we’re hopeful that Future Ready Homes will give home owners the tools they need to get stuck in.”

The scheme is currently open for applications, with a limited number of surveys available between now and June 2023. If you’re interested, don’t delay in applying!

Find out more and apply: https://severnwye.org.uk/future-ready-homes/