Annual Review 2017/18 LCF Fact The number of people who benefited from projects funded by Viridor Credits in 2017/2018 was over 2.5 million (according to information provided by project applicants). Carshalton Methodist Church Cover Photographs (Clockwise from top left) Chesterfield Cylinders Bowls Club Hutchinson’s Bank Nature Reserve, Croydon Lady St James Hall, Irlam St Neot Village Hall Sturry Church, Canterbury 2 Viridor Credits Annual Review 2017/18 Contents 4 Annual Review Introduction 5 Chairman’s Introduction 6 General Manager’s Review 7 Financial Information 8 Message from our Donor 32 Scottish Landfill Communities 9 Landfill Communities Fund Fund Introduction Introduction 33 SLCF Funded Projects 2017/18 Completed Projects Completed Projects Community Community 10 Fleet Air Arm Museum, Somerset 34 Hamilton Tennis Club 12 Eastwood Park, Hasland 36 Dunbar Harbour 13 Syke Methodist Church, Rochdale 37 Cairngorn & Lochaber 14 Chestfield Cricket Club, Kent Mountain Rescue Teams Heritage Heritage 16 Killerton House, Devon 38 St Athanasius Church, Carluke 18 St Patrick’s Church, Oldham 40 The Viridor Credits Team 20 St Mary’s Church, Copythorne 42 Thank you Glassford Play Area Biodiversity 22 Rhododendron Wood, Devon 24 Woodhouse Washlands, Sheffield 26 Park Down Nature Reserve, Kent 28 LCF Funded Projects 2017/18 Bovey Valley Woods Viridor Credits Annual Review 2017/18 3 Welcome to the Annual Review 2017/18 Since 2001, funding from Viridor Credits Environmental Company has been benefiting communities all over the UK – from village halls to sports clubs, churches to historic buildings and museums to endangered species and habitats. In total, approximately £132 million has been awarded by Viridor Credits over the past 17 years. Viridor Credits Environmental Company is one of the largest Environmental Bodies in the UK, providing funding opportunities for heritage, biodiversity and community projects in England and Wales. We also provide the same in Scotland through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. Viridor Credits administers funds donated voluntarily to both the Landfill Communities Fund and the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund by Viridor, a company that is working to give the world’s resources, new life. This brochure celebrates some of the achievements of our applicants over the last 12 months. Don’t forget to follow us on social media @ViridorCredits ViridorCredits 4 Viridor Credits Annual Review 2017/18 Waterfoot Community Space Message from our Chairman In 2017-18, the Board continued to see the available to the LCF but based on predicted Peter Renshaw great majority of funds being awarded to reductions in UK landfi ll tonnages, this does community projects in the UK and this has mean the Fund size will reduce in 2018-19. been achieved with just over 70% of available funding allocated to these projects, 22% In Scotland the amount of funding made to heritage and 8% to biodiversity projects. available in 2017-18 increased slightly on previous years. Viridor Credits has been able The ongoing focus from HMRC and therefore to fund a variety of projects totalling over Viridor Credits has been to move those £8.1m and the Board, General Manager funds as quickly and effi ciently as possible to and I were delighted to be able to visit communities where the money makes such some of these projects in June 2017. It is a positive impact on the lives of people living always tremendous to see where the money in the vicinity of landfi ll sites. I am pleased to has been spent and to meet some of the report that our unspent funds have continued passionate community volunteers who to reduce, this year by a further 21%. This has are instrumental in making these all been achieved with a reduction in the projects happen. amount spent on administration, partly due I am happy to report to the new application system launched So, as Chairman and on behalf of the that 2017-18 has been this year, and the continued hard work of Trustees, I continue to be immensely proud another successful year the small team at the offi ce in Taunton. of the achievements of Viridor Credits and the for Viridor Credits and difference the LCF and SLCF have made to The amount of funding from the Landfi ll the lives of many. On behalf of the Board the Landfi ll Communities Communities Fund has continued to I would like to thank the Viridor Credits’ team Fund. In excess of £7m decrease due to the reduction in the amount for all their hard work and achievements has been awarded to 241 of waste being consigned to landfi ll. As new and I look forward to another successful community, heritage and incinerators are being built and brought year in 2018-19. biodiversity projects in online we expect this to be a continuing trend; although as there is obviously a great England, Scotland deal of discussion in Government and the and Wales. media regarding waste and its future disposal, the future is slightly less clear. In the Autumn statement the Chancellor committed HMRC Peter Renshaw to maintaining the amount of tax to be made Chairman Viridor Credits Annual Review 2017/18 5 for those projects in Wales which have General Manager’s Review recently been funded by Viridor Credits. Alison Salvador In Scotland we distribute the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund under I hope you enjoy the latest Annual Review the watchful eye of the Scottish which will give you an insight into some Environmental Protection Agency. of the amazing projects funded by In 2017-18 over £1.8million was Viridor Credits in the last twelve months. allocated by Viridor Credits to I continue to be astonished and hugely 52 projects in Scotland. As the Scottish impressed by the myriad of volunteers Government continues to work towards across the country who work so tirelessly reducing landfill we expect that this to mange, maintain and improve such has now reached its peak. wonderful facilities and open spaces for the ongoing benefit of their local During the year we also have had to community and the country’s heritage maintain focus on our own operation understandable online grant and wildlife. here in Taunton in keeping with the ever application system I’ve met so far.’ reducing size of the Landfill Communities Despite the reduction in budget, our In my first year as General Manager Funds and the need to manage with priority steadfastly remains to ensure of Viridor Credits I am delighted to a reduced administration allowance. Viridor Credits funds the best quality, report that a further 183 projects have Not only do I keep an eye on our own eligible projects. been allocated funds in England and budgets but our ongoing efforts to Wales amounting to just over £5 million. ensure that the money awarded reaches Finally I want to take this opportunity to Responsibility for the collection and the projects and local communities as thank my dedicated and committed administration of Landfill Tax in Wales quickly as possible. This year I am proud team here in the office and the Board of was transferred to the Welsh Government to report that we have achieved a further Trustees for their unstinting and ongoing from 1 April 2018. This affects the Landfill 21% reduction in unspent funds. support. I also offer my thanks to the Communities Fund and means that volunteers up and down the country who we are no longer able to fund in Wales. Our new application and project have served with distinction in our four Having met with the WCVA who are management system for 2017-18, which regional steering groups throughout tasked with overseeing the new Welsh we launched in April 2017, has been the year. Disposals Tax Community Scheme a huge success. It has reduced the I know that they will carry on the good administration of the scheme for my work and keep funding some wonderful team and also our applicants and they community facilities. Obviously we will tell us that they find it a much simpler Alison Salvador maintain our assistance and support process. One described it as the ‘most General Manager 6 Viridor Credits Annual Review 2017/18 Financial Information (England/Wales) In 2017/18, Viridor Credits allocated Over £1,370,000 was allocated to 43 over £5,075,000 from the Landfill projects to repair, preserve or renovate Communities Fund to 183 projects places of historical or architectural in England and Wales. interest or places of worship. More than £3,271,000 was allocated Funding in excess of £433,000 was to 129 projects to create, sustain or allocated to 11 projects to conserve develop a community facility. habitats and native species. Funding Allocated by Regional Group Funding Allocated by Object (England and Wales only) (England and Wales only) Pennon Env Fund Biodiversity 3% VC Board12% Heritage 21% South West Community 32% 28%South East 19% 63% North 26% North Community South East Heritage South West Biodiversity VC Board Sampford Peverell Village Hall Pennon Environmental Fund Viridor Credits Annual Review 2017/18 7 Livability, Holton Lee Message from our Donor Viridor Ltd Viridor is one of the largest recycling and renewable energy companies in the UK. We strive to be a good neighbour in all the communities we serve and we contribute to the richness and variety of local life. Working with our corporate and council customers, we help people to see waste as we do: a valued resource to be transformed and given new purpose, rather than rubbish. available. But, as this report clearly demonstrates, even relatively modest We remain committed to the Landfill amounts can make a real difference. Communities Fund and the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, and to Communities are about people, not Viridor Credits as our delivery partner.