FUNDING STREAMS FOR RESEARCH

The following funding streams have been identified as those that state they will support ‘research’ activities, and therefore may support research around the issue of fuel poverty. A number of the funders have an emphasis on reducing climate change and the development of new and renewable technologies. Given that renewable technologies are increasingly being utilised as one solution to fuel poverty, these funding streams may be relevant depending upon the focus of your research and whether it is action based.

Barbour Charitable Trust

The trust makes grants to registered charities whose objectives include the protection and preservation, for the benefit of the public in the North East of England, such features of cities, towns, villages and the countryside that are of special, environmental, historical and architectural interest.

The relief of persons resident in the North East of England who are in a condition of need, hardship or distress as a result of local, national or international disaster, or by reasons of their social and economic circumstances.

The Trust welcomes exploratory telephone calls from potential applicants.  Applications are in writing to Mrs A Harvey, telephone 0191 427 4221.

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Big Lottery Fund Research Programme

The Big Lottery Fund research programme is providing up to £25 million in 2007-2009 to fund social and medical reseach projects in the UK.  The aim of the research programme is to influence local and national policy and practice by funding the Third Sector to produce and disseminate evidence-based knowledge.  In the longer term the programme, through producing sound evidence, will aim to help develop better services and interventions for beneficiaries.

Grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 are available for research projects lasting up to five years.  In addition, development grants of up to £10,000 are available, where appropriate, to help applicants work up their research proposal.

Integral to meeting the aim of the programme will be the following five outcomes:

1. Improved understanding of issues relating to the Big Lottery Fund's UK themes and country outcomes
2. Improved Third Sector participation and knowledge in developing, doing and using research
3. Improved dissemination of Third Sector-led research
4. Increased participation of beneficiaries and users in a range of research roles
5. Improved partnerships between the Third Sector and the research community.  The programme is demand-led.  It will fund high quality social and medical research on issues identified, and considered important, by the charitable and voluntary and community sector, and support the use of dissemination of this research activity. Key is that beneficiaries and users are involved in setting the agenda, conducting, managing and disseminating the research.

Only organisations from the voluntary and community sectors are eligible to apply for funding.  The voluntary and community sectors are encouraged to link up with universities and the wider research community, but universities themselves are ineligible to apply for funding.

For further information, or to apply, go to www.bigresearchprogramme.org.uk

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Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

In 2008 the Foundation is looking for applications under its social change theme which explore innovative, but well-thought-through approaches, from which learning can be gained in the following key areas:

• Financial Inclusion, where there is improvement to financial literacy and access to financial services for people currently not well served by institutions and practices. Priority will be given to projects that address long-term solutions to financial exclusion, especially where these explore new financial products to be offered by financial institutions.
• Environmental Awareness, and innovative work aimed at increasing personal responsibility for, and trialling accessible, realisable solutions to aspects of local, national or international issues. Work with excluded groups will be especially welcome.
• Older People, especially new ways to involve and support elderly people in their local communities, where isolation can lead to ill health and unhappiness. Projects should offer new methods of drawing on the experience and talent of older people.

The Trustees prefer to support new ideas that are genuinely original in their field. Projects must be new; funding will not be given for the simple continuation of existing work. Proposals are considered at trustees meetings three times per year in the first week of March, July and November. Proposals should be submitted two months before the relevant trustees meeting.

As a guide grants made by the Foundation rarely exceed £1,500

Further details are available from: http://www.gulbenkian.org.uk/main_f.htm or email social_change@gulbenkian.org.uk

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Carbon Buildings Programme

The Low Carbon buildings programme provides grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies in a range of buildings to include households, community organisations, public, private and the non-profit sectors. From 1st April 2008, organisations can apply for 50% of the cost for installing approved microgeneration technologies (1).

Grants for the installation of microgeneration technologies are available to public sector buildings (including schools, hospitals, housing associations and local authorities) and charitable bodies. Community groups, public and non-profit sector applicants can now only apply to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Phase 2.

Applications are being accepted now. It is currently anticipated that funds will be committed through to mid-2009, but this will depend on the actual rate of applications. Once applications are approved, claimants will be given details of the latest date grants can be claimed.

Details of all aspects of the Phase 2 grant application process, suppliers, installers and technologies are available the website.

Grants are available for the following types of microgeneration technology:

• Solar photovoltaics, with an installed capacity of more than 0.5kW
• Micro-wind turbines, with an installed capacity of more than 0.5kW
• Solar thermal hot water
• Ground source heat pumps
• Wood pellet stoves
• Wood fuelled boilers

A list of suppliers, along with which technologies they supply can be found at http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/page.jsp?id=6. Grants are available up to £1 million per site, and may include more than one property and a maximum of three eligible technologies may be grant-assisted at each property. Multiple applications from one organisation for different sites will be accepted.

If you are interested in trialling technologies, the Low Carbon Buildings Programme will fund capital and installation costs.

Phase 1 of the Low Carbon Buildings Programme is still available for householders to apply. For further details on phase 1 and phase 2 visit the website at:

http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/home/

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eaga Partnership Charitable Trust

eaga Partnership Charitable Trust currently funds work within the following two programme themes:

1. The relief of fuel poverty and the promotion of energy efficiency
2. Vulnerable consumers: multiple needs and preferences

The work funded under this programme can be divided roughly into four categories:

1. rigorous, policy-related research;
2. action projects (e.g. practical, community-based initiatives which have wider applicability);
3. the promotion of good practice (e.g. toolkits and workshops);
4. practical resource materials and events (e.g. training and education resources).

There is no minimum or maximum grant and each application is judged on its merits. However, Eaga-PCT wishes to fund larger projects where possible and encourages the co-funding of projects where appropriate. There is no minimum or maximum length of grant, although typically projects span between one and three years.

The next deadline is: 5 September 2008.

Further details are available from: http://www.eaga.com/charitable/charitable_trust.htm

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EDF Energy Green Fund

The EDF Energy Green Fund will provide grants for feasibility studies into the installation of small-scale renewable energy technology and for the costs associated with installing small-scale renewable energy technology. A proportion of funding may also be used for educational purposes (up to 20%).

• There is no minimum value for grants
• There will be a maximum grant value of £5,000 for feasibility studies
• There will a maximum grant value of £30,000 for installations

Further information is available from: mark.Thompson@edfenergy.com or: nigel.french@edfenergy.com

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E.ON UK (E.ON Source Fund)

E.ON’s Source Fund will support projects organised by charities, community groups or other not-for-profit organisations that result either in the creation of renewable energy or the reduction of energy used by community buildings.

Grants of up to £30,000 are available and applications are currently open. Application deadlines for the 2007/2008 period are 3 October and 8 December 2008.

Further details are available from: http://www.eon-uk.com/about/2654.aspx

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Housing Corporation Innovation and Good Practice

The Innovation and Good Practice Programme is a revenue grant programme administered by the Housing Corporation’s new centre for Research and Market Intelligence (CRMI). Its purpose is to encourage the development and testing of new ideas and proposals and to generate and promote good practice in the delivery of housing services within the housing associations sector. Funding rounds are announced each year in October, and themes from that year’s Corporate Plan form their funding priorities. In the main they seek bids for large projects in the range of £50,000 to £100,000 with a strong partnership emphasis although a limited number of smaller projects will be considered. Currently closed for applications but details on future deadlines will be available from: http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/server/show/nav.477
 

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ScottishPower Energy People Trust

The ScottishPower Energy People Trust can provide funds for not-for-profit organisations who work with or represent the vulnerable and fuel poor to help those most in need. Organisations and groups can apply for funding to support projects or schemes covering:

• Crisis funding For example, women and children needing emergency accommodation and vulnerable young people setting up their first home.
• Benefits health checks or income maximisation. For example, helping households that aren't claiming all the benefits to which they're entitled, or are not eligible for current government grants or funding because they don't receive the appropriate benefit.
• Energy efficiency measures For example, a scheme that aims to improve the energy efficiency of homes by draught proofing, insulating and offering energy efficiency advice.
• Research. For example, a research project that aims to understand the link between fuel poverty and health.

Maximum grant available is £100,000. Projects may be funded up to a maximum of three years, but whatever the duration the £100,000 maximum funding limit applies.

The next deadlines are:

Screening deadline	Final application deadline	Trustees' meeting dates
Seven weeks prior to meeting	Four weeks prior to meeting	First week of March, June, September and December

Further details are available from: http://www.energypeopletrust.co.uk/

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ScottishPower Green Energy Trust

The ScottishPower Green Energy Trust will fund projects which:

• assist in the creation of new renewable electricity sources in the UK
• promote education in the community on new renewable energy generation

The Trust can provide up to 50% of the project costs up to a maximum of £25k.

The next deadlines are:

Screening deadline	Final application deadline	Trustees' meeting dates
Seven weeks prior to meeting	Four weeks prior to meeting	First week of April, September and December

Further details are available from: http://www.scottishpowergreentrust.co.uk/content/

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The Carbon Trust Applied Research Programme

The Carbon Trust’s Applied Research Programme is open to UK businesses and research institutions and aims to support the development and commercialisation of technology with the potential to reduce UK carbon dioxide emissions. They are endeavoring to encourage and support the progress of low carbon technologies towards large scale deployment. Grants of up to £250K towards the cost of your project are available. A minimum 40% match funding is required, and, to be successful your project must demonstrate:

• Genuine innovation and the potential to contribute to substantial reductions in UK greenhouse gas emissions
• That the work is a well planned and builds on previous work in the area
• That the results of the work will allow a clear step forward on the path towards commercialisation
• That it represents good value for money

Check the Carbon Trust website for the next calls for proposals http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/technology/appliedresearch/

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The Economic and Social Research Council

The ESRC have a budget of £119 million nearly two thirds is spent on research and just under one third on training. The research funding schemes enable individuals and groups to pursue world-class research in academic institutions and independent research centres throughout the UK. This can be through research centres and groups, fellowships, research grants, programme and networks or research resources.

The website link below provides details of current and forthcoming funding opportunities as well as details of the ESRC’s flexible research grants scheme that can be applied to at any time and awards ranging from £15,000 to £1.5 million (100% FEC) can be made to eligible institutions to enable individuals or research teams to undertake anything from a small project through to a large-scale survey. Project proposals must be within the ESRC’s remit, details can be accessed on the grants scheme section of their website.

Further details are available from: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/

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The Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes

A network of over 400 organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors the partnership facilitates partnership working and aims to reduce the energy consumed by UK households as well as the number of people who are unable to heat their homes sufficiently during winter. Most of the Partnership’s work is coordinated through the operation of around 20 working groups covering a variety of areas of interest; from Fuel Poverty to Education and Energy Advice to Local Authorities. A list of operational working groups and their remits can be found on the Partnership’s website.

The Partnership undertake a number of projects in relation to their work programme and post invitations to submit an expression of interest or project proposal on their website. Applications are only invited in response to a specific call.

Further details are available from: http://www.eeph.org.uk/projects/EOI/

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The Joseph Rowntree Foundation

JRF are one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK, spending about £10 million a year on a research and development. Current themes include:

• Housing and neighbourhoods
• Poverty and disadvantage
• Practice and research
• Drugs and alcohol
• Governance
• Immigration and inclusion
• Independent living
• Parenting

JRF aim to understand better the causes of social difficulties and explore ways of overcoming them.

JRF only accept proposals in response to a specific call for research proposals. Live calls for proposals can be accessed on their website as well as details of past calls for proposals and details about the application process. Further details are available from: http://www.jrf.org.uk/research-funding/

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The Leverhulme Trust

The Trust makes awards for the support of research and education. The Trust emphasises individuals and encompasses all subject areas.  Special weight is placed on:

• the originality of the projects put to them;
• the significance of the proposed work;
• the ability to judge and take appropriate risk in the project;
• the removal of barriers between traditional disciplines.

Eligible institutions include universities and other institutions of higher and further education in the UK and joint applications from more than one institution and applicant are permitted; registered charities in the UK ; institutions or organisations of similar status in developing countries where, in the opinion of the Trustees, the provision for research funding is seriously limited.

The great majority of awards involve a spend of up to £250,000 over a duration of two to three years.  If compelling evidence is provided awards may be made for sums between £250,000 and £500,000 for research over a period of up to five years.

Outlines of bids are permitted at any time before a full submission is made.  For more details please visit: http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/grants_awards/grants/research_project_grants/

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The Nuffield Foundation

The Nuffield Foundation keeps an "open door" to proposals of exceptional merit for research projects or practical innovations outside its special areas of interest, or to projects that span areas of interest. These must have some bearing on our widest charitable object - 'the advancement of social well-being'.

Subjects of interest include, but are not limited to: work on poverty, disadvantage, social welfare, disability, and work that crosses boundaries between our areas of special interest (for instance, learning and social provision; law and society; science and education)

Trustees are also especially interested in work that objectively examines current or proposed statutory arrangements, as independent funding can play a key role here. Through the Open Door, the Foundation may also identify emerging areas that justify more sustained attention.

Grants range from £5,000 to £150,000. To apply, a written proposal of no more than 2 sides of A4 must be sent. Successful applicants at stage one would then be invited to submit a full application. Trustees meet in March, July and November each year. The next deadlines are 9 November 2007, 28 March 2008 and 11 July 2008.

Further details available from

http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org.uk/go/grantprogrammes/page_6.html

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Reviewed: 07/07/2008