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Capital funding for building and accessibility improvements

Funding for environmental improvements to community buildings following an Eco Audit. Building improvements can reduce carbon, improve resource use, and enhance biodiversity. This work can also be combined with access improvements identified through an Access Audit

This funding programme closed to new applications on Tuesday, 8 October 2024

Grant details

  • Area: Greater London
  • Open to: No longer open to new applications
  • Deadline: Noon on Tuesday, 8 October 2024
  • Funding size: Up to £150,000
  • Average award: Since May 2024, we have awarded grants of between £100,000 and £149,600, with the average grant being around £124,800.

We encourage organisations to apply for the funds they need to carry out the improvements recommended in their Eco Audit and/​or Access Audit up to the cap.

You can find out more about our approach to funding here.

Funding closed to new applications

Having committed exceptional levels of funding to London’s charitable sector until 2026, we closed our rolling grants programmes to new applications on Tuesday, 8 October 2024 for one year. This will allow us to manage our existing grants and pre-closure applications, while reviewing and developing our new funding policy, launching in autumn 2025.

Funding closed to new applications

Th following text is archived and no longer represents an active funding programme

Capital funding for building improvements

Once you have an Eco Audit from one of our approved consultants, outlining the ways your organisation can be more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint, you can apply for funding to carry out the building work it recommends through this capital funding grant.

If your organisation also holds a valid Access Audit you can use this page to apply for funding to carry out the building work recommended by both Audits. You can apply for up to £150,000 for Eco works or Access works or a combination of both.

Eligible organisations with a valid Eco Audit, provided by one of our approved consultants, can apply to us for capital funding to carry out the work the Audit recommends. Such work will typically help your organisation to be more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint.

If you also hold a valid Access Audit you can also use this page to apply for funding to carry out the building work recommended by both Audits. You can apply for up to £150,000 for Eco works or Access works or a combination of both Eco and Access works.

We can only contribute to projects where the total refurbishment costs do not exceed £15 million. Funding can only be for an existing community building (not a new-build development).

We will only fund accessibility and building work that has yet to take place. We do not fund work that is already underway or has been completed.

Organisations which already hold one of our mainstream grants are not eligible to apply for this capital funding. Please contact us before applying if you are not sure.

Before applying

To apply for capital funding for building improvements you’ll need to confirm:

  • that your building and its activities benefit the wider community and do not exclusively advance the promotion of any of specific religion
  • the building is owned by your organisation or has a lease of over 10 years

What we can fund

We can fund improvements to your office, community building or other charitable space that have been recommended by an Eco Audit or Refresher Eco Audit carried out by one of our approved consultants.

We can only fund such work where the total refurbishment costs do not exceed £15 million.

Work can include (but is not necessarily limited to):

  • insulation

  • solar panels

  • heat pumps

  • on-site biodiversity schemes

  • energy efficient lighting systems

We can consider capital funding of up to £150,000 towards greening improvements.

We can fund accessibility improvements to your office, community building or other charitable space that have been recommended by an Access Audit carried out by one of our approved consultants or by a registered auditor from the Centre for Accessible Environments or the National Register of Access Consultants.

Any buildings and/​or spaces being improved should continue to provide significant free and unhindered access for the whole community.

Work can include (but is not necessarily limited to):

  • Installation or conversion of toilets to be wheelchair accessible
  • Installation of access ramps
  • Installation of seating to provide greater accessibility for the elderly and those with disabilities
  • Installation or modernisation of a lift
  • Installation of a hearing induction loop

We can consider capital funding of up to £150,000 towards accessibility improvements.

Before applying

To apply for capital funding for building improvements you’ll need to confirm:

  • that your building and its activities benefit the wider community and do not exclusively advance the promotion of any specific religion

  • the building is owned by your organisation or has a lease of over 10 years

You will be asked to provide evidence of:

  • an Eco Audit completed within the last three years, or a current Refresher Eco Audit, that recommends the works for which you are seeking funding

  • OR an Access Audit, or design appraisal by a qualified professional registered with the Centre for Accessible Environments and/​or the National Register of Access Consultants

  • OR both of the above if seeking funding for both Access and Eco works

Applications to this funding programme are now closed