Organisations on the Isle of Wight could be eligible for a Biffa Award grant of between £10,000 and £75,000.
Charities and not-for-profit organisations are being urged to apply for the Biffa Award funding for 2021/22. Since 1997, Biffa Award has awarded grants totalling more than £180 million to thousands of worthwhile community and environmental projects.
Previous projects supported on the Isle of Wight include the installation of insulation at St Mark’s Church in Wootton (£58,797) and the refurbishment of toilet facilities at Ryde Methodist Church (£12,000).
Biffa Award grants funding under 3 themes:
• Recreation – projects can range from nature trails, boardwalks and community gardens to outdoor gyms, skateparks and play parks. It generally includes projects that benefit people within their free time. This theme also includes projects in communal areas of sporting clubhouses (such as kitchen and toilet facilities) which have a wider community use in much the same way as a village hall.
• Rebuilding Biodiversity – projects safeguard or enhance habitats for a variety of plant, invertebrate and animal special. Work can include habitat improvement works, tree surgery, scrub removal, and the purchase of plants, seeds and trees. Ideally projects will have a strong element of public access or inclusion such as volunteer involvement.
• Community Buildings – projects improve buildings at the heart of their communities, such as village halls, community centres and church halls. They can include building refurbishments and internal works to kitchens, toilets, roofs, flooring, window, doors and heating systems.
Rachel Maidment, Biffa Award Grants Manager, explains:
“Although we award grants under three themes, the Recreation and Rebuilding Biodiversity themes are currently underrepresented, so we are particularly keen to hear from organisations that are looking for funding under these two themes.
“Whether your village play area needs revamping, there is an area that could be transformed into a community garden or nature trail, or you have a plan to improve a habitat for rare species, we want to hear from you.”
Simon Rutledge, Group External Affairs & Sustainability Manager at Biffa, added:
“Biffa Award provides a great opportunity for the restoration of important community hubs, serving hundreds of local residents, as well as protecting and enhancing habitats.
“Caring for our people and supporting our communities forms a key part of our sustainability strategy ‘Resourceful, Responsible’, so we are excited to see Biffa Award supporting as many communities as it can.”
Applicants must be a charitable or not-for-profit organisation and must own or have a long-term lease on the project site. Projects must fit into 1 of the 3 grant themes and be ready to start work if an offer of funding is made.
The overall project must cost no more than £200,000 and Biffa Award can fund up to 100% of the project’s cost up to a maximum of £75,000. Under all themes, applicants must be able to demonstrate the need for the project and value for money.
Full Guidance Notes and eligibility criteria can be found at www.bit.ly/MGSGuidance.
To check whether your project meets the distance criteria visit https://www.biffa-award.org/ and use the postcode checker on the relevant grant theme page.
