Community Funding

The solar farm earns income from the sale of electricity and a Feed-in Tariff. Surplus income (after operating and finance costs) is used to fund local community organisations and projects in the parishes within 5km of Gawcott Fields Farm.

The community solar farm is projected to generate around £2.8million for local projects over its 25 year operating life, with a minimum annual contribution of £30,000.

There are currently three ways we can help local schools, charities and community organisations working in parishes within 5km of Gawcott Fields Farm:

1. Our ‘Bee Green’ small grants fund supports local community-led environmental projects.
2. Our ‘Solar Soft Loans’ help pay for solar panels and energy saving measures for local schools.
3. Our net zero schools programme supports renewable energy and climate change-related STEM activities including school visits to the solar farm.

See below for more details…

1. Bee Green Grant Fund

Our Bee Green Grant Fund provides small grants for community organisations and projects in the local area (parishes within 5km of Gawcott Fields Farm).

We want to support local community-led projects which:

• Develop Low-Carbon Infrastructure: We encourage projects that contribute to energy-efficient initiatives and renewable energy generation within the community.

• Promote Environmental Awareness: We support educational and community activities that raise awareness about climate change, energy conservation, and other environmental issues.

• Foster Positive Community-Led Responses to Environmental Challenges

Grant applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. For more information and examples of projects we support, see our Grant Criteria. You can also learn more about our funding process, through our Process Guide. To submit your green idea, please download this Application Form.

2. Solar Soft Loans

Are you a local school, community club or charity which could benefit from solar panels on your roof?

Gawcott Fields Community Solar are looking to support the installation of solar PV for community and public buildings through Solar Soft Loans.

With Solar Soft Loans, you have full ownership of the system. The solar electricity generated and used on-site is free, reducing your electricity bills, and you can earn income from selling surplus solar electricity to the grid!

The repayment of the Solar Soft Loan is based on a share of the actual cost savings each year. If the savings are less than expected at the outset, the loan gets paid back slower, or may not get repaid in full. Gawcott Fields Community Solar recirculates the repaid funds into a local low-carbon soft loan fund to help more schools and community buildings install their own solar panels.

Solar Soft Loans could also work for LED lighting and other energy efficiency measures where there is a cost saving that could pay back the soft loan. Solar Soft Loans are a subsidised investment model. They are only available to schools, charities and community organisations and we are only able to offer them as the source of funds is surplus income from our community solar farm. We have no finance costs to cover!

See how Buckingham Cricket and Rugby Clubs got their Solar PV here.

3. Net Zero Schools

Schools are at the heart of our communities. That’s why we’re looking to partner with schools to help them start their Net-Zero journey, from generating and saving energy to STEM learning. We can provide funding for:

Curriculum Development
• School visits to our community solar farm
• Renewable energy and climate change-related STEM learning resources and activity
• Youth climate action and citizenship activities
• Subsidising or funding forest school training for educators
• Forest school facilities.

Improving School Building Energy Efficiency

• Subsidising or funding energy audits and carbon reduction plans
• Support accessing government grant funding for energy efficiency
• Solar Soft Loans for solar PV, LED lighting and other energy saving measures
• Small grants for energy saving measures

Contact us now to start your journey