Waste Recycling Environmental (WREN) - Increased Funding Levels Announced
Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) provides grants to environmental organisations, voluntary and community groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations for community and environmental projects in areas close to WRG landfill sites.
Funding is distributed through the following schemes:
Small Grants Scheme (grants of 2,000 to 15,000).
Main Grants Scheme (grants of 15,000 to 50,000).
Biodiversity Action Fund (grants of 75,000 to 250,000).
WREN has recently announced that it has made some key changes to the Main Grant Scheme as a direct reaction to the current economic climate and in recognition of the financial pressures facing both the voluntary and public sector. It hopes that these changes will give encouragement to community groups, local authorities and charities seeking funding to deliver community projects and will lead to a higher through flow of new project applications.
The necessity for applicants to source at least 15% match funding has been removed, meaning that for the first time WREN can fund a Main Grant Scheme project at up to 100%. This moves the Main Grant Scheme in line with the Small Grant Scheme where WREN has always been able to award 100% funding.
Additionally, the restriction on the maximum total project cost that WREN is prepared to contribute towards delivering has increased from 250,000 to 500,000 meaning that WREN can now help to deliver larger and more strategic projects.
The 2011 deadline for the Biodiversity Action Fund passed on 31 January 2011. Deadlines for Small and Main Grant Scheme are periodic (May, August and November). Specific deadlines vary for each applicable area. The deadlines are listed at: www.wren.org.uk.
The relevant website/scheme guidelines and GRANTfinder report can be found on the GRANTfinder website.