Grant Opportunities

If you are a homeowner in South Kesteven, you can now apply for funding to make energy efficiency improvements to your property, to help keep your home warm and reduce energy bills.

The Home Upgrade Grant, currently in phase 2 (HUG2), is only applicable for off-gas properties and allows different allocations of funding per household depending on building archetype and building construction.

For example, an end of terrace house with solid wall construction could receive up to £38,000 in funding, whereas a mid-terrace house with cavity wall construction could receive up to £22,000 in funding.

The funding can be used to help cover the cost of a wide range of retrofit measures, including roof and wall insulation, solar PV, and other low carbon heating solutions.

Eligibility

You can apply for HUG funding if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Your residential property is situated in South Kesteven District 
• You own your own home (including long-leaseholders and shared ownership) or are a tenant
• You live in a property that’s off the main gas grid (your home is heated with electricity, oil, coal, LPG or solid fuels)
• The homeowner and have a combined gross annual household income of less than £36,000
• Capital or savings not exceeding £16,000
• The property has a low energy performance rating – for example, the property has an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating in band D, E, F or G, or does not have an EPC rating (you can find the energy efficiency rating of your home by looking on the EPC Register webpage and entering your postcode and selecting your house from the list)

If you qualify for the Home Energy Upgrade Scheme, your property will undergo a survey to see which improvements would improve its warmth and efficiency the most.

How to apply 

We are working with energy experts YES Energy Solutions to deliver this incentive. You may be required to provide evidence to help YES Energy Solutions assess your application.

For more information, please visit YES Energy Solutions’ website or contact YES Energy Solutions directly.

Applications can be accepted until 30th September 2024.

Contact YES Energy Solutions

• Email: projects@yesenergysolutions.co.uk
• Phone: 03309 126199

Please note, their office hours are weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 9am to 5pm

Central and South Lincolnshire Statement of Intent for ECO4 and GBIS

Overview

The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a government provided energy-efficiency scheme that is designed to tackle fuel poverty while also reducing carbon emissions through supporting ‘whole-house’ energy efficiency improvements for eligible households.

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is a government scheme which compliments ECO, offering eligible households free or cheaper insulation for a single retrofit insulation measure. GBIS supports a broader range of households than ECO, so residents who may not be eligible for ECO, may be eligible for GBIS.

Both schemes are overseen by Ofgem and delivered by individual energy suppliers. South Kesteven District Council only approves applications under ECO4 Flex and GBIS Flex and are not involved or liable for any works that take place on a resident’s house. The responsibility of following up on work and quality of works delivered is the responsibility of the resident. Any complaints regarding your installer should be made to Ofgem or your energy provider.

ECO4

ECO4 is a national funding scheme which requires medium and large energy suppliers to support energy efficiency improvements for eligible households. ECO is not a grant scheme as it is your energy providers decision which retrofit projects that they choose to fund.

ECO4 is designed to help households on low incomes and is available for private owner-occupiers and private rented properties which meet the necessary eligibility criteria.

Some of the measures that may be installed are:

• Insulation
• Boilers and central heating
• Solar and renewable energy technologies 

To apply you must meet both of the following eligibility criteria:

• You must be in receipt of means tested benefits
• You must live in a property with an energy performance certificate rating of D, E, F or G (you can find the energy efficiency rating of your home by looking on the EPC Register webpage and entering your postcode and selecting your house from the list).

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is a government scheme offering eligible households free or cheaper insulation in privately owned homes or rented homes with permission from the landlord. GBIS compliments ECO but unlike ECO’s ‘whole house’ approach, GBIS generally delivers a single insulation measure. You might be able to get support if your home has an EPC of D to G and is in council tax bands A to D. Some of the insulation measures available include:

• Loft
• Solid wall
• Pitched roof
• Flat roof
• Under-floor
• Solid floor

To access GBIS, you need to apply through the government’s Great British Insulation Scheme webpage or by calling the Great British Insulation Scheme helpline on 0800 098 7950 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 12pm).

More information can be found on Ofgem’s website.

ECO Flex and GBIS Flex

If you are not eligible to access ECO4 or GBIS through your energy company, you could be eligible through the Flex route.

ECO Flex and GBIS Flex are household referral mechanisms that fall within ECO and GBIS, which allows local authorities to use a wider eligibility criteria for the schemes.

To apply through the flex process you must meet any of the following criteria:

• Income – households with a gross household income of under £31,000
• Proxies – households that meet a combination of two proxies (examples of proxies include homes in areas of high multiple deprivation and households receiving a Council Tax rebate)
• NHS referral – households identified as low-income and vulnerable, with an occupant whose health conditions may be impacted further by living in a cold home

This is just a brief overview of the eligibility, please see the central and south Lincolnshire councils’ statement of intent for the full eligibility criteria.

If you are a homeowner or tenant and would like to know more about ECO4-flex please read our ECO Flex Guidance for Householders.

If your query cannot be answered within the guidance document and you would like to discuss this further, please contact a member of the council’s Sustainability and Climate Change Team at climatechange@southkesteven.gov.uk.

If you are an installer and want to know how to access ECO4-flex on behalf of a South Kesteven householder, please read our ECO Flex Guidance for Installers.

Withdrawn Publications

Central and South Lincolnshire Statement of Intent for ECO4 and GBIS (Withdrawn)

This is a government scheme which can cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler: 

• £7,500 towards an air source heat pump 
• £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump 
• £5,000 towards a biomass boiler. 

To be eligible, both of the below must be true: 

• Own the property you're applying for 
• Be replacing fossil fuel heating systems. 

More information can be found here. The grant is open until 31 March 2028.

This grant can help towards the cost of installing an electric vehicle charge point socket at your property. You can receive either £350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower. 

To be eligible: 

• You live in a flat that you own, or you rent a residential property. 
• Your home has its own private off-street parking space. 
• You own or use an eligible vehicle. 

More information is available here.

This grant can help towards the cost of installing an electric vehicle charge point socket at your property. You can receive either £350 or 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket, whichever amount is lower. 

To be eligible: 

• Own or rent a residential property. 
• Install a cross-pavement charging solution. 
• Have adequate on-street parking. 
• Have permission from the local highways authority and planning permission from the local planning authority.
• Own or are responsible for an eligible vehicle. 

The closing date is 3 April 2026. More information can be found here.

Funding of up to £3,500 provided for organisations to host cycling events throughout the summer aimed at encouraging adults to take up cycling. Events must be one of three types; 

1. Fix events- offer basic repairs and checks for cycle safety 
2. Learn events- allows adults to learn how to maintain or repair their cycle, or learn skills to help them feel safe when cycling 
3. Ride events- led rides. 

Funding is available for:

• Volunteer-led groups 
• Not-for-profit organisations 
• Social enterprises

The closing date for applications is 14 July 2025. More information can be found here.

The Heritage Revival Fund has been created to help communities rescue and repurpose neglected historic buildings with a focus on those in town centre locations. 

There are 2 grants currently available: 

1. Project viability grants- this grant, up to £15,000 is to support early stage work on historic buildings. The grant can be used to establish whether a project is viable, for example, understanding the condition of the building. There is no deadline for this grant.
2. Project development grants- this grant, up to £100,000 is to contribute towards the cost of developing and coordinating the project. Organisations must have an established end use for the project. A minimum of 10% match funding is expected. The 3 deadlines are 14th July 25, 13th October 25 and 19th January 26.

To be eligible: 

• Not-for-profit organisation including charities and social enterprises
• Parish or Town Council 

For more information, please click here.

This funding is available for groups working in partnership across sectors that link climate action to everyday lives and interests of local communities. The aim should be to inspire communities to take action or should influence communities at a regional or nation level, for example, connecting groups from across different locations. 

Funding of £500,000 to £1.5 million is expected to fund a project over 3-5 years. 

To be eligible: 

• Organisations must be working in a formal partnership. 
• Partner organisations must be a charity, community group, non-for-profit organisations, education institute or statutory body.

The closing deadline is late 2025. 

More information can be found here.

This grant is aimed at supporting community led sustainability projects that tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions or that protect and enhance the environment. It aims to help educate communities on how they can make a difference by supporting diverse projects and initiatives that make a positive change. 

Funding can be applied for by:

• Community groups 
• Educational facilities 
• Small businesses

The amount of funding is specified by the organisation applying. 

More information can be found here.

This grant opportunity is aimed at building healthier ecosystems in urban or rural environments through effective and sustainable management and to support work to reduce or prevent the damaging impact of human activities. Projects that can make a national impact, or local initiatives that have the potential to be upscaled will be prioritised. 

Funding ranges from £10,000 to £50,000 per year, for up to 3 years. 

To be eligible: 

• UK registered charity with an income between £100,000 and £10m. 

Currently there is no deadline to apply. More information can be found here.

Funding for a broad range of projects and activities that promote a better understanding of the environment and countryside whilst facilitating improved access, education and research. 

To be eligible, applicants must be from a school or not for profit organisation. 

Funding amounts have not been specified and funding can be applied for at any time. 

More information can be found here.

Parish Councils, charities and constituted voluntary groups can apply for grants between £50 and £500 for projects in Lincolnshire that protect, improve or promote wildlife as well as promoting access to and the enjoyment of the countryside. Examples include tree and hedge planting, repairing dry stone walls, leaflets and information boards and wildlife surveys.

To be eligible, your organisation: 

• May only receive one grant per year. 
• Must be responsible for all future maintenance of the project. 
• Must have a formal constitution and bank account.

The applications windows close 1 April and 1 September each year. For more information, click here.

This grant, of up to £3,000 by The Royal Society is aimed at schools and colleges to provide students the opportunity to undertake research around climate change and biodiversity. 

To be eligible: 

• Students involved must be aged between 5 and 18. 
• The project must be an investigative research project titled with a STEM related question that students are attempting to answer.
• The project must run for one term minimum. 
• The project must involve a STEM partner. 
• The STEM partner must be working in a STEM related role in academia or industry. 

The first stage of the application process closes on 11 July 2025. For more information, please click here.

The Woodland Trust are providing free tree packs, of up to 420 trees to schools and community groups to help the UK reach its 2050 carbon net zero target. The group will have to take on all aspects of the project including planning, planting and care of the saplings. 

To be eligible: 

• Schools must plant trees on either the school grounds, land the school has regular access to or in an area that is publicly accessible. 
• Community groups must plant trees on land that is accessible to the public. 
• Be a non-for-profit organisation.

This opportunity is available to a range of educational institutes, such as nurseries, colleges and universities, as well as a variety of groups such as parish councils or sports clubs. 

Applications close in August 2025, with trees expected to be delivered in November 2025. 

For more information, please click here.

This grant is to support towards the cost of the purchase, installation and infrastructure of electric vehicle charge points. Education institutions can receive 75% off the cost of up to a maximum of £2500 per socket for 40 sockets.

To be eligible the school or education institutions have to be state funded. 

The closing date for applications is 31st March 2026.

More information can be found here.

Big Issue Invest is offering unsecured loan finance between £20,000 to £200,000 for energy efficiency and renewable energy installation to enable organisations to save money on energy. Examples of measures include more efficient lights, insulation of heat pumps or replacing old boiler systems. 

To be eligible: 

• Be a social enterprise or charity 
• Have clear energy saving case for the works proposed 
• Can demonstrate an ability to repay finance

More information can be found here.