Managed and delivered by Energy Saving Trust, the scheme offers charities across Great Britain the opportunity to apply for funding for energy-related projects.

Applications for the next round close on October 18.

Officially named the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, the initiative collects voluntary payments from energy companies to make reparations for effects on energy consumers.

The priority of the scheme is to support individual energy consumers in vulnerable situations, with a small percentage of the fund available to support innovative products and services that will help existing or future energy consumers.

The fifth round of the Energy Redress Scheme has three separate funds to ensure that projects of a similar nature and scale are assessed against each other.

The Main Fund contains £7.5m and is aimed at projects seeking grants between £50,000 and £2m. The Small Grants Fund contains £1m and is aimed at projects seeking grants of between £20,000 and £49,999.

Both of these funds aim to support projects that help energy consumers in vulnerable situations.

The Innovation Fund contains £1.5m and is aimed at projects seeking grants between £50,000 to £750,000 that support the development of innovative products or services to provide benefits to energy consumers.

Mike Thornton, group director of operations at Energy Saving Trust, said: “We are very pleased to be able to distribute a substantial pot of funds to provide benefits to energy consumers through this round of the Energy Redress Scheme.

“Supporting a diverse variety of charities in their work to reduce fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency is even more important at a time when energy issues are a key focus for everyone.”

Charities interested in applying are encouraged to register in advance of the opening date for applications of Monday 19 August 2019 on the dedicated website. Further information on the scheme and the application process can be found at www.energyredress.org.uk.

The Energy Redress Scheme has funded 34 projects since launching last summer, awarding more than £3.1m in funding to charities across England, Scotland and Wales.

With 392 eligible charities currently registered to apply to the scheme, the competition for the funding in Round 5 is expected to be strong and the Energy Redress Team are prepared for a record number of applications.