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28 June 2021

Business and Financial Support for England’s Environment Sector

Charities and social enterprises working in the environment sector can apply for support to help them make the transition to new enterprises or to growing existing ones.

This programme is aimed at supporting environmental not-for-profit voluntary or community organisations (including registered charities/companies) whose primary purpose is to deliver environmental programmes and projects. Organisations should already be delivering activity which has the ability to become a business enterprise and can clearly show senior management support the application, planning and sustainability.

Applicants who are accepted onto the programme will work collaboratively with Groundwork, a programme partner, who will support them to become more financially and environmentally sustainable.

Co-designed packages of financial and business include some or all of the following:

  • Access to a bespoke learning package co-designed by the applicant and Groundwork.
  • Grants of up to £30,000 to research or test out new ideas, to launch new enterprises or grow existing ones.
  • Extensive peer-learning and networking opportunities.
  • Access to a team of pro bono legal experts to provide information and guidance with the legal considerations of trading.
  • Invitations to conferences on enterprise development and social investment within the wider charitable sector.

Applications will be accepted from environmental not-for-profit voluntary or community organisations, which have been operating as a registered company/charity for at least two years, with a clear social mission. It is expected that applying organisations will vary in size, environmental focus and enterprise type and could include environmental conservation charities, community growing CICs, community energy partnerships, as well as reuse and recycle projects.

Examples of eligible trading models are broad and could include selling woodland products or produce from land management projects, selling services such as training or awareness courses, producing and selling a Standard Mark, or setting up an online retail or physical charity shop.

There is a two-stage application process.

Stage 1 applications are open from 15 June to 13 July 2021.

Full details…

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