Grant funding available to support smart meter projects in 2024. Find out more and how to apply!
Closing date: 12 noon, Friday 9 February 2024
The 2024 Smart Energy GB in Communities programme is now live, with grant funding and support being targeted to organisations reaching people without essential digital skills, particularly those who are aged 75+. More information about the target group and key characteristics is available in the guidance document on our website here.
Grants between £7,500 and £25,000 are available.
The funding aims to ensure people in the target group understand how a smart meter could benefit them and how to request one from their energy supplier.
Smart meters can be beneficial for vulnerable households, as they provide accurate billing based on the energy they have used, not an estimate and remove the need for manual meter readings. Smart meters also come with a display which helps consumers to keep track of how much energy they are using and how much it’s costing. We really need regionally-based organisations like yours to help us to ensure people in vulnerable circumstances have the opportunity to engage, understand and benefit from the smart meter rollout.
We are looking for applicants that have a trusted voice in their community and can deliver support to people without essential digital skills.
We’d like successful projects to engage in direct contact with people in the target group, through face-to-face events, providing advice or via telephone. Additionally, projects will need to deliver a range of indirect activities, utilising communication and marketing channels to reach people without essential digital skills. This could include distributing newsletters, displaying posters or handing out leaflets.
Housing associations, local authorities, registered charities and non-registered community groups in England, Wales and Scotland are eligible to apply. Organisations who have previously applied to the bid fund, both successful and unsuccessful, are eligible to apply (excluding those who have been in receipt of this programme’s funding for the past three consecutive years).
Full details on the application process are included in the guidance document and on our website. Please read this before completing an online application form and project plan. If you have any queries contact us.
Information session
A drop-in question and answer session will take place on Tuesday 23 January between 11:30am – 12:30pm. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend so we can respond to any queries you might wish to discuss prior to submitting an application. Register your attendance here.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon, Friday 9 February 2024.
We aim to appoint successful projects in late March, with delivery running until 4 December 2024.
Why apply for funding?
2023 project partner Leigh Youth and Community Development Trust, Programmes Director, Hannah Forbes shares her experience:
“Funding from Smart Energy GB is amazing for the A team Hub. The training and resources have allowed my staff to train up, so they’re very confident in speaking to people about smart meters and energy bills. Because our beneficiaries are from vulnerable communities or on a low income, it means so much to them to receive that support.”
Watch a partnership case study video here.
January 2024
Source: National Energy Action