Hornsea 3 Legacy Fund

Fund Overview

Each year £100,000 of the Hornsea 3 Community Fund commitment is ring fenced to support a single capital flagship project that is ‘Inspired by Green’.

What Does ‘Inspired by Green’ Mean?

Ørsted is keen that organisations applying for funds are reflecting on their environmental impact and are taking positive action in relation to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction.
The application asks groups if they are taking steps to minimise the carbon footprint of the project they are seeking funding support for and will the project actually make a positive impact on the environment – is the project ‘Inspired by Green?’.

The project must also meet one of the following two themes:

• Community buildings and facilities. For example: capital improvement works to village halls, community centres, sports centres, museums, heritage centres. Projects that help transition to greener operations are particularly encouraged.
• Environmental, green initiatives and public open space projects. For example: projects involving habitat/species conservation.

The total project cost must not exceed £1 million.

Match funding is not a requirement, but it is expected the project will need a level of other funding as it is unlikely that your project will cost exactly £100,000. If your total project cost is less than £100,000 you are not eligible to apply.

There is one application deadline per year, usually in November. The 2026 deadline is:

Late applications cannot be considered.

UPDATE: Applicants are now able to submit proposals to both the Hornsea 3 Community Fund and the Legacy Fund for the same project. Please note that a separate application must be submitted to each Fund.

If applications are made to both Funds simultaneously and the Legacy Fund application is successful, the project will not also be considered for support from the Hornsea 3 Community Fund. Accordingly, the maximum grant available in any single funding round is £100,000.

Applicants should therefore not plan to receive a combined award of £175,000 across both Funds. The Hornsea 3 Community Fund application should instead be regarded as a contingency option in the event that the Legacy Fund application is unsuccessful.

Successful groups cannot apply again for another Legacy Fund grant for a period of 2 years. (Please check the individual criteria for the main Community Fund and Hornsea 3 Skills Fund which may differ.)

In the event that a grant is offered, your project should be in a position to start within six months and complete within 24 months of funds being awarded. Consideration of issues around match funding shortfalls and project consents will therefore be a key part of the assessment and judging process.

Project Locations

To be eligible to apply for a grant your project must be located, and be for the benefit of communities, within the funding area.

Please click on the map image below. It will open up an interactive map within which you can enter your postcode and zoom in to identify if your project is located in the area of benefit. If your location appears within the area between the coast line and boundary line, it is located within the funding area.

Any projects located outside the area are not eligible to apply. If you are at all uncertain, please contact the GrantScape Team to discuss your application before applying.

Eligible Organisations

Applicants require a written constitution, a set of rules, or a governing document and will need to have a bank or building society account with a minimum of two signatories in place before applying for a grant.

Organisations that can apply for funding include:

• Voluntary and community groups, and local charities
• Parish and Town Councils
• Local Authorities (if they are applying on behalf of a community)
• Social Enterprises and Community Interest Companies operating on a non-profit-distributing basis. These are defined by Social Enterprise UK as ‘businesses that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community’.
  These organisations must have a minimum of three unrelated Directors, that also do not reside at the same address.

Exclusions

Grants will not be available for:

• Commercial organisations
• Any works that are a statutory duty (such as works to public highways), or that are the legal responsibility of others to fund
• Any project that may bring the Fund into disrepute
• Projects located at religious buildings (unless the project is clearly for the benefit of the wider community, for example a church hall improvement project where the building is available to the general public, or nature conservation projects in churchyards)
• Schools and educational establishments
• Vehicle purchase and hire and land-based community transport schemes.
• Retrospective funding (i.e. funding can only be requested for works that will begin / expenditure that will be incurred AFTER our funding decision has been made and a formal grant Contract issued)
• Public conveniences and public car parks
• Allotments. Applications toward community growing schemes will be considered.
• Building purchase. Land purchase is eligible but applicants should contact GrantScape before applying to ensure your project meets the criteria
• Costs associated with ‘Asset Transfers’ from Local Authorities (i.e. legal costs, feasibility costs etc.). However, once the Asset has been transferred, the group responsible for the amenity is eligible to apply for a grant from the Fund.

Judging Criteria

The criteria used when assessing applications received will be:

• The level of community support for and involvement in the project
• The local community benefit which will result from the project
• The environmental benefit which will result from the project and how any negative environmental impact has been mitigated – is the project ‘Inspired by Green’?
• How the work will be continued after the project has been completed, i.e. its sustainability and legacy
• The ability of the applicant to deliver the project
• Value for money

If, after reading the above, you are confident that your project meets the criteria, please click Next, below:

Grants Awarded

To find out which organisations were previously awarded grants, please click below: