The Carbon Literacy Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £31,000+ in funded services (2024)
• Success Rate: Data not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by funding round
• Grant Range: Up to £3,000 per organization
• Geographic Focus: Primarily UK-based, with some international rounds (Global South)
• Application Method: Fixed funding rounds throughout the year

Contact Details

Website: https://carbonliteracy.com/community-pot/

Email:

• Community Fund: communityfund@carbonliteracy.com
• General Trust: trust@carbonliteracy.com

Phone: 0161 298 1782 or 07786090520

Address: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LE

Overview

The Carbon Literacy Trust (registered charity 1156722) was created in 2014 to deliver on an objective in Manchester's climate plan to offer everyone who lives, works or studies in the city a day's worth of learning about climate change. The organization has since expanded its mission to underpin action to reduce emissions and accelerate growth in the low-carbon economy across the UK and beyond.

The Trust's charitable aim is “to advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment” through Carbon Literacy. With total income of £1,250,787 and expenditure of £1,290,292, the organization operates primarily through educational activities while maintaining a Community Pot fund to improve access to Carbon Literacy training for low-income and underrepresented groups. Since the beginning of 2024, the Community Pot has provided the equivalent of £31,000 in funded services to 18 organizations, targeting community groups, charities, and schools that struggle to afford the costs associated with initiating Carbon Literacy training.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Pot - General Rounds

• Up to £3,000 per recipient organization
• Covers: course accreditation, certificate applications, toolkit access, Carbon Literacy Facilitator accreditation, dedicated account manager support, communications assistance
• Application method: Fixed funding rounds advertised throughout the year
• Recent focus areas have included: Global South communities, UK Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority communities, Manchester-based community groups

Manchester Carbon Literate City Community Fund

• Total funding pool: £15,000
• Up to £3,000 per recipient group
• Geographic restriction: Manchester metropolitan area only
• Funded by: Patagonia and Manchester City Council grants, plus contributions from organizations paying enhanced certificate rates

Priority Areas

The Community Pot explicitly prioritizes:

• Low-income and underrepresented groups
• Community groups, faith-based groups, and social housing tenants
• State schools
• Charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
• Organizations working to make Manchester a Carbon Literate City
• UK Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority communities
• International communities in the Global South (occasional rounds)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Community Pot appears to focus exclusively on organizations and groups seeking to deliver Carbon Literacy training. Organizations outside the environmental education sphere or those not committed to Carbon Literacy certification would not be eligible.

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Governance and Leadership

The Carbon Literacy Trust is governed by five trustees with deep knowledge of climate change and its environmental and economic impacts. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Jen Wilson (Chair)

• Background: 9 years in automotive industry at Auto Trader, led Auto Trader's Sustainability Network
• Focus: “Tackling climate change and carbon emissions through educating and encouraging others”

Alex Ganotis (Vice-Chair)

• Background: Former Stockport Council leader
• Expertise: Green city region planning, sustainable economic growth
• Role: Greater Manchester Combined Authority portfolio lead for Green City Region

Simon Foy

• Background: Commercial lawyer, business owner in renewable energy sector
• Expertise: Renewable energy, resource recovery
• Roles: Co-owner of Blue Energy, co-founder of Synthesis Water Solutions

Malin Cunningham

• Background: Founder of Hattrick (B Corp communications consultancy)
• Expertise: Sustainability communications, business climate strategy
• Notable: Carbon Literacy trainer, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni

Diane Johnson

• Background: People and Culture professional
• Expertise: HR leadership, organizational culture transformation
• Current role: Director of People and Culture at Beechfield Brands

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Carbon Literacy Trust operates through periodic funding rounds rather than rolling applications. Applications are only accepted when a funding round is open and advertised.

Steps:

1. Monitor the Community Pot webpage (carbonliteracy.com/community-pot/) for announcements of new funding rounds
2. Subscribe to the Carbon Literacy newsletter for monthly updates on funding opportunities
3. When a round opens, submit an application by the stated deadline
4. Each round typically has specific eligibility criteria (e.g., geographic focus, target communities)

Contact for questions: communityfund@carbonliteracy.com

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented and likely vary by funding round. The organization reviews applications after each round closes, but precise timeframes from submission to decision notification are not available.

Applicants are advised to check back or subscribe to the newsletter for updates on their application status.

Success Rates

While exact success rates are not published, available data suggests:

• In 2024, 18 organizations received funding totaling £31,000 equivalent in services
• One recent round provided £12,150 to 7 community groups working with Black, Asian & Ethnic Minorities
• An earlier Global South round provided £25,000 to 13 organizations

The number of applications received per round is not publicly available, making it impossible to calculate precise success rates.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. Given the periodic nature of funding rounds with different geographic and community focuses, organizations may be able to apply to multiple rounds if they meet the eligibility criteria for each.

Application Success Factors

Based on the organization's stated priorities and funding patterns:

Alignment with Mission

The Community Pot “explicitly aims to support community groups in Manchester to participate and contribute towards making Manchester a Carbon Literate City” (for Manchester-focused rounds). Applications should demonstrate clear commitment to delivering Carbon Literacy training and certification.

Serving Priority Communities

Recent funding rounds have specifically targeted:

• Low-income groups that “struggle to afford the costs associated with initiating Carbon Literacy training”
• Underrepresented communities including Black, Asian & Ethnic Minorities
• Community groups, faith-based organizations, social housing tenants, and state schools

Geographic Focus

While some rounds are open to UK-wide or international applicants, the Manchester Carbon Literate City Fund requires applicants to “live, work, or study within the area of the city and metropolitan borough of Manchester.” Organizations outside Manchester may apply as training organizations on behalf of eligible community groups if they can demonstrate they are “well-placed to reach the specific community,” with additional support such as course development and training expected.

Clear Use of Funded Services

Successful applications likely demonstrate how they will utilize the funded services (accreditation, certificates, toolkits, facilitator training, account management) to deliver Carbon Literacy training effectively in their community.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Monitor funding rounds carefully - The Community Pot operates through periodic rounds with specific themes and geographic focuses. Subscribe to the newsletter to catch opportunities as they arise.

• Target community alignment is critical - Each round has specific community priorities (e.g., Manchester groups, BAME communities, Global South). Only apply when your organization or beneficiaries match the round's focus.

• Demonstrate financial need - The program explicitly targets groups that “struggle to afford” Carbon Literacy training costs. Applications should make clear why funding is necessary.

• Be ready to deliver - Funded services include facilitator training and account management, suggesting the Trust expects recipient organizations to actively deliver Carbon Literacy training, not just participate.

• Maximum grant is £3,000 - Plan your Carbon Literacy initiatives within this funding limit, which covers services rather than cash grants.

• Geographic restrictions matter - For Manchester-specific rounds, you must have clear connections to the city and metropolitan borough. Organizations outside the area can apply as training providers for eligible groups.

• Funding sources are limited - The Community Pot relies on grants from organizations like Patagonia and Manchester City Council, plus enhanced certificate fees. This suggests funding rounds may be irregular and dependent on available resources.

References

• The Carbon Literacy Trust Charity Commission page: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1156722&subid=0
• Community Pot webpage: https://carbonliteracy.com/community-pot/
• Funding for You page: https://carbonliteracy.com/community-pot/funding-for-you/
• Trustees page: https://carbonliteracy.com/about-us/trustees/
• Manchester Community Central announcement: https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/news/carbon-literacy-community-pot
• 2024 Year in Review: https://carbonliteracy.com/2024-year-in-review/
• 2023 Year in Review: https://carbonliteracy.com/2023-year-in-review/