Local community solar farm announces £25,000 in grant funding for green projects

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Gawcott Fields Community Solar CIC has announced the latest round of its Bee Green Grant Fund, offering £25,000 in grants to support local community groups, schools, and charities with great green ideas. Organisations based within 5km of Gawcott Fields Farm are encouraged to apply for funding.

Over the past year, the Bee Green Grant Fund has supported a variety of incredible projects, including energy efficiency upgrades for community buildings, educational workshops and solar farm visits for schools, and the installation of solar panels at four local sports clubs. Now, Gawcott Fields Community Solar aims to further expand its support for projects that make a difference.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

About the Grant Fund

The Bee Green Grant Fund seeks to support local projects that focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and raising environmental awareness. Grants are available for projects that address climate change, energy conservation, and other sustainability initiatives.

Map showing eligible parishes within a 5km radius of Gawcott Fields Farm for the Bee Green Grant FundMap showing eligible parishes within a 5km radius of Gawcott Fields Farm for the Bee Green Grant Fund
Map showing eligible parishes within a 5km radius of Gawcott Fields Farm for the Bee Green Grant Fund

Potential areas for funding include:

  • Energy audits and energy efficiency improvements in schools and community buildings.
  • Community-led nature conservation projects.
  • Environmental education projects.
  • Community and youth-led activity to help develop a vision and plans for a net zero future.
  • Low carbon skills, STEM education programmes, EV mechanic training, energy efficiency and renewable energy apprentice training.

Local groups, especially those who haven’t applied before, are encouraged to submit their applications.

Solar Soft Loans: Additional funding for solar panels

Solar array on the Buckingham Rugby Union Football Club's clubhouse, funded through the Bee Green Grant Fund.Solar array on the Buckingham Rugby Union Football Club's clubhouse, funded through the Bee Green Grant Fund.
Solar array on the Buckingham Rugby Union Football Club's clubhouse, funded through the Bee Green Grant Fund.

In addition to the Bee Green Grant Fund, Gawcott Fields Community Solar CIC is offering further support for solar panel installations on community buildings and Schools through Solar Soft Loans.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Solar Soft Loans allow schools, community clubs, and charities to install solar panels and benefit from free, on-site solar electricity that reduces energy bills without the upfront costs.

These organisations also have the opportunity to sell surplus electricity back to the grid. The repayment terms are soft, flexible, based on actual cost savings. If savings are less than expected, the loan can be paid back more slowly or, in some cases, may not need to be fully repaid. Any repaid funds are recycled into a local low-carbon loan fund to help more schools and community buildings install their own solar panels.

Check Your Eligibility

The grant fund is open to schools, charities, and community organisations within 5km of Gawcott Fields Farm. To check your eligibility, download the full criteria and access an application form, please visit the Gawcott Fields Community Solar website at: https://gawcottsolar.co.uk/funding/

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A team member will follow up to discuss the application and learn more about the proposed project.

About Gawcott Fields Community Solar CIC

Gawcott Fields Community Solar CIC is a not-for-profit local energy enterprise that operates a 4.2MW community solar farm at Gawcott Fields Farm, between Buckingham and Gawcott. The 16,000 panel solar array has been up and running since 2016, generating electricity for the equivalent of over 1,100 homes.

The electricity generated by the solar farm is sold to the grid and surplus income (after covering operating and finance costs) is reinvested into local community projects, with an estimated £2.8 million expected to be distributed over the solar farm’s 25-year lifespan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Bee Green Grant Fund, Solar Soft Loans, and the organisation’s Net Zero Schools Programme—which offers renewable energy education and school visits to the solar farm—are all part of Gawcott Fields Community Solar CIC’s mission to support community-driven net-zero action.

Related topics:
News you can trust since 1832
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice