Suffolk ACRE

 

Cut your Carbon is a regional initiative, led by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), with the goal of helping communities respond to climate change by reducing their carbon emissions. EEDA is the regional body responsible for sustainable economic growth.

 

Groups taking part will be able to:

•   measure their carbon footprint online

•   take action to become more energy efficient

•   seek up to £200,000 for carbon cutting projects in the £2.5 million funding competition

We are looking for people in the East of England who have the passion and drive to encourage others to join them in tackling climate change. If that sounds like you, we’re offering practical support to help you and your community become low carbon heroes!

 

 

Many carbon saving actions are low-cost or free, and Cut your Carbon is largely about taking those actions. However, beyond these actions funding is often needed to deliver larger projects that will make a big impact on carbon emissions.

 

EEDA wants to help make your bright ideas happen, so we are offering £2.5 million for community projects through a series of funding rounds taking place over the next three years (to 2011).

 

 

Communities can seek between £5,000 and £200,000 for capital assets that will cut their carbon emissions. We are taking a broad approach as to what this could include, but some examples include:

 

• renewable / sustainable energy solutions

• reducing waste or water usage

• cutting carbon from transport

 

We welcome big ideas and creativity, but there doesn’t necessarily have to be any sophisticated technology involved. We want to see projects that are inspiring and could be copied by others, or that tackle a familiar problem in an innovative way. It’s up to you to tell us how you want to cut your carbon!

 

 

EEDA’s funding is available for physical assets that reduce CO2 emissions and will have a lasting impact. Some of the things the judges will be looking for include:

• a creative or innovative approach

• an approach that will inspire others

• a model that can be copied by others

• how well the project cuts carbon emissions

 

 

We want the competition to be as simple as possible for communities. So, whilst there are certain things we require to offer funding such as a bank account or a supplier for the project you don’t have to have all of these things in place when you enter the competition.

 

Detailed below is an outline of the competition and the requirements at each stage:

 

• register online as a suitable community in the East of England

• complete a carbon footprint exercise in your community

• develop a simple action plan of what you want to achieve

• submit a project proposal form (Click here for round two dates, here for guidance notes on completing the project proposal and here for terms and conditions)

 

A review panel of carbon saving experts and technology specialists will meet to look at the project proposals and recommend a short list of communities to present their plans to the judging panel. In round two the review panel can award funding to projects under £20,000 without the communities having to present plans to the judging panel.

 

• develop a robust plan to deliver the project

• secure relevant permissions and select suppliers

• establish a legal entity to receive funding (not as hard as it sounds!)

• receive funding and save the carbon!

 

There is practical support and advice available throughout this process, both from Community Support Officers and other providers from the public and private sector. Suffolk A.C.R.E. is proud to be supporting Cut Your Carbon.

 

To find out more about this campaign and how you could make a difference contact your local Community Support Officer for Suffolk:

 

Robert Horn

e-mail:         robert.horn@suffolkacre.org.uk

telephone     01473 242559 (direct) 01473 242500 (switchboard)