Go Green Grants of up to £8,000 are available to village halls, community buildings*, and sports halls in West Norfolk.  Applications must be from constituted groups directly responsible for the management of the community building.  Grants can cover up to 75% of project costs to make energy efficiency improvements to the building.  Grants are provided via the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and are funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

What it will fund:

The aim of the fund is to support community groups to make energy efficiency and environmental improvements to community buildings* to reduce the carbon footprint.  This could include, but is not limited to:

• Retrofitting, including improved insulation, upgrading doors and windows, and replacing the roof.
• Energy generation sources, like wind turbines or solar panels (including battery storage units)
• Improvements to heating systems such as heat pumps, infrared heating panels, new gas / electric boilers, biomass boilers, and / or smart heating systems.
• Rainwater harvesting / grey water recycling
• Electric vehicle charge points.

What it won’t fund:

• Work that is solely to repair or maintain existing equipment and buildings.
• Work taking place after 31st March 2025, or work that has taken place before the funding has been granted.
• Projects on buildings that are not in West Norfolk or are not open to the community.
• Applications from organisations that are purely commercial.
• Elements of the project that do not make a direct improvement to the environment or reduce carbon emissions.
• VAT that is reclaimable

What you will need:

To complete the application form you will need:

• A decarbonisation (Carbon reduction) plan.  If you do not have one of these, a template document and guidance is available by clicking on the links.  This document must be saved as a jpg to be uploaded with the application.
• A Budget Form.  Available by clicking here.  This document must be saved as a jpg to be uploaded with the application.
• To know your current annual energy costs.
• The size of your property in metres squared.

How to apply

We have used google forms for this application, which will require you to create a google account to make the submission.

You can make your application by clicking here. 

The deadline for applications is Friday 15th November 2024.

A copy of the application questions can be found here, but applications must be made using the link above.  

Applications will be shared with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, and details of the allocations will be shared with the Government.  Applications will be handled in keeping with our and the Borough Council’s privacy and data protection regulations.  

Key information:

• All projects must be completed by 31st March 2025
• At least 25% of the costs must be covered by other funds
• Properties that are leased must have at 20 years lease remaining.
• The deadline for applications is 15th November 2024, but if sufficient applications are received before the fund may close earlier.

Applications are welcome from constituted, not-for-profit organisations which are responsible for a community building* in West Norfolk.  Applicants will be expected to have received 3 quotes or estimates for the works over £5,000, and one for works up to the value of £4,999.  All projects will be required to complete a monitoring report upon completion of the work, explaining:

• The project’s story, including levels of success and lessons learned. 
• What plans are in place for project continuation.
• The lasting legacy of the project
• The postcode areas which are benefitting from the Funded Activities;
• Any promotional activities undertaken;
• Estimated carbon dioxide equivalent reductions as a result of support (tonnes of CO2 equivalent);
• Any match funding received; and
• Evidence of completing the project.

In addition, shortlisted recipients will also be requested to provide:

• Organisational accounts, redacted invoices and receipts;
• Governing documents;
• Policy documents;

Preference will be shown for projects using local suppliers where possible.

To be eligible for Go Green Grants, the space must be used for events open to the public at least once per month.  Where a space is used for a specific sub-section of a community or membership activity,  applicants will be asked to demonstrate that the space is used to host activities open to the public on a monthly basis.

Determination of eligibility is subject to the receipt and acceptance of suitable evidence provided by the applicant and agreed by the funding partners (Community action Norfolk and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk). The funding partners reserve the right to refuse an application if eligibility cannot be proven and agreed.

Additional support

As part of the Go Green West Norfolk project we are holding free training sessions for groups in West Norfolk, and encourage all applicants to attend one of these to inform the development of their application:

• Energy Efficiency Measures for Community Buildings
• Funding for Energy Efficiency Improvements to Community Buildings

The sessions are both being held online and in-person.  Please click the links above to find out more.

We know your time is precious, and the last thing you need is another survey, but with your input we can make sure any future funds take into consideration what you need them most for, so we would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to complete our survey and help us find opportunities to help you.

*Interpretation of "Community building": a public location where members of a community gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes, including social, recreational, sporting, and wellbeing activities.  These can be open for the whole community or for a specialised subgroup within the greater community (e.g. a specific sports club etc).

To be eligible for Go Green Grants, the space must be used for events open to the public at least once per month.  Where a space is used for a specific sub-section of a community or membership activity,  applicants will be asked to demonstrate that the space is used to host activities open to the public on a monthly basis.

Determination of eligibility is subject to the receipt and acceptance of suitable evidence provided by the applicant and agreed by the funding partners (Community action Norfolk and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk). The funding partners reserve the right to refuse an application if eligibility cannot be proven and agreed.