Dundee's Voice

Dundee Climate Fund FAQs

Please read our FAQ’s prior to submitting your project. For any other questions not covered by the FAQ’s relating to the Dundee Climate Fund, please contact ClimateChoices@dundeecity.gov.uk The Dundee Climate Fund can only be used for projects which will be delivered within the time period of the fund (Dundee Climate Fund Round 1: until 31. August 2024). This means that the fund cannot be used as match-funding for projects which are conditional and subject to other funds not yet confirmed. 

Who is  the fund aimed at?

This funding is exclusively aimed at constituted Dundee-based projects groups delivering local climate projects addressing the Dundee Climate Action Plan. All projects must be delivered in Dundee.

What type of organisations can apply?

Only Dundee-based not-for-profit, constituted groups can apply and normally these will have one of the following structures:

  • Constituted community group or club
  • Social Enterprise
  • Community interest companies (CIC)
  • Registered charity (SCIO)

The Dundee Climate Fund does not accept applications from:

  • individuals  
  • sole traders  
  • schools
  • Dundee City Council
  • Leisure & Culture Dundee
  • organisations based outside Dundee
  • anyone who’s applying for another organisation  
  • organisations focused on making profits and sharing these profits privately - including companies limited by shares, organisations without the right asset locks, or organisations that can pay profits to directors or shareholders 

What type of proposals are you looking for?

Climate projects are to cover at least one of the following themes and organisations must be based and delivered in Dundee:

  • Energy: reducing consumption, promoting energy efficiency, use of renewables.
  • Transport: encouraging active travel, decarbonising transport.
  • Waste: reducing waste, recycling, reusing resources.
  • Resilience: improving greenspaces, biodiversity, local food growing.
  • Building capacity: increasing public awareness, engaging communities and young people in climate change.

Example projects can be found here: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/media/g3edabfm/climate-challenge-fund-a-celebration.pdf

What is capital spend?

The definition of Capital Expenditure, per the Accounting Code of Practice is that: -

“The cost of an item of property, plant & equipment falling under this section of the Code shall be recognised These include the initial costs of acquisition and construction and cost incurred subsequently to add, or replace part of, or service the asset.

Examples of costs that can be capitalised are: -

  • Staff time working directly on the construction or acquisition of asset, but must be measurable
  • Cost of site preparation
  • Initial delivery and handling costs
  • Installation and assembly costs
  • Costs of testing whether the asset is working properly
  • Professional fees that relate directly to the acquisition or construction of an asset.

Feasibility studies and costs of aborted plans cannot be capitalised.

Please note that capital projects need to exceed £6,000 to be eligible for the funding.

What is revenue spend?

  • Subsequent costs arising from day-to-day operating/servicing of an asset.
  • Examples of certain costs that are revenue:
  • Costs of opening a new facility
  • Costs of advertising and promotional activities
  • Costs of providing the service e.g. training
  • Administration and general overhead costs – e.g. rent, rates, electricity, consumables
  • Cost of renting alternative accommodation while the capital works are on-going.

  • Site Security is treated as revenue unless costs deemed to be protecting damage to asset under construction

Does the fund cover staff costs?

Staffing costs are eligible ​as part of a revenue grant that are awarded although should be for additional costs and cannot be used to fund any existing staff costs your organisation may be liable for. The Dundee Climate Fund can be used to employ a member of staff on a 1-year fixed contract. This has to be a new post, not replacing previously existing posts.

Do we require match funding?

Applications will be considered for both small projects (a minimum of £6,000 to a maximum of £25,000) and large projects (up to a maximum of £100,000). For proposals over £25,000 organisations with free reserves more than three months operating expenses will require to provide match funding of 25% in kind/cash. 

How do we apply?

All applications are made via (1) CONSUL on Dundee’s Voice; (2) application via MS Forms, and (3) suplementary documentation to climatechoices@dundeecity.gov.uk

How will applications be evaluated?

All applications will be screened for their feasibility and eligibility by a dedicated Reviewing Panel. The allocation of funding will be determined through public voting.

Pre-requisites 

All grant recipients will need to:

  • submit requested progress and final reports to be publicly accessible
  • ensure that all activities and equipment are insured
  • provide three quotes for goods and services over £5,000
  • retain evidence of all incurred costs
  • follow open, fair and transparent recruitment processes
  • follow best practice in the project governance and project delivery outcomes
  • apply effective sustainable procurement policies
  • services or goods must be sourced by providers externally to Dundee City Council
  • services or goods must be sourced locally, if possible, and focus on sustainability and a low carbon footprint.

Eligible submissions must be able to demonstrate:

  • That their proposals are feasible and can be delivered;
  • Their plans for how their proposals will achieve a lasting impact and how they will measure change. Projects that can show how their work will support lifestyle changes across Dundee, and potentially longer-term attitude shifts will be particularly encouraged;
  • How they will reach more people - proposals need to engage with people outside of these already taking climate action and will be able to show clear plans for, and a commitment to, public engagement.

Are there any restrictions on what we can apply for?

Proposals require to submit an estimate of the total project cost exploring the range of staff, resources, and services required to deliver the project. There are restrictions on what can be funded, pre-conditions for certain projects and an expectation that all purchasing will be done with consideration to minimise the environmental impacts and related carbon emissions by buying locally and using ethical and sustainable materials and suppliers.

The Dundee Climate Fund will not fund:

  • Any proposals with recurring revenue impact or place any burdens on the Council
  • Proposals that lobby or require the Council to change policy
  • Projects or activities that the state has a legal obligation to provide, such as a local recycling service, bus stops, local bus services, etc. 
  • Items that other Scottish Government grants are available to finance (e.g. cycle paths which can be funded by Sustrans, or bicycles through CyclingScot)
  • Proposals that involve improvements to buildings that are not owned by the applicant, or significant infrastructure being installed on land that is not owned by the applicant.
  • Funding cannot be used to lobby or require Dundee City Council to change policy
  • Feasibility studies, development costs, design fees, planning costs.
  • Costs incurred before the Project Start Date or after the Project End Date.

Additionally, the Dundee Climate Fund will not fund:

  • Contingency costs
  • Core organisational or overhead costs - that are not directly related and proportional to the delivery of your project.
  • Items or activities which benefit an individual rather than the community as a whole
  • Fundraising activities or donations to other organisations
  • Loans, interest payments, bank or credit card charges
  • Political or religious activities
  • Alcohol or tobacco
  • Livestock and associated costs (e.g. food)
  • VAT that you can recover from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • Costs incurred using high-carbon modes of travel (flights, cars, taxis etc) when lower emission alternatives are available. All flights are ineligible unless there are extenuating circumstances.
  • The Dundee Climate Fund grant can only be used for funding the proposed project and related costs.

Where else can I apply to gain additional funds?

Depending on your projects aim there are other grants available in Scotland. More information can be found here: https://funding.scot/search

How do we construct a budget for our project?

All applications are required to supply 3 quotes for costs exceeding £5,000 alongside their applications.

What if our project is working with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults?

If your project involves working with children, young people or adults at risk, you must have thought through what additional safeguarding risks that this could create, and must have developed safeguarding policies and procedures appropriate for the type of project you plan to undertake.

More information on developing a Safeguarding policy and procedures can by obtained from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO): SCVO - Safeguarding

What happens if we get the funding?

Successful applicants will be required submit monitoring reports to the Governance Group every six months. Please retain all invoices, among other details, as you will need them for the monitoring report.

Will we receive feedback if our application is unsuccessful?

Yes, you will receive feedback through the application portal.

What will we need to do at the end of the project?

Successful applicants will be required submit a case study highlighting project success at end of delivery (including lessons learnt, achieved outcomes and impact had).

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