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The Climate Challenge Fund helps communities to put their own solutions for significant reduction of carbon emissions into action. Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment launched the Fund on 3 June 2008.

The Fund is £27.4 million over three years (2008-11).

Our top priority for the Fund is to support projects that take direct action to reduce carbon emissions. A great example would be a 30% reduction or more over three years. We know this is ambitious but we believe that communities working together can make it happen.

That's why we also give priority to ideas that help strengthen local economies, bring all members of a community together and generally make your local community a greener, happier place to live in.

The type of projects we are looking for:

  • The focus is on significant carbon reduction but with a wider environmental, social and economic benefit.
  • Should be community based and with decision-making kept at the heart of the community.
  • Take a long-term view, which means improving the quality of life for present and future generations.

What is the Funding for?

The Climate Challenge Fund is aimed at the community sector for example community groups, schools, and not-for-profit organisations, and these groups may also be supported by NGOs, voluntary sector or local government partners.

Carbon reduction should be at the heart of your proposal. Projects could, for example, include helping communities to use less energy, walk and cycle more or focus on local sustainable food production. They can also have an environmental, social and economic dimension that gives people new skills, improved health, and helps them to work together or provide better community facilities.

We don't mind which carbon reducing activities your project includes but the more the better and if possible they should be sustainable.

Different stages of the project can be funded at separate times. You can make more than one application. You don’t need to apply for all the funding for a project upfront, separate applications are welcome.  For example you may wish to start with a feasibility study or an awareness raising event, and then come back for the next stage. Your Development Officer will be able to advise you further.

Why not take a look at our Success Stories and Climate Challenge Fund Projects Happening Now for some inspiration.

Funding availability

Funding is available for projects that reduce carbon emissions. If your community project already gets funding from Government Grant Funds then the Climate Challenge Fund won't be able to add to or replace these funds. Get in touch with Keep Scotland Beautiful if you want to know more about these other sources of funding.

For example the capital elements of projects to install energy generation equipment are excluded from the Climate Challenge Fund but not the preparation for energy generation as part of a wider carbon emissions reduction plan.

Funding is also available for:

  • The costs of a community establishing a partnership, setting up a company or project management costs related to the community carbon emissions reduction project or action plan,
  • Community organisations to develop carbon emissions reduction action plans,
  • Community capacity building (awareness raising around carbon emissions reduction, relevant training and skills development),
  • Costs associated with feasibility studies or community engagement for carbon reducing projects and action plans.

There is no set amount of funding, only a maximum award of £1 million. If your project is larger than £1 million and has a particularly high potential carbon saving and fulfils the other fund criteria we may still consider it.

If the Climate Challenge Fund is not for you, please have a look at some other funds available: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/funding-and-grants.