Programme overview
The programme will address knowledge and funding gaps to enable the development and delivery of community-led climate action projects.
Who can apply
Voluntary or community organisations (with less than 250 staff) operating in North Yorkshire including:
- registered charities
- charitable incorporated organisations
- community interest companies
- community benefit societies
- not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee
- parish and town councils
Application exclusions
- any community building or place too large or complex to complete a decarbonisation plan before the project deadline of 28 February 2025
What support will be provided
Trusted specialist advice
Advice will be provided on a range of topics, including energy, circular economy, climate adaptation and supporting nature to thrive (where this reduces greenhouse gas emissions).
The advice will be provided free of charge through in-house advisors and specialist consultancy support. Advice could include:
- identifying, prioritising and developing projects, including technical information on energy efficiency and renewable energy
- accessing funding and investment opportunities
- having effective conversations with key stakeholders and your community and enabling collaboration; and
- overcoming key challenges in project delivery including governance requirements
Place based decarbonisation plans
Decarbonisation plans will be available for community buildings (such as sports centres, village halls and theatres) and ‘places’ such as a whole village or community setting. We expect to fund around 20 plans. The plans will review opportunities for:
- energy efficiency, low carbon heating
- renewable energy generation and storage options
- decarbonising transport
- circular economy - making the most of our resources, buildings and people, and minimising waste
- climate resilience and adaptation
- supporting nature to thrive - where this has greenhouse gas reduction or adaptation impacts
- estimated costs and ‘return on investment’ for the plan items will be included
Support exclusions
- buildings not available for use by the whole community, for example political club buildings, religious buildings
Programme specific outputs and outcomes that projects need to aim for
- an increased number of community-led projects
- reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Information on the type of projects that will be given priority
We will be prioritising organisation who have not had decarbonisation plans before, rather than those who are updating a previous plan.
Particular demogaphics or places that projects should aim to target
For 'whole place' based decarbonisation plans, there must be evidence of engagement from the wider community.
Programme monitoring and evaluation requirements
Evaluation will be expected to be complete towards the end of a 12 month period (or February 2025 in the case of decarbonisation plans) when the support has had time to impact on practice or progress. A reminder will be sent at this time. The evaluation requirements will be stated/provided in the service level agreement at the point of agreeing to work with the team.
When do projects need to be completed by
Decarbonisation plans need to be completed by 28 February 2025.
Information on application appraisal methods and award timescales
Please apply using the pre-application form. This will be screen for eligibility and sent to the most appropriate adviser who will contact you in the first instance to start determining the level/type of support needed.
Opening date for applications
- 25 September 2023
Closing date for applications
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is deemed full to its current capacity. Please note that we have maximum limit of 20 on the decarbonisation plan element of this programme.
How to apply
Please complete a pre-application form. This is available on the UK shared prosperity fund page.
Further information
Data protection
Please note that by submitting a pre-application or full application form, you are consenting to any personal data collected being processed by North Yorkshire Council and shared with partners involved in the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This includes the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and its contractors. The personal data will be held for the purposes of contacting applicants and assessing applications. You can find out about your data protection and subject access rights on our website.