Small Grants

What is it?

Often groups only need a small amount of money to make a difference to a local facility, be it a community building, nature reserve, cultural facility or outdoor space.  The Small Grants Scheme offers quicker access to lower levels of funding to make these projects happen.

Over the past three years Biffaward has supported nearly 300 projects under the Small Grants Scheme. A continuous high number of applications are recieved, resulting in strong competition when awarding funding.

How much can I apply for?

You can apply for between £250 and £5,000. Your project must not cost more than £10,000 in total.

Am I eligible?

The main criteria are:

•   The project's site is within 10 miles of a Biffa operation (the proximity checker on the left will tell you this)
•   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 - we (RSWT) act as the Environmental Body for Small Grants projects.  We will register the project for you with ENTRUST, but it does, of course, need to be eligible! 
•   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.  

Is your project based in Staffordshire?  There are separate funding arrangements for these projects.  Please contact the Staffordshire Environmental Fund on 01785 811600 or email info@staffs-environmental.co.uk to discuss your application.  

How do I apply?

If you have answered 'yes' to all of the points listed above, please download an application form to complete and return to Biffaward. This scheme operates a rolling application process, allowing you to apply at anytime.

We strongly advise that you read the guidance notes before completing your application to ensure your project is eligible and that you answer each question appropriately.

  SGS Application Form with notes.doc (288.5 KB)

When you have completed the application and have gathered your supporting information, please send a copy of the completed application form in electronic format to apply@rswt.org and by post, along with your supporting documentation, to:

Biffaward
Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
The Kiln
Waterside
Mather Road
Newark
Notts                                                                                                
NG24 1WT

We do not fund:

• Core costs, i.e. management charges, salaries or running costs
• Improvements to car parks, offices or services
• Alterations to help an existing building meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements
• 'Personal' kit or equipment, e.g. sports shirts, cricket gloves
• Computers, bicycles, boats, vehicles, groundsheets, mowers, scarifiers, scoreboards/boxes, mobile phones...  This is because we will only fund site-based projects, and portable items could in theory be moved away from the site.  Note: some portable sports and maintenance equipment that will be kept on one site will be judged on a case-by-case basis.  You will need to demonstrate that the equipment will provide wide community benefit.
• Fencing
• Projects in school buildings or grounds, or on allotments
• Events, CDs, websites, publications and marketing materials
• 'Purely' fabric repairs, e.g. to bell towers, church spires, etc. 
• Enhancement of town or village centres, e.g. signage, seating, dog waste bins and seasonal bulbs
• Storage Containers

This list is not exhaustive and may change from time to time.  We try to keep exclusions to a minimum.  If you have any doubt, please contact us on 01636 670000 or email biffaward@rswt.org

Case Studies

To view Small Grant Scheme project case sudies please Click Here.