Reading Community Energy Society (RCES) comprises members from the local community, Reading Council and Energy 4 All, all of whom are passionate about increasing the amount of renewable energy in Reading. An important strand of their work is their Community Grants Programme. As a Community Benefit Society, they are committed to supporting sustainability locally, and offer grant funding between £100 and £5,000 to organisations to support a wide range of initiatives that deliver this aim.
Reading Community Energy Society made a number of grants last year through its Community Grants Fund, including to True Foods Coop in Emmer Green. Click here for the full article on the RCES website.
The RCES Community Grants Fund is open for applications and the next deadline is on Tuesday 1 March 2022.
Grant funding applications are invited for schemes which meet the following criteria:
-It will improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions or support sustainability in the local community.
-It is based within or near to the Greater Reading area – within an approximate 15 mile radius of Reading Town Hall.
-Your organisation is not-for-profit, a charity, or an SME (Small or Medium Sized Enterprise).
-The grant is between £100 – £5,000, although the majority of grants made will be up to £1,000.
For more information about the grants programme, the application form and guidance notes – plus examples of previously funded projects, see the RCES website at https://readingenergy.coop/grants.
RCES works with RVA to deliver its grants programme and any organisation wanting support with its application or with queries about the grants programme should email RVA at grants@rva.org.uk.