Community groups in Selsey and Sidlesham with great green ideas are encouraged to apply!
Ferry Farm Community Solar open their grant fund this month to the communities of Selsey and
Sidlesham. A total of £25,000 is available for projects focused on environmental education,
biodiversity, energy or climate change readiness. The grant fund is open from September 2024 –
January 2025 and is administered by Selsey Community Forum.
In 2024, Ferry Farm Community Solar distributed £20,000 to local groups for various environmental projects, including education initiatives, energy efficiency upgrades, marine conservation efforts, and food reclamation. One beneficiary, UKHarvest, used their grant to support the Selsey Community Food Hub, reclaiming fresh fruit and vegetables to redistribute to benefit over 6,000 local residents and reduce food waste. Other recipients included Selsey Beach Litter Ninjas, Grow Selsey and the Hidden Garden, and Mulberry Marine Experiences.
Don't Miss Out – Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Here are some ideas for community projects we're eager to support!
Environmental Education
Engaging primary school age children in nature.
Adult environmental engagement – e.g. talks, film nights, nature walks for low income households.
Low carbon skills training – e.g. electric vehicle training or renewable energy and energy efficiency installer training for apprentices.
Youth climate action – e.g. mock climate citizens assembly, supporting youth-led climate campaigning.
Biodiversity and carbon sequestration
Litter removal / fly tipping prevention.
Marine protection projects.
Tree and hedge planting – the right native species in the right place.
Community orchards.
Wildflower seeding.
Wetland improvements (ditches and rifes).
Dead hedging and dead wood piles.
Bug hotels.
Pond creation, recovery, and improvement.
Biodiversity recording training and gathering – to increase biological data in the area for the purposes of future conservation planning, mitigation, and improvement.
Equipment to have as a community resource to be used to carry out the above.
Energy
Renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in schools and community buildings – separately we are looking to arrange for energy surveys to help local schools and community buildings assess their options for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and to help find funding.
Seed funding for new community-led energy initiatives.
Climate change readiness
Projects which help the community understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change, community-led action on climate change, community-led projects which help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Many areas are explored in the Chichester District Council Emergency Detailed Action Plan at: https://www.chichester.gov.uk/climatechange
Local groups, especially those that haven’t applied before, are encouraged to submit their
applications. The Small Grants application window is open from September 2024 to January 2025 for groups with environmental projects benefiting the communities of Selsey and Sidlesham.
To apply, download the application form at www.selseycommunityforum.co.uk/ferry-farm.
For more information about Ferry Farm Community Solar's Grant Fund please see the flyer below.
About us:
Ferry Farm Community Solar is a not for profit community benefit society that own a 5MW
community solar array on land between Selsey and Sidlesham.
Since June 2016, they have been generating electricity and income from the sun. The solar array has generates 5.14 million kWh of electricity annually, enough to power 1,300 homes. Surplus income from the solar farm is used to support local community organisations and projects in Selsey and Sidlesham.
Selsey Community Forum are a partnership of local voluntary organisations who operate to seek and identify local needs. The forum issue and administer Ferry Farm Community Solar’s grant fund. They support the local community through a variety of services including; debt management, befriending services, gardening and environmental projects, wellbeing services, and carer support amongst many other things.
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