This phase aims to build a clear understanding of how your building currently uses energy, establish your carbon footprint, and implement simple, low‑cost improvements. It lays the groundwork for all future funding applications: most funders now expect churches to show evidence that they have completed the basics before progressing to feasibility or large capital projects. Elements of Stage 1 include the following:

• Register for Eco Church HERE – this award scheme integrates our net zero carbon ambitions and is a condition for Church of England grants too. Support is available from your Diocesan Environment Officer – care@london.anglican.org
• Complete the Energy Footprint Tool (EFT) – submit this annually to help us measure progress and be eligible for Church of England grants. More information HERE
• Undertake an Energy Audit – An independent assessment to understand how your buildings can become more energy efficient and which electrical heating system(s) is most suitable. Provides carbon savings and estimated costs, often needed for grant applications. Contact  nzc@london.anglican.org for more information.

Funding available at Phase 1

Church of England — Quick Wins Grant £3k–£10k for small/medium measures recommended in your audit.

• Supports energy‑saving actions such as LED lighting, smart controls and draughtproofing.
• London has a small annual allocation (£30,200 per year), so priority and allocation will be based on need.
• Ideal immediately after an audit.
• More info HERE and get in touch with nzc@london.anglican.org

Church of England – Decarbonising Churches grant churches with high emitting buildings can apply for an enhanced energy audit.

• Churches with carbon footprint of 10tCO2e or above can apply to get a funded enhanced energy audit carried out. This will give expanded recommendations on energy efficiency and decarbonised heating options.
• This will give churches a top line costed pathway to net zero carbon with estimated upfront costs, carbon savings and running costs.
• More info HERE and get in touch with nzc@london.anglican.org

Give To Go Green (Match Funding) Up to £10k match funding for community‑funded projects.

• Operates through ‘Give A Little’ digital giving tools
• Limited to 2-3 churches per Diocese
• Good for quick‑impact projects identified in your audit.
• Church to run 6 week fundraising campaign
• More info HERE and get in touch with nzc@london.anglican.org

Local Authority micro‑grants / Community Environment Funds Small pots for low‑cost carbon‑saving measures.

• Usually for simple improvements aligned with community climate priorities.
• Available intermittently but common in London boroughs
• Often suitable for early‑stage “quick wins” before larger feasibility studies.
• Contact your local authority to understand what funding is available in your area

Heathrow Communities Trust – Environment & Sustainability Up to £15k for climate and environmental improvements in areas near Heathrow.

• Can support small energy‑saving projects benefiting the wider community.
• Find out if your parish falls within the catchment area.
• More info HERE

National Lottery Awards for All — Environment £300–£20,000 for basic energy‑saving measures that benefit the community.

• Can fund insulation, or other low‑medium cost works if they have community impact.
• Religious content cannot be funded, but church‑run community services and their spaces can be.
• More info HERE

This phase enables you to build a robust, costed, and technically credible pathway to decarbonise. This stage produces the evidence funders expect: detailed feasibility work, quantified carbon savings, clear costings, and professional justification for your chosen approach. This stage is a requirement for funders who are likely to fund most large capital projects. Lots of helpful guidance can be on the Church of England website, including moving to be a ‘net zero carbon church’ here and planning a new heating system, can be found on the here. To read about London case studies, see our diocesan webpages here.

Funding and support available at Phase 2

Church of England Decarbonising Churches fund – Project development & technical advice for targeted churches (in-kind, not a grant).

• If your heating has failed or at end of life, you can access technical advice to support decision making on new electric heating options (and then also access capital funds for the new system)

• If you have a carbon footprint of 10tCO₂e or above (this is calculated from your Energy Footprint Tool data from stage 1), you can also access this service.

Local Authority Community Energy Grants – One of the best sources of feasibility funding in London.

• Most boroughs receive carbon‑off set funds which they distribute via climate or community energy programmes. These often fund feasibility studies, early technical work, and route‑map planning.
• Grants open and close throughout the year, so early contact with your borough is advised.

• Funders like seeing feasibility in one cycle and capital in the next — it shows continuity and reduces risk.
• Contact your local authority to understand what funding is available in your area.

Community Energy London (CEL) Direct funder and support body for community‑led energy projects across London, offering feasibility, development, and delivery funding through the London Community Energy Fund ().

• Provides direct grant funding through the London Community Energy Fund, which supports feasibility, development, and capital delivery of community energy projects across the city.
• Offers advice, planning support, and networking for groups developing new energy projects, helping strengthen applications and project design.
• Enables churches to connect with local community energy groups who can deliver feasibility studies or partner on capital installations such as solar PV or heat electrification.
• A key access route to match‑funding and partnership funding, improving eligibility and competitiveness for wider grants such as the Great British Energy Community Fund.
• More info HERE

Greater South East Net Zero Hub Feasibility Grant Major national funding source for feasibility.

• Up to £40,000 for feasibility studies to shape early‑stage carbon‑reduction projects.
• Open to churches, town/parish councils, CICs, charities, and faith groups.
• Covers consultancy, technical assessments, financial modelling.
• More info HERE

Benefact Trust — Building Improvement Grants – Flexible grants (no strict minimum or maximum) that can support energy‑efficiency feasibility or preparation work.

• Small grants (<£25k) are often decided within two months, making them suitable for Stage 2 timeline needs.
• Supports measures that improve sustainability and building performance.
• More info HERE

National Churches Trust (NCT) – Eligible for developing energy‑related repair and sustainability projects.

• Can support early‑stage work if tied to larger repair or improvement plans.
• Useful if your feasibility study is part of a wider building strategy.
• More info

Garfield Weston Foundation – Unrestricted capital and revenue grants that can support feasibility‑stage costs.

• While not explicitly an energy‑grant, they fund preparatory work for major building projects including sustainability upgrades.
• Faster turnaround for smaller awards (<£25k)
• More info HERE

Community Energy Groups (e.g., Stokey Energy, Power Up North London) Partnerships providing technical expertise, feasibility work, or bid writing.

• Can carry out feasibility studies themselves, or help design energy projects.
• Highly regarded by funders because they de‑risk projects, bring specialist local knowledge and provide wider community advice on reducing bills and carbon emissions.
• May support community‑ownership or shared‑benefit schemes.
• Your local group can be found using the Community Energy London members directory HERE

Heathrow Communities Trust – Environment & Sustainability Grants Up to £15k for feasibility or preparatory work tied to climate and environmental outcomes.

• Applies to churches near Heathrow with strong community‑benefit narratives.
• Appropriate for data‑gathering stages if linked to future carbon‑reduction capital work.
• More info HERE

National Lottery Awards for All — Environment – £300‑£20,000 for feasibility and early planning where projects have community benefit.

• Helpful for early‑stage solar, insulation, or heating redesign feasibility if linked to wider community use.
• Cannot fund religious content, but can fund environmental improvements to community‑serving buildings.
• More info HERE

Use the evidence gathered in Phase 2 to select the most appropriate technologies, secure the necessary permissions, and deliver the capital works. This phase covers the major investments — heating system replacement, larger fabric upgrades (such as roof insulation), or solar generation — and requires clear costings, carbon‑saving data, feasibility outputs, any relevant planning permission from your local authority and faculty approval from the Diocese.

Funding Available at Phase 3

Church of England — Decarbonising Churches Capital Grants – Major fund for low‑carbon heating and energy‑efficiency capital works.

• If your heating has failed, or is at end of life, capital grants range between £25k–£45k, varying by deprivation index.
• For non-emergency, planned works, large capital grants are available for buildings with carbon footprint at 10tC0₂e or above:
• Up to 50% of eligible costs (up to £80k) for full decarbonisation and all recommendations within your audit
• Up to 25% of eligible costs (up to £50k) for phased projects (ie the works will get you part way to being net zero carbon)

Local Authority Capital Grants (Carbon Offset / Section 106) – One of the strongest non‑church sources of capital funding for net‑zero projects.

• Local authorities distribute carbon‑offset funds for capital works following feasibility.
• Often require quantified carbon savings, making Stage 2 essential.
• Contact your local authority to find out what funding is available is available in your area. Not all local authorities distribute funds in this way, so it could be a good issue to raise with local Councillors if they don’t.

Hyper‑Local London Funds (Area‑Specific) – Strong options for churches in certain boroughs.

• Cloudesley — funds major energy and heating upgrades for Islington churches.
• Kings Cross Carbon Fund — supports carbon‑reduction capital projects near the King’s Cross development area.
• Heathrow Communities Trust — offers funding up to £15k for environmental improvements benefiting the local community. (While most useful for Stage 2, it can contribute to modest capital measures.)

National Lottery Awards for All — Environment – Capital support for community‑beneficial energy improvements.

• £300–£20,000 for improvements such as solar panels or small‑scale energy‑saving features.
• Must benefit the wider community; cannot fund religious content
• More info HERE

Greater South East Net Zero Hub, Stage 2 Development Grant

• up to £100,000 maximum to cover the cost of developing a project that has been able to demonstrate technical and financial viability.
• More info: HERE

Give To Go Green (Match Funding) – Up to £10k match funding to support delivery of small/medium capital measures.

• Operates through ‘Give A Little’ digital giving tools
• Limited to 2-3 churches per Diocese
• Good for quick‑impact projects identified in your audit.
• Church to run 6 week fundraising campaign
• More info HERE and get in touch with nzc@london.anglican.org

Community Energy Groups / Co‑operatives – Partnership financing for capital projects.

• Community energy groups (e.g., Stokey Energy, SELCE, Power Up North London):
  • Often co‑develop capital projects.
  • Can raise investment via community share offers for solar PV or heat networks.
  • Highly valued by funders for de‑risking and technical expertise, and community support role.
• Contact your local community energy group, or Community Energy London for more info, HERE

Landfill Communities Fund (e.g. Biffa, Veolia) Up to c.£50k–£80k for projects that demonstrate strong community benefit

• Not a primary net zero funder, but can support fabric improvements and building upgrades that contribute to energy efficiency and carbon reduction
• Multiple landfill operators offer grants; eligibility depends on your location – Your church must be within c.10 miles of a landfill site to apply
• Projects must clearly demonstrate that the building is used primarily for community benefit (not just worship)
• Can be a useful supplementary source of capital funding alongside core net zero grants
• To check eligibility and find relevant funders, search via Entrust HERE