Sustainable Church Buildings Grant Funding A one-off opportunity for Islington churches. Apply by March 26 th for funding to increase the environmental sustainability of church buildings, as part of Cloudesley s 500 th Anniversary. Summary of key dates: Applications open: Thursday January 25 th 2018 Small grants ( 10k): Deadline 5pm March 26 th 2018 Continuous assessment, decisions within 4 weeks Large grants ( 50k): Stage 1 Expressions of interest : Deadline 5pm March 26 th 2018 Stage 1 Projects to go forward to Stage 2 selected by June 5 th 2018 For those selected: Stage 2 Full grant application : Deadline 5pm October 15 th 2018 Stage 2 Decisions by December 19 th 2018 Notes: The deadline for Cloudesley s main Church Grants programme is also 5pm March 26 th. Contents Overview... 2 Background... 3 Sustainable Church Buildings grants: small and large... 4 Eligible projects... 4 Differences between the Sustainable Church Buildings grants and the main Church Grants... 5 Applications process... 6 For small grants of up to 10,000... 6 For large grants of up to 50,000 Stage 1: Expressions of Interest... 6 Large grants Stage 2: Full grant application - Only for those projects selected at Stage 1... 7 Online application process... 7 How we use your application information... 8 Acknowledgement... 8 Monitoring and impact... 9 Reminder of key dates... 10 Contact us... 10 Appendix A: Questions in the small grants application form ( 10k)... 11 Appendix B: Questions in the Stage 1 Expression of Interest form for large grants ( 10-50k)... 13 Available for download from our website: http://www.cloudesley.org.uk a Word version of the application form for small fast track grants ( 10,000) a Word version of the expression of interest form for large grants ( 10,000-50,000) Funding Conditions Other useful information (e.g. exclusions, large projects, VAT, definitions) 1
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Background From July 2017 to June 2018, Cloudesley is celebrating its 500th anniversary and the continuing positive impact of Richard Cloudesley s legacy in Islington. As part of these celebrations, we will be making additional church grants available through the Sustainable Church Buildings Project. This is in addition to our main Church Grants programme, which continues as usual in spring and autumn 2018. The Richard Cloudesley window, in Holy Trinity Church The Diocese of London has a strategic and long-term plan, called Route 2050, to reduce the energy use and carbon footprint of all its buildings and property. The purpose of Route 2050 is to map the Diocese s journey towards cutting its energy use and carbon emissions by at least 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. Cloudesley has agreed to offer this special grants programme during our anniversary year to Churches in the Islington Deanery to increase their energy efficiency. All applications under this funding programme must be linked to the results of the recent environmental audits, funded by Cloudesley and carried out by AECOM. These audits identified for each church the most beneficial actions they could take to improve the environmental sustainability of their church buildings. The 24 churches in the Islington Deanery which took part in the AECOM environmental audit process during October-November 2017 are now eligible to apply for a grant through the Sustainable Church Buildings funding stream. 3
Sustainable Church Buildings grants: small and large There are two types of Sustainable Church Buildings grants. You can apply to both; 1. Small fast-track grants of up to 10,000. We want all churches to benefit from our anniversary year, so these grants are non-competitive; every church that applies for eligible work of up to 10,000 by the deadline will be given a grant. Applications will be fasttracked and, wherever possible, you will get a decision within four weeks of applying. These small grants have a short application form and no requirement for match-funding. 2. Large grants of up to 50,000. These grants are aimed at those projects with the most environmental benefit, identified across the Deanery through the AECOM reports. We expect there to be around five large grants awarded, and they will fund those AECOM recommendations with the highest environmental benefit and the highest chance of being implemented, looking across the 24 churches. Churches can apply for both a small and a large grant from the Sustainable Church Buildings stream, usually up to a combined maximum of 50k. Eligible projects The expected outcomes of all Sustainable Church Buildings grants awarded are: The fabric of the church building is maintained appropriately so as to reduce the carbon use of the church (mainly electricity and gas use, but also water and waste), For the environmental impact of this to be clearly demonstrable through the Annual Environmental Benefit figures in your AECOM audit report. Sustainable Church Grants can only be granted for: 1. Work within the scope of Cloudesley s charitable object and in line with our current priorities; i.e. the proposed work supports the repair and upkeep of church buildings used for worship, and/or the maintenance of services. 2. Work with a clear environmental benefit, shown through both the AECOM audit report and by the support of the Head of Environment and Sustainability at the Diocese of London. 3. Work specifically linked to recommendations within the AECOM environmental audit report. This can be for; o The recommendations themselves (e.g. LED lighting, lagging pipes) o Secondary costs associated with these recommendations (e.g. scaffolding, surveys) o Specialist advice required to take recommendations forward (e.g. a lighting consultant, or planning consultant) o Staffing required to implement the recommendations (e.g. hiring a project manager to take forward a coordinated programme of works). For other work to your buildings, which do not meet criteria 2 and 3, you should consider our main Church Grants programme. 4
Differences between the Sustainable Church Buildings grants and the main Church Grants In this anniversary year, the Sustainable Church Buildings grants are running alongside the main Church Grants programme, and churches can apply to both. So what makes the Sustainable Church grants different from the main Church Grants? Every Sustainable Church Buildings grant will be clearly linked to the environmental impact it will have, through a clear reference to one or more of the AECOM report recommendations. Churches need to be able to state clearly the environmental benefit of the work, and how this impact will be measured. In-line with the nature of this as an environmental project, we have a paper-free online applications process. (If you need support with this process, a member of Cloudesley staff can help you apply online.) As part of Cloudesley s 500th anniversary grants programme, the acknowledgement arrangements are slightly different to usual (see page 9). For the small grants; o we are using a shorter application form that usual, because applications are supported by costed recommendations from AECOM. o applications will be processed as they arrive and we will make fast track decisions within 4 weeks of receiving a completed application, wherever possible, i.e. we won t wait until the deadline before assessing them. o the grants are non-competitive; every church is eligible for a grant of up to 10,000 if you apply for work that meets the criteria on page 4 within the deadline. For the large grants; o we have a two stage process, with an expression of interest stage first before churches have done all the work of getting quotes and creating detailed plans followed by a full grant application only for a small number of projects selected by Cloudesley at stage 1, based on their high environmental impact. o you need to have the written support of Brian Cuthbertson, Head of Environment and Sustainability at the Diocese of London, both for the environmental benefit of the planned work and its feasibility / likelihood of getting required permissions. 5
Applications process For small grants of up to 10,000 Applications open on January 25th 2018 There is a simple online form (see Appendix A) Applications close at 5pm Monday March 26 th 2018 Applications are assessed continuously on a fast-track ; wherever possible, you will know the result within four weeks of applying You can find the questions you will be asked at Appendix A. You are asked to explain which AECOM recommendations you want to take forward, and the benefit of these to your church and the environment. There must be a clear commitment to the work from your PCC plus a realistic indication that the work is viable and when it may start / finish. Costs can simply be the AECOM costings or you can back these up with quotes (the latter is recommended but not required). You should include associated costs such as scaffolding, advice and staff time. For large grants of up to 50,000 Stage 1: Expressions of Interest Expressions of interest open on January 25 th 2018 There is a simple online form (see Appendix B) Expressions of interest close at 5pm Monday March 26 th 2018 Decisions about which expressions of interest have been selected to proceed to Stage 2 will be communicated to all applicants by Tuesday 5 th June You can find the questions you will be asked at Appendix B. The form covers the same areas as for the small grants, above, but also asks for some additional information. You need to show how the planned project fits within wider plans to make your church more environmentally sustainable, you need to explain how the project will be managed, and your application needs the written support of Brian Cuthbertson (the Head of Environment and Sustainability at the Diocese of London). At this stage, you do not need a detailed design, a definite budget or quotes, but you do need show you have considered the potential cost of the project (including contractors preliminaries, scaffolding, fees, VAT, contingency, etc.) and where other funding might come from. A small number (around 6-8) of the Stage 1 Expressions of Interest will be invited to progress to making a full grant application. In making these decisions, Cloudesley s Trustees will consider; Is the work within our Church Object 1? (We cannot legally fund anything outside this.) Does the proposed work have a significant environmental benefit, compared to the cost? This will be informed by the AECOM Deanery-wide report and the bench-marking results. Is there commitment within the church to implement the works? How likely the works are to complete within a reasonable timescale, of around 12 months from the date of grant? 1 Cloudesley s Church Object is the upkeep and repair of the fabric of, and maintenance of the service in, any churches of the Church of England in the area of the London Borough of Islington 6
Large grants Stage 2: Full grant application - Only for those projects selected at Stage 1 Full grant applications must be submitted by 5pm on October 15 th 2018 Decisions will be communicated to churches by December 18 th 2018 Those churches invited to proceed to Stage 2 will be asked to complete a full grant application, and to provide plans, a budget, quotes, and ideally - have begun the faculty / planning process by the date of application. We will need a copy of your signed 2017 accounts, if we do not already have these. You will need to be clearer than at Stage 1 about where any additional funds will come from. Not all churches that pass Stage 1 will continue to and achieve a grant at Stage 2. Cloudesley may not make a grant if the project proves to be less feasible than expected, achieve less environmental benefit, or fall out of our scope. Churches may, of course, choose to withdraw if a project proves to be more expensive than expected or deliver less benefit. Online application process All applications must be made online. To complete the online form, you need a unique weblink that will be sent to our main contact at each church by Joanna White (joanna.white@cloudesley.org.uk) when applications open on January 25 th. If you need help with applying online, contact Joanna or Catherine at the Cloudesley office. To help you prepare your application, you can download a Word version of the application form from our website and use this to prepare your answers, but you must apply online. When you apply, please complete all relevant questions on the application form as fully as you can and supply any required supporting information and documents. A checklist is included on the final page of the application form to help ensure you have done this. We know the March deadline is short, and we are here to support you. If you need advice, please speak to us. If you do not have all the required information by the deadline, please still apply, and let us know on the form when you expect to get the information to us. You can talk to us at any time about your application. Cloudesley staff can come and visit you at your church, and there are also two grants surgeries at our office, on 22 nd February and Wednesday 14 th March. You can book a slot by contacting Joanna on the email above. It is particularly useful to arrange to meet with us if your application spans both the main Church Grants programme and the Sustainable Church Buildings grants. For example, you could talk to us about electrical repairs under the main grants plus energy efficient lighting under the sustainable grants, or for roof repairs under the main grants plus solar panels under the sustainable grants. 7
How we use your application information The application form is seen as one part of a more general application process. As well as using information from the application form and supporting documents which you submit, we may also take into account other information, for example, details from the church s own website and that of the Diocese of London, and information resulting from discussions and visits to the church. As part of our assessment process and during the lifetime of any grant, in some instances, we may consult with other bodies about your proposed works/project, such as staff at the Diocese of London or other funders. On occasion, the Charity may also be asked by other parties, such as other funders, to share the information provided as part of your application. Because of the Data Protection issues involved here, the application form asks you to confirm that you give permission for this to happen. Once we receive your application, a quick check will be undertaken by staff to ensure that the information is complete and that any necessary documents have been provided. The application will then be assessed by the staff team, who may request further information or need to set up a visit to the church to discuss the application further. For small grants, a fast-track decision will be made within 4 weeks, wherever possible, and communicated to you. Once the Charity s Trustees have made a decision, you will be notified within seven days, with an offer letter and grant agreement (including grant conditions) issued to the main contact for the application within fourteen days. For large grants, a report (including a recommendation) will be prepared for Trustees, to consider at the next meeting of the Grants Committee or Board. Once the Charity s Trustees have made a decision, you will be notified within seven days. For Churches selected to move forward to Stage 2, we will then work with these churches to develop a full grant application. 8
Acknowledgement For our anniversary year, we are asking all churches who receive one of our Sustainable Church Buildings Grants to acknowledge the support of Cloudesley in some appropriate way. We are not prescriptive about how you do this; we know every church is different. We simply hope that the contribution of Richard Cloudesley s bequest over the last 500 years is noted and remembered in this 500th anniversary year. The application process asks you to tell us how you will acknowledge the grant. It can be something small or large, and in keeping with the environmental nature of the grants. Here are some ideas; Plant a tree, rose, or vegetable bed in your church yard, with an accompanying sign noting Cloudesley s support for the church, List Cloudesley on your website as a supporter of your church, and once the work is completed - add a photograph of the work, Provide updates on project progress to your congregation, which mention the grant, Put signage on your scaffolding / hoardings (we can provide Cloudesley banners), Have a service themed around the environment (perhaps on the Sunday nearest to World Environment Day, 5th June), and mention our support as part of this, Create a temporary photo display, Write a press release for the local paper, Our logo and guide to its use will be supplied to you when the grant offer is made. We require all churches to note Cloudesley funding in their next set of accounts. For large grants, we also require churches to commit to adding a section on the environment to their annual accounts (this is also suggested good practice for those churches receiving small grants). Monitoring and impact Within six weeks of completing a funded project/work, we will ask you for a brief written report (around two sides of A4), including a photograph or copy of a report signing off the works where appropriate. A report template will be provided with the Grant Agreement. In order to measure the environmental impact of the Sustainable Church Buildings project, we hope that all Islington churches will take part again in the Diocese of London Energy-saving Benchmarking process in future years. (This means committing to complete again the benchmarking form you filled in to prepare for your AECOM environmental audit.) It is a condition of the large grants that your church commits to repeating this Energy-saving Benchmarking process again in the first full year after the work has been completed. 9
Reminder of key dates Applications open: Thursday January 25 th 2018 Advice surgeries: February 22nd & March 14th 2018 Deadline: 5pm Monday March 26th 2018 Small grants ( 10k): Continuous assessment, decisions within 4 weeks, wherever possible Large grants ( 10k- 50k): Stage 1 decisions by June 5 th 2018 Remember for other work to your buildings, which is within our scope and not linked to the AECOM report you can also apply to our main Church Grants programme. The deadline to apply to the spring 2018 round of Main Grants is also 5pm on Monday March 26 th 2018. Contact us Please contact the Charity if you have any queries about the Sustainable Church Buildings Grants or if you would like to discuss your funding application. We want to actively support our partner churches to benefit from these anniversary grants. Cloudesley welcomes feedback on its processes and communications. Any comments/suggestions made will be reviewed, and the Charity s grant-making processes may be altered as a result. Website: www.cloudesley.org.uk Telephone: 020 7697 4094 Staff details: Catherine Ross, Anniversary and Sustainability Officer catherine.ross@cloudesley.org.uk Melanie Griffiths, Director melanie.griffiths@cloudesley.org.uk David Vincent, Grants Manager david.vincent@cloudesley.org.uk Joanna White, Administrator joanna.white@cloudesley.org.uk Phillip Everett, Finance Manager phillip.everett@cloudesley.org.uk 10
Appendix A: Questions in the small grants application form ( 10k) Your details Name of Church Deanery ID ((Please use the format 6.05) Name of Contact Person for this application Contact's position in the Church Email address for correspondence Proposed work & the benefits, if implemented Very brief (one sentence) summary of the purpose for which funds are requested and how this will benefit your church. Which specific AECOM audit recommendations will this funding allow you to progress? (Please give the action number(s) and names, as listed in your AECOM report.) Which parts of your church building(s) would this affect? What reduction in greenhouse gasses are predicted from implementing these recommendations? (You will find this information in your AECOM report.) What reduction in running costs are predicted from implementing these recommendations? (You will find this information in your AECOM report.) How will you review and measure the impact on the environment of this work/project? (e.g. through your electricity bills, or through repeating the Diocese of London energy-saving benchmarking) Commitment Does this application have PCC support? Yes / No - Date discussed at PCC - Copy here the paragraph from the relevant minutes Viability If funding is given, when do you expect the work to commence? 11
When do you expect the work to be completed? Will it require a faculty and / or planning permission? Yes / No If required, please briefly comment on where you are in the process of applying for faculty and/or planning permission, and therefore how likely the project is to proceed to implementation. Cost A : Total Project/Work Costs - Please tell us how you have arrived at this figure. (You can use the AECOM costs, or you can get quotes. You should add to the AECOM figures those additional costs required for the project to progress e.g. scaffolding, expert advice, staff costs.) B: Total amount requested from Cloudesley (up to 10,000) - If A and B are different, where will the remaining funding come from? (Note : you can apply to us for 100% of the funding if it is 10,000 or less, we do not require match-funding for these small, fast-track grants) Acknowledgement How will you recognise the Cloudesley anniversary grant (e.g sign in the church, plant a tree, sermon in church, listing on your website). Other Any other comments? 12
Appendix B: Questions in the Stage 1 Expression of Interest form for large grants ( 10-50k) Your details Name of Church Deanery ID ((Please use the format 6.05) Name of Contact Person for this application Contact's position in the Church Email address for correspondence Proposed work & the benefits, if implemented Very brief (one sentence) summary of the purpose for which funds are requested and how this will benefit your church. Which specific AECOM audit recommendations are you interested in progressing and why? (Please include the action number(s) and names as listed in your AECOM report.) Which parts of your church building(s) would this affect? Do you have any future development plans for these buildings, which would affect the environmental benefits of the work over coming years? What reduction in greenhouse gasses are predicted from implementing these recommendations? (You will find this information in your AECOM report.) What reduction in church running costs are predicted from implementing these recommendations? (You will find this information in your AECOM report.) How will you measure the environmental impact of this work/project? (Note: All large grants require a commitment to repeating the Diocese of London Energy-saving benchmarking.) Does your project have the written support of the Head of Environment & Sustainability at the Diocese of London? Yes / No (Note: you will be asked to upload this) Commitment Please comment here on your church s wider commitment to environmental sustainability and the part this project would play in achieving this. 13
Comment here on your church s capacity to develop this project from a Stage 1 Expression of Interest to a full Stage 2 application by 15 th October. Who would lead on this, and do they have time? Comment here on your church s capacity to manage and implement the work if you received a grant at Stage 2. Who would project manage it, and do they have time? Does this Expression of Interest have PCC support? Yes / No - Date discussed at PCC - Please copy here the paragraph from the relevant minutes Viability If you were successful at Stage 2 (decisions by Dec 2018), please indicate when you expect the work to commence. Please indicate when you expect the work would be completed. Will it require a faculty and / or planning permission? Yes / No If required, please briefly comment on where you are in the process of applying for faculty and/or planning permission, and therefore how likely the project is to proceed to implementation. Cost A : Outline total project/work costs. - Please tell us how you have arrived at this figure. (You can use the AECOM costs, or you can get quotes. You should add to the AECOM figures those additional costs required for the project to progress e.g. scaffolding, expert advice, staff costs.) B: Potential amount of this total cost that you anticipate applying to for Cloudesley for, if you reach Stage 2 (up to 50,000). - What plans do you have for sourcing the additional funding required, either from church reserves or from fundraising? If you are selected at Stage 1, what costs would you incur to develop this project to a full Stage 2 grant application? e.g. Any fees or expert advice. How will these costs be met? Other What support do you need from Cloudesley, the Diocese, and/or the Deanery to develop this project to a Stage 2 grant application? Any other comment? 14