Biffa Award is part of the Landfill Communities Fund, a Government tax credit scheme that enables landfill operators to contribute money to organisations for a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites. The Biffa Award is managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which administers several different funds covering broad environmental themes on behalf of organisations such as Biffa Group Limited, European Union, The People’s Postcode Lottery, National Lottery Community Fund and Network Rail.
Biffa Award provides and administers the Main Grants programme across England and Northern Ireland.
Biffa Award’s Main Grants Scheme is aimed at community and cultural groups and organisations, situated in the vicinity of landfill sites, that are in need of funding to improve the quality of life in their community or to conserve wildlife.
There are four themes – Community Buildings, Cultural Facilities, and Rebuilding Biodiversity and Recreation – each is reported on separately.
The Biffa Award Recreation theme provides grants to support projects that will benefit people within their free time who are living in communities within five miles of a significant Biffa Group Ltd operation or within 10 miles of an active Biffa Landfill site in England or Northern Ireland.
Priority is given to projects that demonstrate wider community benefit. It is expected that the building will be used by many groups, benefiting people of different ages and demographics.
Grants of £10,000 to £75,000 are available.
The total cost of the project must be less than £200,000 including VAT.
Fully constituted, charitable or not-for-profit organisations with share capital in England and Northern Ireland can apply.
Applicants must:
- Be eligible for enrolment and registration with the scheme’s regulator ENTRUST.
- Have a project site open for a minimum of 104 days of full public access to the project per year.
- Own the project site or have signed a lease agreement with the landowner of more than 10 years.
The project site must:
- Be within five miles of a significant Biffa Operation or within 10 miles if this is an active Biffa Landfill Site.
- Also be within 10 miles of any licenced landfill site in England and Northern Ireland.
Applicants should check their project location’s eligibility using Biffa Awards Postcode Checker, which can be found on the Biffa Award’s website.
Recreation grants are available to fund site-based improvement work on projects that will benefit people within their free time who live in the vicinity of Biffa operations. Applicants will have to show evidence of wider community use, involvement and consultation.
The guidance notes and faqs can be found on the Biffa Award website.
There is a two-stage application process:
- An expression of interest form is available to complete online at the Biffa Award website. Expression of Interest are accepted at any time.
- Applicants who are successful at this initial stage will then be invited to submit a full application form.
The Trust meets four times a year to review applications – in February, May, July and November.
