What are your themes?
Under our Main Grants Scheme, for grants of between £10,000 and £75,000, we have four different funding themes, each with its own eligibility criteria. The themes are Community Buildings, Recreation, Cultural Facilities and Rebuilding Biodiversity. You should carefully consider your theme before making an application as there can be no crossover between themes. You must select one theme and meet all the eligibility criteria for that theme. To find out more download our Main Grants Scheme Guidance Notes. Please note that these might have changed if you have applied for funding before.
Under our Partnership Grants Scheme we have two different themes - Natural Environment and Build Environment. Please check here to see whether our Partnership Grants Scheme is currently open for Expressions of Interest.
How do I find out whether my project is within the required distance of a Biffa operation or licensed landfill site?
When you chose the theme you would like to apply under, you can see our Postcode Checker at the bottom of the page. To choose your theme, go back to our Homepage and select from the themes listed. You can then enter your project postcode into the postcode checker to find out if there is a Biffa operation or Biffa landfill site within the required distance.
If you meet the distance criteria for a Biffa operation, you can call the regulator Entrust on 01926 488300 to confirm whether you have any licenced landfill site within the required distance.
Does my project have to benefit the whole community?
Yes. All of the projects that Biffa Award funds through our Main Grants Scheme benefit the whole community - that is what makes our funding so special. We will ask you to evidence the community benefit of your project when you apply to us, so make sure that everyone is on board before you start your application! We will ask you to provide letters of support or evidence of community consultation to prove that everyone wants the project as much as you do!
Can I apply if my project is on school or college grounds?
No, we do not fund any projects that are located on school or college grounds. This is a rule enforced by our regulator, ENTRUST and so there are no exceptions.
Can we apply for a Rebuilding Biodiversity project if we don’t own the land?
If you’re not the landowner, you will need to have a signed landowner agreement in place agreeing to access for maintenance, surveying and monitoring for a period of not less than 8 years from completion of the project. Contact the team if you want further clarification.
What is the maximum amount of money I can receive?
The maximum amount of Biffa Award funding a Main Grants Scheme project can receive is £75,000. If your project costs more than this, you can secure funding from multiple sources but we will need to know how much money you’ll be getting in total and who the other funders will be. The total project must cost no more than £200,000 including VAT.
How long does the application process take?
The Main Grants Scheme application process is a two stage process and can therefore take some time. Once you’ve submitted an Expression of Interest, it usually takes up to six months to find out if your project has been approved, subject to you being invited to Full Application stage and fulfilling all of our criteria.
When should I submit my application and when will I hear?
Submissions of Expression of Interest for our Main Grants Scheme are on a rolling basis. The Board meets four times a year to decide which projects to fund. Your application will go to the next available meeting so there are no restrictions on when you can apply. However this does mean that it may take up to six months until you hear whether you have been successful.
WHO IS ENTRUST?
Entrust is the HMRC appointed regulator of the Landfill Communities Fund. All projects are registered with Entrust to ensure funding is spent in line with approved objects. All projects, with the exception of some managed by existing Environmental Bodies (EB), are registered by RSWT.
I DON’T KNOW IF MY ORGANISATION IS ALREADY REGISTERED AS AN EB WITH ENTRUST?
You can check to see if your organisation is already registered here.
I AM ALREADY REGISTERED AS AN EB WITH ENTRUST, CAN I STILL APPLY?
If you are already an enrolled EB with Entrust, please contact them directly to see if you can voluntarily revoke from the scheme before making an application to Biffa Award for funding.
WHAT IS THE THIRD PARTY CONTRIBUTION, WHY IS IT REQUIRED, AND WHO CAN PAY IT?
Third party funding is a tricky concept to explain and to grasp. Some people prefer to think of it as leverage - finding a relatively small amount of money to release a much larger sum, e.g. £7,500 could unlock £75,000 of funding.
Only 90 per cent of any grant can be paid by us using Landfill Tax Credits. The remaining 10 per cent needs to be provided by another source, either from your own unrestricted reserves (if you are not a registered Environmental Body) or from an independent source (if you are a registered Environmental Body). The 10% will be paid directly to Biffa Group Limited, on request, if your application is successful, and this payment will unlock the funding.
Third Party Contributions are different to match or shortfall funding. You must not include the 10% in your application direct project costs as this payment is in addition to the amount being requested.
Third Party Contributions cannot be made up of other Landfill Community Fund monies and cannot be funded by anyone that is going to derive a unique benefit from the project going ahead, e.g. a contractor for the project works. There can be more than one Third Party Contributor, but the contribution is non-refundable.
If you are already enrolled with Entrust as an Environmental Body, you must follow specific rules around the Contributing Third Party which can be found on the Entrust website at: www.entrust.org.uk.
Will you come to our opening event?
The Biffa Award team is very small and so we’re not always able to join you at celebration events. However, if you send the information to biffa-award@wildlifetrusts.org, we will check our diary and let you know.
What is the process?
To find out more about the funding process please download our Main Grants Scheme Guidance Notes. Please note that these might have changed if you have applied for funding before.
What should I do if I have any more questions?
If this Frequently Asked Questions page has not answered your query, you can contact us by emailing biffa-award@wildlifetrusts.org or by calling us. Our contact details are here.