Science Museum Group Wroughton Solar Park Sustainable Futures Grants

Which organisations are eligible for funding?

You can apply for a grant if you are a:

• constituted voluntary or community organisation
• registered charity
• not-for-profit company including community interest companies where the majority of directors receive no payment from the company
• school, academy or college

You need to be a:

• local or regional organisation only working in Wiltshire or Swindon or in the south/south west of England
• local branch of a national organisation with a local management committee based in Wiltshire or Swindon and your own bank account

Your organisation must have:

• an active voluntary management committee with at least three people who are not:

     - related to each other or in a long-term relationship

     - living at the same address

Your organisation needs the following financial arrangements and documents:

• a bank account with two signatories that are not related to each other
• less than 12 months running costs in unrestricted reserves. This means in your end of year financial accounts, Unrestricted reserves (not including Designated funds) must be less than your Expenditure
• financial records or accounts
• a recent bank statement
• a constitution
• a financial plan or budget showing this year's expected income, expenditure and reserves.
• a Safeguarding Policy and an Equal Opportunities Policy. Further guidance is available here

If you don't have any of the documents mentioned above please talk to us and we will help.

New organisations who do not have the above in place may be able to apply through another charitable organisation.

What types of projects are eligible for funding?

You can apply for a grant for:

• to continue the work your organisation already does
• to pay for a new activity which can include:
  • core costs - these might include (but not only) salaries, training, equipment, insurance or premises
  • projects costs - these might include (but not only) salaries, training, equipment, insurance or premises
  • capital costs (buildings and equipment) - grants for capital costs are one-off only (i.e. not multi-year) and if the cost of the project is more than the grant, you must have already secured most of the rest you need when you apply to us.
    

Please note: Your project must  meet at least one of the priorities listed in the introductory text above and:

• Have a focus on the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, maths) and/or the environment
• Create a physical asset, address an issue and/or encourage learning or engagement

Examples incude:

• Installing renewable energy equipment such as solar panels
• Reducing water use e.g. installing rain water harvesting system
• Creating or conserving a local habitat for nature
• Planting trees or wildflowers to increase biodiversity
• Trialling or implementing new approaches to learning and development in STEM and/or environment
• Making STEM and/or environment learning open to new audiences e.g. groups that are currently underrepresented in study or employment in these areas
• Using new or innovative technology solutions to tackle a local issue
• Research, feasibility studies or pilot projects

You can read a more detailed example of a project funded through this programme here

You must plan to start spending the grant within six months of when it was awarded and have 18 months to deliver the project.

What we don’t fund:

• money to individuals
• parish councils
• one-off or sponsored events 
• projects which duplicate an existing service
• the advancement of religion
• medical research and equipment
• animal welfare
• party political activities

Full guidance notes are available here