Community buildings

The Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme can support communities to change their community buildings to become low carbon and sustainable, and to focus on opportunities to retrofit and renovate, utilising renewable energy, choosing natural materials, and nurturing an ethos of reduce, reuse, repair and recycle.

Climate change science requires urgent action to halt the predicted irreversible environmental changes occurring on a global scale. In Cumbria, 100 year flood events have happened 3 times in the past 2 decades. According to the MET office and Oxford University, the frequency and intensity of such events will magnify as climate change bites.

Grant funding support is available to help make energy efficiency improvements to the fabric of community buildings of heritage value in the area and for user comfort. This could include, but is not exclusive to; roof, floor or wall insulation, heat pumps, double glazing, LED replacement lighting systems, traditional lime plaster, water saving devices, and solar PV installation.

Heritage Community Buildings Fund

The Heritage Community Buildings Fund is administered by our partner, Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS), and grants are available for groups and organisations who are involved in community heritage buildings projects that benefit the sustainability and well-being of Fellfoot Forward communities.

A total project expenditure of £100,000 over the four year scheme has been budgeted for initiatives that support heritage community buildings to conserve energy. It is anticipated that most activity will be in years 2-3, and projects must be completed by the end of 2024.

Up to 60% of total costs can be applied for. The minimum match funding is 40%, which can be made up of cash contributions from fundraising etc. and up to 10% can be as volunteer time calculated at £50 per day. Applications will be assessed by the Heritage Community Buildings Grants Manager and the Fellfoot Forward Advisory Board.

Please get in touch if you are planning renovations and improvements to a community building and would like support.
Email Roe Baker by 1st July 2021 in the first instance to check eligibility and discuss potential projects.