South Cambridgeshire communities will benefit from further money to cut carbon emissions - after the District Council committed another £152,000 to their popular grant scheme.
Cabinet members today decided to increase the maximum amount that can be handed out via a Zero Carbon Communities grant from £15,000 per project in previous years, to £19,500 this year. Applicants will also be asked to, where appropriate, seek match funding from other sources – like parish and town councils or others.
Since its launch in 2019, the grant scheme has funded 82 different projects, awarding over £855,000 to initiatives across the district. This has included energy generation, energy efficiency and conservation measures at community buildings, community cycling events, cycle shelters, food waste reduction initiatives, community allotment and gardening projects and much more.
Changes are now being made to widen the eligibility criteria for this year’s grants – with the application process opening on Monday 25 May 2026 and closing on Friday 24 July 2026. Projects on school sites and by parent / teacher associations will be able to apply – if there is a benefit to the wider community. Sports groups – like bowls clubs – will also be eligible, so long as they provide benefits to the wider community like improving mental health or strengthening community ties.
Groups will also be able to apply for money to pay for electric vehicle charging points under the grant.
Of the total of £152,000 available for the forthcoming financial year, half is set aside for carbon reduction or projects that lock-up carbon, and the other half is earmarked for community engagement and nature projects – reflecting the aspirations of the Council’s new Climate and Nature Strategy.
Those interested in applying for a Zero Carbon Communities grant can join a workshop to find out more. Two sessions will be held on Wednesday 20 May. One will run from 12:30pm to 1:30pm and a second will take place from 6pm to 7pm. Potential applicants are encouraged to register for either.
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Natalie Warren-Green, said: “These changes to our Zero Carbon Communities grant scheme are an important step in supporting our communities and helping local groups, even more than before, to play an important role in delivering the ambitions set out in our new Climate and Nature Strategy. We have studied the grant submissions over the past few years, taken on board what local groups want to invest in, and by increasing the flexibility of the fund, strengthening eligibility guidance, and giving equal weight to nature recovery alongside carbon reduction, we’re making it easier for communities to bring forward projects that have a real, lasting impact. We know local action is essential to tackling climate change and supporting biodiversity, and these changes ensure we can continue to back the organisations working hard to make that happen across South Cambridgeshire.”
South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Lead Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr John Williams, added: “These changes ensure our Zero Carbon Communities grant continues to offer real value at a time when project costs have risen significantly. By updating the maximum award in line with inflation and placing a greater emphasis on match funding, we’re making sure the scheme remains fair, sustainable and accessible to the groups who need it most. Importantly, this approach also supports the ambitions of our new Climate and Nature Strategy by directing investment towards projects that deliver long‑term benefits for both people and the environment. It’s a practical way of helping local communities take meaningful climate and nature action while safeguarding public funds for the future.”
The Zero Carbon Communities grant is funded through the Council’s Renewables Reserve, which is made up of business rates collected from commercial renewable energy projects - such as solar farms - located within South Cambridgeshire.
Watch videos of case studies from previous beneficiaries.
Today’s decision by Cabinet is subject to the Council’s usual call-in procedures.
View all news