The Rampion Community Benefit Fund 2023 is now open until 26 May for applications from charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations to fund projects benefiting local communities and supporting the environment.
In a new ‘Community Energy Solutions’ initiative, £100,000 per year for the next two years is offered in grants of up to £20,000 for capital projects to improve community and charity buildings with renewable energy solutions and energy conservation initiatives. Onsite renewable energy projects could involve solar PV for electricity or solar thermal, ground and air source for heating and hot water. Energy conservation projects could include insulation, passive design to reduce heating and cooling requirements, and reused or recycled building materials.
“Through the Rampion Fund, we aim to help charities and community groups to reduce their energy bills long-term, encourage investment in renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions, and we encourage applications now,” said Kevin Richmond, Chief Executive of the Sussex Community Foundation.
Grants of up to £10,000 are also offered for community projects supporting nature conservation, marine ecology and environmental improvements. The Fund will open for another round of applications early in 2024.
Since the Rampion Fund at Sussex Community Foundation was set up in 2017, over £1.8 million has been given out in grants to 160 projects working for the benefit of more than a million local people in Sussex. The fund region stretches from Littlehampton Harbour in the west to Beachy Head in the east and up to the A272 near Twineham in the north.
“We are delighted that through the Rampion Community Benefit Fund, we can support some truly remarkable and vital local community projects,” said Katie Scanlan, Rampion Stakeholder & Visitor Centre Manager.
“I was lucky to visit one of the projects recently – ‘Harriett’s Press’ – and was inspired by their commitment to providing a free, low-energy, sustainable laundry service to those in need in their community in Brighton. This is exactly the sort of project we are proud to support, with a focus on both environmental sustainability and community support.”
Details at: www.sussexgiving.org.uk/rampion. The deadline for the 2023 programme is Friday 26 May 2023.