The Veolia Environmental Trust

Charity Number: 1064144

Annual Expenditure: £4.0M
Throughout England

Contact Info

Website: www.veoliatrust.org

Phone: 0203 567 6820

Email: UK.Trust@veolia.com

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5 million
  • Success Rate: Not published
  • Decision Time: Several months (quarterly review cycle)
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £75,000+ (Environmental Improvement Grants have no upper limit)
  • Geographic Focus: England (proximity to Veolia landfill sites required)
  • Total Distributed Since 1997: £106 million across 2,600+ projects

Contact Details

Website: www.veoliatrust.org

Email: UK.Trust@veolia.com

Phone: 0203 567 6820

Pre-application Support: The Trust actively encourages applicants to contact them before applying to discuss projects - calling or emailing to talk through your project “raises the chances of success” significantly.

Overview

Established in 1997, The Veolia Environmental Trust (Charity Number 1064144) distributes grant funding provided by Veolia UK through the Landfill Communities Fund. The Trust enables communities in the vicinity of landfill sites to improve their local environment and quality of life. Since its inception, the Trust has awarded over £106 million across more than 2,600 projects, with grants ranging from £5,000 to £350,000. The Trust currently distributes approximately £5 million annually through quarterly funding rounds, supporting projects from nature reserves and parks to community buildings and sports facilities. Their strategic approach focuses on promoting community action and wellbeing, creating inclusive and accessible spaces, inspiring sustainable carbon-neutral community facilities, and protecting and enhancing biodiversity and natural habitats.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Community Grants: £10,000 - £75,000

  • For projects creating or improving publicly accessible indoor or outdoor community spaces
  • Maximum total project cost: £250,000
  • Encourages community action and wellbeing, inclusive and accessible design, sustainability, and nature protection
  • Applications assessed quarterly by Trustees

2. Habitat and Biodiversity Grants: £10,000 - £75,000

  • For improvements to or creation of natural habitats
  • Maximum total project cost: £250,000
  • Minimum grant request: £10,000
  • Applications assessed quarterly by Trustees

3. Environmental Improvement Grants: £75,000+

  • No upper limit on grant amount
  • For larger environmental improvement projects
  • Trust contacts applicants within five days to discuss proposals and next steps
  • Applications assessed quarterly by Trustees

Priority Areas

The Trust funds projects that:

  • Community Buildings: Village halls, community centres, sports clubs
  • Parks and Paths: Park improvements, pathway upgrades
  • Play and Recreation Facilities: Sports facilities, play areas
  • Nature Reserves: Conservation projects, habitat creation
  • Supporting Biodiversity: New grasslands, hedgerows, tree planting, pond dipping stations, mixed herd grazing
  • Sustainable Infrastructure: Solar panels, battery storage, volunteers' workshops

Recent funded projects include:

  • Langdon Nature Discovery Park, Essex (Essex Wildlife Trust) - conservation improvements to 460-acre reserve
  • Camley Street Natural Park, London - £24,837 for recycled plastic boardwalk replacement
  • Bosnia Herzegovina UK Network, Birmingham - double-glazed windows for community centre

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Organizations:

  • Hospitals, hospices, care homes
  • Theatres, museums, art galleries
  • Educational organisations including pre-schools, schools, universities, or organizations affiliated with schools (including PTAs)

Ineligible Project Locations:

  • Theatres, museums, art galleries
  • Schools, libraries, medical centres
  • Hospitals, hospices, zoos
  • Shops, cafes, allotments
  • Graveyards, crematoria areas
  • Roads, car parks
  • Sites with on-site accommodation

Ineligible Project Types:

  • Historic building restoration, statues, monuments, or memorials
  • Purchase of land or buildings
  • Projects where physical works have already started
  • Projects without all necessary permissions (e.g., unapproved planning permission)

Access Restrictions:

  • Projects with restricted access that prevent use by any person or user group defined by age, gender, disability, race, religion, or belief

Governance and Leadership

The Veolia Environmental Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees who assess applications on a quarterly basis. Trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Board includes professionals such as James Dennison, who serves as a Trustee/Director.

The charity's accounts are filed annually with Companies House and the Charity Commission, with the last accounts made up to 31 March 2024.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Check:

  1. Use the postcode checker on www.veoliatrust.org to verify your project is located within proximity of a qualifying Veolia landfill site
  2. Only projects in England near Veolia landfill sites are eligible
  3. Contact the Trust to discuss your project before applying - this significantly raises chances of success

Two-Stage Application Process:

Stage 1 Application:

  • Requires 20% of total project cost secured in cash before submission
  • Submit anytime from when the funding round opens to 12:00 midday on the closing date
  • Four funding rounds per year (quarterly)

Stage 2 Application:

  • All permissions must be granted (planning permission must be approved)
  • Complete community consultation exercise required
  • Finalized project design/plan needed
  • Estimated costs and provisional timescales required
  • All other funding necessary for project must be secured
  • 10% Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment must be secured with evidence uploaded

Application Method: Online through apply.envirogrant.veolia.co.uk

Application Frequency: Only one application per project site may be submitted in a 12-month period

Decision Timeline

  • Applications assessed quarterly by Board of Trustees
  • Four funding rounds per year
  • Process can take several months from submission to outcome
  • For Environmental Improvement Grants: Trust contacts applicants within five days to discuss proposal
  • Applicants notified by email if published decision dates change
  • Your project's planned start date should guide when to submit Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not published by the Trust.

Reapplication Policy

Only one grant application may be submitted per project site in a 12-month period. Specific policies for unsuccessful applicants seeking to reapply are not publicly detailed, though applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

“Calling or emailing to talk through your project first raises the chances of success” - The Trust strongly encourages pre-application discussions.

The Trust's guidance emphasizes that Trustees want to see projects that:

  • Promote community action and wellbeing
  • Are inclusive and accessible to everyone
  • Inspire sustainable carbon-neutral community spaces
  • Protect and enhance biodiversity and natural habitats

Critical Requirements

The 10% Contributing Third Party (CTP) Payment:

  • All grants require a 10% CTP payment from an independent third party before funds can be released
  • This payment reimburses the landfill operator for the 10% tax credit shortfall
  • Can be made by another funder, local council, or individual
  • Must be secured and evidenced before full application submission
  • This contribution is retained by the landfill operator and never refunded

Permissions and Planning:

  • All permissions must be granted before Stage 2 submission
  • Physical works must NOT have started
  • Planning permission must be fully approved (not pending)

Accessibility:

  • Projects must be publicly accessible
  • No restrictions based on age, gender, disability, race, religion, or belief
  • Must benefit the general community

Standing Out

  1. Use the postcode checker early - Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable
  2. Contact the Trust before applying - They are happy to discuss projects and this demonstrably improves success rates
  3. Demonstrate community engagement - Community consultation is required
  4. Show sustainability - Projects incorporating sustainable features (solar panels, recycled materials) align with Trust priorities
  5. Emphasize biodiversity benefits - Projects protecting or enhancing natural habitats are strongly aligned with Trust mission
  6. Secure your CTP early - Having the 10% contribution confirmed strengthens your application
  7. Plan your timeline carefully - Factor in the quarterly review cycle and several months for decision-making

Recent Project Examples

Study successful projects like:

  • Large-scale nature reserve improvements (460+ acres)
  • Sustainable infrastructure (recycled plastic boardwalks, solar panels)
  • Community building improvements (double-glazing for energy efficiency)
  • Habitat creation (pond dipping stations, mixed herd grazing)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic eligibility is critical - Use the postcode checker immediately; only projects near Veolia landfill sites in England qualify
  2. Pre-application contact is essential - The Trust explicitly states this raises success chances; call or email UK.Trust@veolia.com or 0203 567 6820
  3. The 10% CTP requirement is non-negotiable - Secure this independent third-party contribution early and have evidence ready
  4. Plan for a long timeline - With quarterly reviews and several months for decisions, factor in 3-6 months minimum from application to outcome
  5. Permissions must be complete - Don't apply until planning permission and all other permissions are fully approved (not pending)
  6. Emphasize public accessibility and inclusivity - Projects must be open to everyone without restrictions
  7. Align with sustainability and biodiversity - Projects incorporating these elements are strongly favored
  8. Only one application per site per year - Make your application count; don't rush it

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References