Partnership Grants Scheme

We are currently accepting Expressions of Interest for up to £1,000,000 to the 2023 Partnership Grants Scheme. Applications can now be submitted for both the Built Environment and Natural Environment themes.

Partnership Grants Scheme Overview

Built Environment projects should restore, modernise and/or improve facilities such as cultural, heritage or visitor centres. The facility should be inclusive and promote learning, curiosity and participation to large numbers of visitors on a national scale.

Natural Environment projects should restore and/or improve the environment and the natural systems or habitats that support it. Projects should be working to Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services, its predecessor or a Local Biodiversity Action Plan.

Your application should also consider environmental sustainability to mitigate the impact your project will have both during project delivery and after funded works are completed. You may consider employing local trades people, using sustainable materials, recycling existing components, reducing energy consumption or reducing carbon footprint.

If you are interested in submitting an application, please read our Guidance Notes.

Expression of Interest submission deadline date: 01 June 2023
Outcome of Expression of Interest submission: July 2023
Outcome of Full Application submission (if invited forward): November 2023

Preference will be given to projects:

• Where Biffa Award is recognised as the majority funder
• That work in partnership with other organisations
• Which engage with the public

General Criteria

• The applicant organisation and project must be eligible for enrolment and registration with the scheme regulator, ENTRUST
• The organisation must be a fully constituted, charitable or not for profit organisation with no share capital. Unfortunately, local authorities, hospices, hospitals, day-care centres, rehabilitation units, residential care facilities, village halls and schools are not eligible to make an application through the Biffa Award Partnership scheme
• Applications must be for between £250,000 – £1,000,000
• Each project site must be within 15 miles of a significant Biffa operation or active Biffa landfill site (check your project’s postcode using the Postcode Checker below)
• Each project site must also within 10 miles of any licensed landfill site. To find your nearest landfill site, telephone the regulator Entrust on: 01926 488300
• If you’re not the landowner you must have a signed landowner agreement in place agreeing to access for maintenance, surveying and monitoring for a period of not less than 25 years
• There must be a minimum of 104 days of full public access to the project per year
• Any Biffa Award grant must be used for site-based improvement work, not for movable equipment, staff core costs or storage facilities
• Biffa Award is unable to fund requests to help an existing facility meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act
• Biffa Award is unable to fund retrospectively, so you should only apply for funding for work that will take place in the future
• All shortfall funding must be secured
• Planning permission must be in place, if required
• The project must not cross the two themes

Specifically for Natural Environment projects:

• Projects must be working to Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services, it’s successor, or a Local Biodiversity Action Plan target. See 25 year environment plan
• Research is not eligible
• There must be a comprehensive management plan in place for the key species/habitat(s) involved for each site

If you are interested in applying for Partnership Grants Scheme funding, please read our Guidance Notes