Falkirk Environment Trust

What is Falkirk Environment Trust?

The Falkirk Environement Trust was established in 1998 in response to the (then) new Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, now renamed the Landfill Community Fund. The scheme was developed by central government as a method of awarding grants to local groups, for environmental improvement projects in areas close to landfill operations.

The money for the Main Grants scheme is a proportion (about 6.7%) of the total money owed to the HM Customs and revenue at the end of each financial year, calculated on that years landfill tax rate. The system also includes a need for an outside “Third Party Contribution” to be made, before the money can be released for distribution as Landfill Community Fund (LCF) Grants. In Falkirk, this has been made by a partnership of Falkirk Council and BP Grangemouth. Falkirk Environment Trust is the local Distributive Environmental Body, registered with Entrust – the LCF regulatory body – to hold and distribute the money.

The aims of the Falkirk Environment Trust are represented by our Vision Statement:


	“The Trust aims to become recognized as one of Scotland's leading local authority area based environmental trusts, supporting a wide range of environmental and sustainable development projects. It will work closely with partners and local communities to facilitate projects and build consensus through the design and delivery of projects. The Trust will work to secure its long-term viability, acting as a source of match funding and using its resources to make a significant contribution to local environmental priorities.”

We believe that we have in fact achieved many of these aims

Here are some FET Facts:

To date F.E.T. has awarded 107 Main Grants totalling about £1.8 Million.
This means that F.E.T. has assisted in attracting over £ 12 Million to the area, if you total up all of the funding, from all sources to all of our projects.
These grants have covered a wide spectrum of project types, from kerbside collection of wastes for recycling, to planting new woodlands, constructing community gardens and restoring wildlife habitats.
F.E.T. prides itself on being accessible to those groups that wish to pursue environmental projects in the area. We are often the first funder to make awards to local projects. This in turn helps the group to attract "matched" funding.
Under the Main Grants Scheme, the trust can award grants of from £4,500 to £50,000 under our main grants programme. Click here for Main Grants Info.
The F.E.T. Board of Directors is composed of a panel of experts from a variety of organisations and professions. Whilst the environmental and wildlife organisations are represented, so are the Falkirk Council, Forth Valley College, Scottish Enterprise and Local Community Groups. Click Here to link to these organisations.
We also operate a Small Grants programme which can award amounts of money to a total of £4,500. Small Grants are fast tracked to allow Community Groups the ability to run events, get start-up grants, perform smaller construction activities, or develop projects that can later pursue the Main Grants Programme. Click Here for Small Grants Info.

The Trust is run by a Board of Directors, made up from representatives of a number of local and national Charities and Groups, as well as the Local council and other organisations. The Board meets once a quarter to consider applications, and deal with any other business relating to the development of the trust.

F.E.T. employs a Development Manager, who is the main point of contact for any information or assistance that a group may require on attaining grants. Click here for contact details.