Warwick District Council operates a Rural/Urban Capital Improvement Scheme (RUCIS) which gives grants (£1,000 – £20,000) to locally led and run, not-for-profit, community organisations towards capital projects. Capital is defined as ‘funds used by an organisation to purchase or upgrade physical assets such as property or equipment’. This type of outlay is made by organisations to maintain or increase the service and / or facilities available. For example:
- Energy efficiency and renewable energy technology, such as:
- Solar panels
- Heat pumps
- Heat recovery and thermal stores
- Loft, cavity wall or external wall insulation
- LED lighting including controls & sensors
- Electric charging infrastructure for public use
- Building repairs and construction, for example: roof replacement / repairs, extensions
- Disabled access / facilities
- Resurfacing, for example: carparks, driveways, sports courts, play areas
- New facilities or refurbishments, for example: kitchens, toilets
- New equipment (must be of a type and value that is classed as a ‘capital asset’), for example: playgrounds, machinery
Applications need not be made in the name of the Parish/Town Council but will need their financial support to enable the project to be considered.
Please note that your application will need to take the environment into account:
- In your designs, to make every effort to minimise impact on existing biodiversity / trees.
- To make every effort to ensure appropriate safe access for pedestrians and cyclists.
- To investigate and consider the most environmentally friendly option available (see the ‘Grants cannot be awarded if’ section in the full scheme criteria).
A raft of case studies is available.