Grants and Fundraising

We have had experience in helping clients make applications and in securing funds in a number of areas including:

• Carbon Trust funding for renewable energy measures e.g. PV and solar hot water installations; 
• Regional funding to support local procurement initiatives e.g. Regional Development Agency support at Kingsmead Primary, Cheshire; 
• Material to support lottery fund applications including Big Lottery Fund applications for e.g. Batheaston Community Centre and Heritage Lottery Fund applications for e.g. Holme Lacy College and the Soil Association; and
• Supporting clients such as the National Trust in making Heritage Lottery Fund applications. 

We are also always willing to participate personally in client’s fundraising activities e.g. Director level involvement in fund raising events for Bristol Zoo Gardens’ National Wildlife Conservation Park project.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship opportunities can be secured through thinking creatively about the built form of the project and the materials specified and by involving the supply chain. Examples in our portfolio include:

• Raising funds for the Knowle West Media Centre building through design of a “self-build” teambuilding offer whereby local organisations paid to build a facade panel; and
• “Sponsor the Roof” initiative at John Ferneley School, Leicestershire, where parents and the community could “buy” a Trelleborg Green Roof unit to help pay for the overall cost of the roof.
• Securing sponsorship funds from contractors and supply chain members in return for PR and profile-raising opportunities

Funded Research

We have had significant success in securing funded research from a range of bodies including:

• Central Government: DTI grant to develop modular construction solutions; 
• Technology Strategy Board funding: to build and test a prototype straw bale house on Bath University’s campus; to retrofit a Victorian house to modern passive design standards; to develop design and masterplanning solutions for urban sites to help them adapt to future climate change scenarios; to conduct in-depth post-occupancy studies with clients; and
• Carbon Connections: investment to support renewable construction research. 

Contributions to Support Revenue Costs

Examples of other initiatives we have participated in include:

• approaching supply chain members and contractors to sponsor client exhibitions and talks; 
• making contributions in kind to support existing clients’ activities e.g. workshops on sustainable shelters with the young people at Knowle West Media Centre;
• providing written and visual content to support local organisations e.g. artwork and promotional material for a membership drive at the Bristol Architecture Centre and case study material and staff support for a range of local exhibitions and events e.g. Bristol Green Open Doors Day.