Landfill Communities Fund

This is quite a long summary of the Landfill Communities Fund. It includes an overview of the schemes and funders that are relevant to groups in South Yorkshire.

Tax on landfill waste was introduced in 1996 as a means to reduce the amount of land-filled waste and to promote a shift to more environmentally sustainable methods of waste management.

The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) enables operators of landfill sites to contribute money to enrolled Environmental Bodies (EBs) to carry out projects that meet environmental objects contained in the Landfill Tax Regulations.

Landfill Operators (LOs) must pay a tax to the Government on every ton of waste that they dispose of in a landfill site. The LCF allows LOs to ‘offset’ a percentage of the landfill tax and give a proportion of it to organisations who deliver environmental objectives, instead of paying it as tax to Government.

The principle of the LCF is that it ‘offsets’ some of the negative impacts of living very close to a landfill site. This is done by allowing the LOs to pay a proportion of their landfill tax liability to not-for-profit organisations that deliver benefits to the general public, biodiversity or the environment.

Objectives of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF)

There are six main areas of work that can be undertaken when utilising LCF monies, these are called the ‘objects’. The objective of your work must be actual physical works at an identified site. ENTRUST assesses the work you propose to undertake before it takes place. This is called project registration. The areas of work that can be undertaken are listed below and the ones that are relevant to voluntary and community organisations and churches are D, DA and E.

OBJECT A
The remediation or restoration of land that cannot now be used because of a ceased activity that used to take place there.

OBJECT B
The reduction, prevention or mitigation of effects of pollution that has resulted, or may result, from an activity that has now ceased.

There is no Object C anymore.

OBJECT D
The provision, maintenance or improvement of a public park or other general public amenity.

Overarching Principles:
The primary intent of this objective must be for the general public’s benefit for leisure or recreation. The site where the work takes place must be open and accessible to the general public. The intention must not be to generate profit and the site where the work will take place must be within 10 miles of a landfill site.

You will be asked to demonstrate:

· The amenity should directly benefit the general public and they should have open access to, or use of, the amenity.
· It is somewhere where the general public can go, join or use without any limit of restrictive use (through cost or rights of access) being in place;
· The amenity must be within ten miles of a landfill site;
· The intent of the project should not be to derive income;
· The site is a single location;
· The costs of the project must relate to the actual physical improvement, maintenance or provision of the identified amenity, rather than its management or its administration.

Read the guidance note relating to a general public amenity project

OBJECT DA
The conservation of a specific species or a specific habitat where it naturally occurs

Overarching Principles:
The primary intent of this objective must be for the conservation of identified species or habitats. The costs of the work you undertake must be directly related to the identified species or habitat and the place where it naturally occurs.

You will be asked to demonstrate:

· The identified species or habitats that will be conserved by the project
· That all the costs of the works relate to the conservation of the identified species or habitats.
· That the costs of the works you propose relate solely to the place where the species or habitat naturally occurs.
· It is best practice guidance that the species or habitat in question is listed in a Biodiversity Action Plan and that you involve the designated Lead Partner in the project

Read the guidance note relating to the conservation of a species or habitat

OBJECT E
The repair, maintenance or restoration of a Place of Worship or a Place of Architectural Importance

Overarching Principles:
The primary intent of this objective is to maintain, repair or restore a Place of Worship; or a building or structure that must have listed status or equivalent where the general public can access the building. This objective does not allow works to private residences.

You will be asked to demonstrate:

· The Building or structure is open and accessible to the general public;
· The works you propose are to repair, restore or maintain the Building or structure;
· All the costs of the works relate to the actual Building or structure.

Read the guidance note relating to the Restoration of a Place of Worship or a Structure of Architectural Interest

OBJECT F
The provision of financial, administrative or other similar services by one organisation enrolled with ENTRUST to another

Finding funding for your project

ENTRUST are the Government-appointed regulator of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) and do not fund any works. There are two methods of receiving funding through the LCF. These could be either:

· from an organisation that distributes the monies on a landfill operator’s behalf. These are commonly known as Distributive Environmental Bodies (DEBs). You are far more likely to receive money via a DEB than you are directly from a waste management company; or

· directly from a Landfill Operator (LOs)

Distributive Environmental Body (DEB) Funders

The most common way to receive funding is to approach a Distributive Environmental Body (DEB). These bodies distribute funds on behalf of the landfill operator or for more than one LOs. DEBs help others to access the LCF monies.

Since DEBs handle the majority of the monies that landfill operators give, this avenue is well worth pursuing. Most DEBs will require your organisation to meet certain conditions about the way you will spend the landfill tax money they may give you.

This is because they must make sure your expenditure complies with the Landfill Tax Regulations and ENTRUST guidelines. However, their criteria for accepting applications may be more stringent than how ENTRUST sets its guidelines. This may be because there is a high level of demand for the monies or that they have specific areas of the scheme that they wish to focus on.

Some may fund only in one geographical area and some will fund across the country and each has their own policies and application forms.

If you seek to obtain money via DEBs you may need to enrol with ENTRUST, we strongly recommend that you check with the DEBs first whether they are willing to fund your proposed work before contacting ENTRUST.

Landfill operators (LOs) as direct funders

You might be able to find LOs who will give landfill tax money directly to your organisation. While many landfill operators take part in the LCF, not all do. Not all LOs are potential sources of funding for your work. The only way to find out is to contact them and ask.

In England or Wales you can find a map of landfill sites in your area by looking at the Environment Agency website.

A list of all LOs can be obtained from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) from their website. LOs have to be registered with HMRC to take part in the scheme. If you plan to receive money directly from LOs, you will need to enrol your organisation as an Environmental Body with ENTRUST.

Contact:
ENTRUST
Tel: 01926 488 300 - Information Desk
Email: You can email using links on the website
Click here to go to the website.

Environment Agency
Click here to go to the website.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Click here to go to the website.

Overview of the funders relevant to South Yorkshire groups

Some of these funders have a proximity checker on their website, you can put in your postcode and find out how near you are to the landfill site.

Wakefield Environmental Developments Ltd

Contact:
Kieran Morris

Block C
Normanton Town Hall
High Street
Normanton
WF6 2DZ

Tel: 01924 307 222
Email them
Go to the website

Maximum Grant
Drax Power – no limit
EPaC - £20,000

Funding Policies
We act as an Environmental Body on behalf of Drax Power and British Energy’s Eggborough Power Station under their EPaC scheme. All projects require third party funding of 10% of the total Landfill Communities Fund contribution.

EpaC projects must be within 10 miles of a British Energy power station and/or the stations’ landfill site. Projects are principally supported within 10 miles of Eggborough Power Station and/or its landfill site at Gale Common. Drax projects must be within 10 miles of Drax Power Station and/or its landfill site. All projects must be within 10 miles of an active or historic landfill site as listed on the Environment Agency’s ‘waste map’ for landfill sites.

Visit the website for application forms.

10 Mile Ruling
Projects must be located within 10 miles of a Drax or British Energy power station.

Relevant sites are:

Drax
Selby
North Yorkshire
YO8 8PQ

Eggborough Power Station
Goole
East Yorkshire
DN14 0BS

Objects Supported
A, B, D, Da, E, F

Project Bids Supported
Drax are focusing on Object D projects to ensure local benefit, except equipped Play Areas, rather than Churches and other Objects. Projects that provide managed diversionary activities for young people such as a junior sports development are positively encouraged. There is no limit to the grant they will consider. EPAC also focus on Object D projects and limit grants to £20,000 per applicant.

Project Bids Not Supported
Drax are no longer supporting play areas as many have already been funded. They will not generally support the purchase of land or buildings or contribute to the internal running costs of an organisation.

Application Details
Drax and EPAC applications can be downloaded from the website or by calling them.

Enrol with ENTRUST?
Not required

Additional Information
For further information please see the website.

SITA Trust

Contact:
Andrew Saunders

The Barn
Brinkmarsh Lane
Falfield
South Gloucestershire
GL12 8PT

Tel: 01454 262 910
Email them
Go to the website

Maximum Grant
£250,000

Funding Policies
SITA Trust runs three funding programmes:

· Enhancing Communities: for community improvement projects within 3 miles of qualifying waste treatment sites owned by SITA UK.

· Enriching Nature: for biodiversity conservation projects within ten miles of any landfill site in England.

· GreenPrints: a joint funded youth volunteering programme encouraging 16 to 25 year olds to improve and increase the green spaces where they live.

10 Mile Ruling
Community grants are distributed in several regions in the vicinity of SITA owned landfill sites. Biodiversity and volunteering grants are distributed across England.

Objects Supported
D, Da

Enrol with ENTRUST?
Not required

Additional Information
Visit the website.

The Veolia Environmental Trust

Contact:
Margaret Cobbold

Ruthdene
Station Road
Four Ashes
Wolverhampton,
WV10 7DG

Tel: 01902 794 677

Email them
Go to the website

Maximum Grant:
£150,000 but only for exceptional projects.

Funding Policies
Projects need to be within 5 miles of a Veolia facility. Projects coming under Categories D, DA and E must be within 10 miles of a landfill. Total project cost must not exceed £500,000 (that is, including other contributions).

The Trust is committed to supporting community and environmental projects across the UK. These could include projects aiming to install or enhance play areas and skate parks, restore footpaths and green spaces, protect natural habitats, improve community halls and restore churches.

NB - Due to the current high volume of applications, the Trust regrets to inform potential applicants that proposals for places of worship cannot be considered at the present time. This also applies to internal and external work that is specifically for the benefit of the place of worship, such as toilets, ramps for the disabled and pathways.

Church Halls and the like, used as community facilities, will still be eligible as will the formation or upgrading of community facilities within places of worship.

Applications for sports facilities or improvements will not be accepted from Sports Clubs or Associations but fully ‘public’ facilities such as a multi use games area or tennis courts in a public park, not managed by a club or association, will be considered.

The Trust will constantly monitor the situation and our website will be updated accordingly. Contact the Trust if you need any further help or advice.

Objects Supported
A, B, D, Da, E

Project Bids Not Supported
School Projects. Churches

Application Details
Registration and application assistance available

Enrol with ENTRUST?
Not required

Viridor Credits Environmental Company

Contact:
Bob Attwood

Suite D
Victoria House
Victoria Street
Taunton
TA1 3FA

Tel: 01823 327 182
Email Bob
Go to the website

Maximum Grant
£50,000

Funding policies
Projects should:

· Promote community participation and partnership approaches

· Be environmentally friendly. Please consider all environmentally friendly
solutions for any aspect of your project. We will consider more costly
energy efficient solutions over conventional solutions if these can be
shown to provide environmental benefits.

· Projects that use or promote the use of ‘youth’ volunteering.

Objects Supported
D, Da, E

Application Details
Suitability is assessed via a questionnaire

Enrol with ENTRUST?
Not required

Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd (WREN)

Contact:
Ben Walker or Marie Ramsey

WREN House
Manor Farm
Bridgham
Norwich
Norfolk
NR16 2NT

Tel: Ben Walker (Project Manager) 01274 833 262

Marie Ramsey (Project Administrator) 01953 714 112

General email
NB: You can email Ben Walker or Marie Ramsey directly via the website.

General website
South Yorkshire website

Minimum Grant
£2,000

Maximum Grant
£50,000

Funding Policies
Small Grant Scheme
The WREN Small Grant Scheme has been established to assist applicants looking for funding on small projects that can make a real difference to a local community.

Criteria
The core criteria under which the WREN Small Grant Scheme operates is funding applications between £2,000 and £15,000 will be considered with a total project cost under £50,000.
All projects must be completed within 12 months of the funding decision
All information required must be provided before the project is considered by the panel.
The project must be within 10 miles of a Waste Recycling Group landfill site.

Only the following types of projects can be considered for the Small Grant Scheme:
· Village Halls
· Community Centres
· Public Parks
· Skate Parks
· Multi-use games areas (MUGA)
· Country Parks
· Cycleways
· Bridleways
· Museums
· Recreation Grounds
· Nature Reserves
· Village Greens
· Public footpaths/towpaths
· Sports Clubs (not members only)
· Playgrounds (not on school grounds)

Main Grant Scheme
WREN can fund a wide range of projects under Objects D/DA and E of the Landfill Communites Fund. Funding of between £15,001  and £50,000 is available

Biodiversity Action Fund (BAF)
In October 2008 WREN launched a new £10 million UK Biodiversity scheme designed to conserve ancient woodlands, grasslands, heathlands and wetlands for future generations. Biodiversity is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms and this scheme will bring much needed funding to support projects around the UK.
The programme will be spread over 5 years. BAF will provide funding to enhance Object Da by supporting the expansion, recovery and conservation of priority habitats through specific improvements. WREN is issuing grants between £75,000 and £250,000 for projects that will last up to 5 years. In some cases WREN will fund 100% of the eligible costs.
Projects requiring WREN funding must be situated within 10 miles of any licensed and registered landfill site across most parts of the UK. Environmental organisations, voluntary groups, charities, not-for-project organisations, local authorities, governmental bodies and community groups can apply for funding as long as they have a formal constitution and bank account.

10 Mile Ruling
WREN will consider applications from within a 10-mile radius of a WRG landfill site. Sites in South Yorkshire are:

Bootham Lane Landfill Site
Dunscroft
Doncaster
DN7 4JT

Thurcroft Landfill Site
Thurcroft
Rotherham
South Yorkshire

Objects Supported
D, Da, E

Project Bids Supported
It is important that WREN is able to assess specific and measurable project outcomes to show how projects will make a difference. Day to day management and running costs, together with routine maintenance costs will not be funded. WREN funding can be used for physical improvements to a site, for example, new windows, access improvements, refurbishment work or landscaping. Depending on the project type WREN may also fund architect or design costs up to a maximum of 5% of the WREN funding application. If your project includes revenue funding please see the website for further details.

Project Bids Not Supported
· Purchases of land
· Any work relating to car parks
· Projects located at libraries, schools, in school grounds or pre-schools
· Projects involving membership-only organisations where the general public (ie. non members) are unable to use the facilities
· Projects involving the enhancement of single sports facilities (ie. cricket or bowls clubs)
· Land boundary walls, fences or railings
· Projects to provide or enhance overnight accommodation or residential areas of any amenity
· War memorials that do not have full public access or are not located within a public park
· Restoration projects for Christian places of worship in counties where WREN has a funding agreement with the regional Churches Trust.

Application Details
The WREN board considers projects 4 times a year. Application deadlines are published on the WREN website and all necessary guidance and forms are also available from the website. WREN uses locally based advisory panels in almost all operating areas to assess projects and provide recommendations to the WREN board.

Enrol with ENTRUST?
WREN will register projects with ENTRUST. There is no need to be an enrolled Environmental Body to apply for funding.

Additional Information
WREN receives the majority of its funding from the landfill tax levied by Waste Recycling Group. Some funding is also received from Yorkshire Water and distributed in the form of grants.

WREN employs locally based project managers across its operating areas that, alongside head office based project administrators, provide help and guidance to all applicants throughout the application process.

Biffaward – Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT)

Contact:
Grants Team RSWT

The Kiln Waterside
Mather Road
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 1WT

Tel: 01636 670 000
Email them
Go to the website

Maximum Grant
See individual schemes

Funding Policies
Main Grants – Community
£5,000 to £50,000

This is for projects that provide or improve community spaces, cultural facilities and places for outdoor recreation.
For example, a building that needs improvement in order to increase the range of services on offer to the local community or an open space such as a park, play area or woodland that needs transforming to benefit local people of all ages. They want to improve access to high quality local community facilities.

You will need to find a third party contributor(s) to provide 10% of the grant you are applying for.

The main criteria are:
· The project site is within 10 miles of a Biffa operation
· The project’s site is also within 10 miles of a landfill site (owned by any company)
· There will be a minimum of 104 days of full public access to the project per year
· Any Biffaward grant will be used for site-based improvement work, not for equipment or running costs
· Biffaward is unable to fund requests to help an existing facility meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act
· Biffaward is unable to fund retrospectively, so you should only apply for money for work that will take place in the future.
· Following on from your initial ‘Expression of Interest’, if your organisation is invited to complete a Full Application for Biffaward funding, you will be required to enrol your organisation with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body and also register the project with ENTRUST under category D or E.

Application Details
An Expression of Interest form is available from the website.

Main grants – Biodiversity
£5,000 to £50,000

Biffaward looks to support site-based projects that protect and enhance biodiversity across the UK, particularly those concentrating on species and habitats that have been identified as a priority in Biodiversity Action Plans. You will need to find a third party contributor(s) to provide 10% of the grant you are applying for.

The main criteria are:
· The project’s site is within 25 miles of a Biffa operation
· The project’s site is also within 10 miles of a landfill site (owned by any company)
· The project has specific targets in relation to a Biodiversity Action Plan and will deliver a direct improvement to biodiversity
· Your organisation has the support of key agencies, and has partners involved in the project’s delivery
· There is a management plan in place for the key species / habitat(s) involved
· Following on from your initial ‘Expression of Interest’, if your organisation is invited to complete a Full Application for Biffaward funding, you will be required to enrol your organisation with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body and also register the project with ENTRUST under category Da.

How do I apply?
An Expression of Interest form is available from the website.

Small Grants
£250 - £5,000. Your project must not cost more than £10,000 in total.

The Small Grants Scheme offers quicker access to lower levels of funding.
Over the past three years Biffaward has supported nearly 300 projects under the Small Grants Scheme.

The main criteria are:
· The project’s site is within 10 miles of a Biffa operation, the project’s site is also within 10 miles of a landfill site (owned by any company)
· The project is eligible to be registered with ENTRUST under category D. Please note that your organisation does not have to enrol with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body, RSWT act as the Environmental Body for Small Grants projects and will register the project for you with ENTRUST.
· There will be a minimum of 104 days of full public access to the project per year
· Any Biffaward grant will be used for site-based improvement work, not for equipment or running costs
· Biffaward is unable to fund retrospectively, so you should only apply for money for work that will take place in the future.

An application form is available from the website.

Flagship Scheme
The 2009 Flagship Scheme application process is now open. Applicants have until 1 July 2009 to submit their Expressions of Interest.

Through the Flagship Scheme Biffaward look to fund projects that have something unique and exciting that no other project in the region, or country, has. Grants of £150,000 - £500,000 are available.

The Flagship Scheme supports two themes - rebuilding biodiversity and cultural facilities (they no longer fund community buildings through the Flagship Scheme).
Projects must be site-based, within 25 miles of a Biffa operation and ten miles of an active landfill. The organisation making the application must be eligible to enrol with ENTRUST as an Environmental Body.

Unlike the Small and Main Grants Schemes, Flagship applications are only accepted at a certain time each year. The 2009 Flagship Scheme first stage ‘Expression of Interest’ form is now available by contacting the regional Grants Officers. Applicants have until 1 July 2009 to submit their first stage applications. The timescale for the 2009 round of Flagships is available from the website.

10 Mile Ruling
See individual schemes, above.

Objects Supported
D, Da, E

Project Bids Supported
Most projects considered

Project Bids Not Supported
Allotments, school grounds, car parks, vehicles, offices

Enrol with ENTRUST?
Depends on the size of the project

Additional Information
Biodiversity and cultural projects are especially welcome, as are projects in Scotland and Wales

Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust

Contact:
Margaret Barlow

11 Fieldfare Drive
Gateford
Worksop
Notts
S81 8TP
Tel: 01909 478873
Email Margaret

Maximum Grant
£10,000

Funding Policies
Projects must be located within 10 miles of a WREN site

Objects Supported
E

Enrol with ENTRUST
Not required

Third Party Funding

Landfill Communities Fund Third Party Funding from Rotherham Council

Rotherham Council (RMBC) manage a small Third Party Funding
budget which is available to community groups and other organisations in
Rotherham when applying to distributive bodies such as Biffaward and WREN.

Any award that is made by a distributive body requires the applicant to
raise an additional 10% of the award amount to be paid directly to the
Landfill Operator. This needs to come directly from the applicant or a
third party source. RMBC’s Third Party Funding budget can be applied into
to fill this funding gap.

Contact Asif Akram, Culture and Leisure Services, RMBC
Tel: 01709 823883
Email Asif

Advice Giving Bodies

Yorkshire Buildings Preservation Trust Ltd

Contact: Michael Robinson

10 Sandringham Close
Haxby
York
YO32 3GL

Tel: 01904 761920

They do not fund projects, but are happy to advise and signpost to other organisations

Objects Supported
E