Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Community Fund supporting local initiatives is launched

Applications are now open for the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Community Fund that will support local environmental and social projects.

Constituted community and parish organisations from Hardwicke, Quedgeley, Brookthorpe-with-Whaddon, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Harescombe, and Whitminster are able to apply for a share of the £25,000 fund to support projects that will benefit the environment or the local community.

Projects with a focus on minimising waste, use of resources, and pollution, enhancing places and biodiversity, or promoting local communities, culture, health and wellbeing, and activities for younger and older people will be considered for the fund.

Kevin Lee, Chair of the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Community Fund committee, said:

“The Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Community Fund will help groups and organisations in the local area to further their work supporting the environment and social causes.

Parish, Town, District, and County Councillors on the Community Liaison Group have worked with Urbaser Balfour Beatty to determine the criteria for allocating this fund, which we hope will facilitate a number of worthwhile projects in the communities closest to the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste facility.”

A committee of six representatives from the Energy from Waste facility’s neighbouring parishes will be responsible for setting criteria and evaluating applications, and will make the final decision on which groups will be awarded shares of the £25,000 fund.

The fund will be made available annually and will increase by the Retail Price Index (RPI), with applications opening in March and closing at the end of June. The successful groups will be awarded their share of the funds in late September.

Urbaser, who will operate the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste facility, will provide the capital for the fund. In addition, Urbaser will undertake small administrative duties for the application process. The company is not involved in the setting of criteria, evaluation, and decision processes associated with the fund. This is entirely led by the community committee representatives.

Groups interested in applying for the Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Community Fund are invited to, download and complete the application form available here.