Funded by the DfE, Climate Ambassadors match volunteer climate experts with education settings.
Part of Let’s Go Zero, Climate Action Advisors are independent experts who offer free support for schools, colleges, and nurseries across England.
About
Explore funding opportunities that can help you deliver projects to reduce your setting's carbon emissions. Decarbonisation funding can support projects such as:
- Energy - improving energy efficiency, reducing energy use or generating renewable energy
- Food and catering
- Reducing waste
- Procurement or purchasing
- Supporting sustainable or active travel
Funding can come from government, local authorities, charitable foundations, energy providers and other organisations.
The size and requirements of funding opportunities can vary considerably. Larger government or public sector grants can involve detailed applications, competitive selection processes and significant requirements around approvals, procurement, delivery, monitoring and reporting.
Why
Decarbonisation is often one of the most impactful areas of a climate action plan. These projects can significantly lower your setting's carbon footprint and potentially reduce your operational costs.
Many decarbonisation projects require upfront investment that existing budgets might not be able to cover - external funding can help make these high-impact projects possible.
How
Some funding opportunities can be straightforward enough for a teacher, sustainability lead or other staff to initiate. However, government and larger-value grants will likely require formal organisational approval and involvement from your SLT or finance team before submission.
Selection processes for competitive funding can be complex and you may not always know why an application was unsuccessful. Focus on meeting the criteria and providing clear evidence.
If your application is successful, read the terms and conditions carefully and make sure you can meet all the requirements before accepting the funding. Keep records of spending and project outcomes, particularly where these are required by the funder.
- Groups: check the relevant internal processes before applying. Funding may already have been applied for on behalf of multiple settings, or a central team may need to coordinate the application
- Early Years settings: Check carefully that funding is open to your type of setting. Eligibility can vary between maintained schools, academies, independent settings and different types of Early Years providers. Going for smaller-scale decarbonisation projects may be more realistic
- High SEND schools or special schools: Some funds may prioritise particular communities, levels of deprivation, accessibility needs or types of provision. There may also be dedicated funding streams available for your setting that deliver wider benefits alongside carbon reduction
Resources
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