Please note that this page contains information and links most relevant for people living in Scotland.
The Plugged-in Communities Grant Fund (formerly Plugged-in Households) is an opportunity for not-for-profit housing associations, housing cooperatives and constituted community groups in Scotland to apply for funding to procure the services of a zero-emission car club vehicle, for use by their tenants and the wider community.
In 2021/22, Energy Saving Trust is looking to support community transport services in Scotland to procure zero-emission vehicles.
The fund is currently open for a pilot round aimed at community transport organisations only. Through this pilot funding, we aim to support a limited number of community transport services operators. Please email us at [email protected] for more information about the fund or to request an application form.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 6 September 2021.
Plugged-in Communities is funded by Transport Scotland and delivered by Energy Saving Trust.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for funding under the Plugged-in Communities Grant Fund:
Recognised community transport organisation or operator in Scotland with a UK bank account.
Applicant must be providing community transport services. The Community Transport Association define community transport as ‘flexible and accessible community-led solutions in response to unmet local transport needs, and often represents the only means of transport for many vulnerable and isolated people, often older people or people with disabilities’.
Deliver services in rural areas (class 5 or 6 of the Scottish Government Urban Rural Classification, 6-fold) OR deliver services to communities in deprived areas as classed by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (services must reach people living in areas in the bottom 20%).
Commitment to apply, and install, electric vehicle charge points (unless applying for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) using electric vehicle infrastructure grant funding for each zero-emission vehicle funded through Plugged-in Communities. This is to be applied for separately through Energy Saving Trust.
Commitment to assist Energy Saving Trust and Transport Scotland with the distribution of surveys to residents to assist with monitoring of the scheme.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that receipt of additional funding will not breach new public subsidy rules.
Application guidance
A video guide on how to fill out the application form will be available shortly.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for the current round of funding for community transport organisations, please email [email protected] for an application form and guidance.
Previous funding
Previous rounds of funding supported housing associations, housing cooperatives and community groups, and included the launch of zero emission car club services for residents and local communities.
