Surrey Schools Waste Engagement Grant Scheme
Surrey County Council (SCC) has launched the Surrey Schools Waste Engagement Grant Scheme for primary schools in Surrey. Through the scheme, schools will be supported to educate their children and the wider community about waste reduction and recycling. The scheme will also fund schools to contribute to or deliver projects that benefit their school environment.
Waste is a key area in which people can take direct action to help fight climate change. When we reduce waste and recycle right, there are benefits for the environment. Fewer resources are used up creating new materials and fewer harmful emissions are made during resource production. There are also benefits for other council services as waste disposal is expensive for councils; reducing waste and recycling more saves councils money.
Children are the sustainable citizens and recyclers of the future. By educating them about their responsibilities now, we will have a greater chance to influence decisions in the future. We also know that parents listen to their children when they take home projects and learning to them.
How will the Surrey Schools Waste Engagement Grant Scheme work?
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Schools will complete an application form, which is returned to SCC.
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Officers from SCC will coordinate the assessment of applications received and will award one grant per district and borough area in the county (unless there are no suitable applications from any areas, in which case more than one grant may be awarded per area).
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Successful schools will be paid £500 to begin work on their waste project.
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Through regular reporting, once evidence on progress on waste projects has been received, a further £500 will be paid to schools to contribute to or deliver their environment project.
Where can I find further information about the Surrey Schools Waste Engagement Grant Scheme?
A guidance document for applicants can be downloaded here – Surrey Schools Waste Engagement Grant Scheme – Guidance for Applicants
How to I apply for the Surrey Schools Waste Engagement Grant Scheme?
Fill in and return the application form, which can be downloaded here – Surrey Schools Waste Engagement Grant Scheme Application Form
Key dates
• Deadline for schools to submit applications – 25 March 2026
• Schools contacted to award grants – 27 April 2026
• Deadline for funding agreements to be signed – 15 May 2026
• First £500 of grant to be paid to schools (the second £500 will be paid once evidence of project progress has been submitted) – 22 May 2026
• Window for schools to deliver projects – 25 May 2026 to 25 March 2027
• Deadline for schools to submit final reports on project – 29 May 2027
