Applications for our large grants are now open!🎉
Author
Cathy Ryan
Publication date 1 October 2026
Low Carbon Hub’s Community Grants Fund 2026 – 2027 is now open for applications from our community groups for Large Grants of up to £5000! The deadline for outline proposals is 5pm, Friday 20 November 2026.
Want to find out more about how our large grants work and hear some exciting stories from other community groups near you?
We’re hosting an event to make the process of applying as easy as possible.
Join us on 7 October 👇
Our community groups are a vital part of Low Carbon Hub’s work and continue to be inspirational in tackling climate change. That’s why we think one of the most rewarding ways to share the community benefit that comes from the profits generated from our renewable energy installations, is to offer financial support through the Community Grants Fund that can be used to help organise events and community energy activities.
All community group members of Low Carbon Hub can apply for a large grant of up to £5,000 once a year in a competitive process. The applications are reviewed and selected by the Impact Committee, consisting of members of Low Carbin Hub’s board of directors, as well as external partners from CAG Oxfordshire and the County Council Retrofit team.
Last year saw the highest number of grants awarded since our grants fund began. We were thrilled to support five of our community groups with large grants that helped with projects to generate renewable energy, encourage affordable home energy efficiency, and develop community transport solutions. The projects are all under way with some already near completion.
Large Grants awarded 2025 –2026
Hardwick Community Energy – ‘Draughtbusting for All’
Hardwick Community Energy continues to provide a small team of Draughtbusters to carry out simple energy efficient measures to 27 old and difficult to heat cottages on the Hardwick Country Estate. The cottages are let to tenants at affordable rents and the secondary glazing work on the windows and doors of the homes has been carried out to an exceptional standard. The tenants are delighted with the improved level of comfort and reduced energy bills.
Rose Hill & Iffley Low Carbon – ‘Affordable Warmth for All’
The Affordable Warmth for All project created a series of free community lunches with the aim of increasing home energy efficiency in Rose Hill and the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Residents attending were able to be connected to reliable sources of confidential advice and financial support, to improve the warmth of their homes and reduce energy bills. The team is recruiting energy assessors and volunteers to provide help in the home with installing simple low-cost measures from a team of Draughtbusters.
Green TEA – ‘Eynsham Energy Saving Homes’
Green TEA organised and ran a successful Energy Saving Homes event in the Eynsham area recently. They recruited 10 residents with a range of home energy efficiency measures, to open their homes to visitors over a weekend in September. There was something for everyone as residents shared their experience of installing solar PV, heat pumps, batteries and smart apps, with a succession of enthusiastic visitors.
First and Last Mile CIC – ‘Community Transport Saturday Service Trial’
First and Last Mile community transport group recently completed the trial of a Saturday minibus service, to help ensure that young people in particular are not excluded from attending sports events and Saturday activities due to lack of transport
Although awareness of the service was strong, passenger numbers were not consistently high enough for the service to run beyond its trial date without further support. First & Last Mile will once again be running a school service from September taking children from nearby villages with no public transport to secondary school in Eynsham.
Sustainable Kirtlington – Solar PV for the Kirtlington Community Shop and Cafe
Following the loss of their village shop, Sustainable Kirtlington formed a Community Benefit Society to develop an exciting project to build a community shop & cafe near to the existing village hall. The structure is already in place and in line with the high sustainability standards, the grant supported the installation of the rooftop solar PV array and two 5 kwh batteries.
The shop and cafe have the support of the wider community and over 100 people have already registered interest in helping to run the facility.
Community Groups Grant Fund
Low Carbon Hub is championing community-owned energy across Oxfordshire. Our Community Groups Grant Fund offers financial support for community energy activities across the County.