FCC Communities Foundation re-named to offer worthy community projects a much needed source of funding
Today marks the launch of FCC Communities Foundation, a not for profit Environmental Body seeking to fund good quality, exciting grass roots community projects across England and Scotland, through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.
The newly re-named business seeks to build on the success of its predecessor, WREN, whilst continuing to strengthen its links to FCC Environment, the waste and resource management company that generates the funding that FCC Communities Foundation manages and distributes.
FCC Communities Foundation is a non-profit company limited by guarantee registered to fund projects which are eligible under the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. FCC Communities Foundation receives its funding from the landfill tax levied by FCC Environment, the donor landfill operator, following the introduction of the Landfill Tax which was introduced on 1 October 1996.
Landfill Tax was the country’s first tax with an explicit environmental purpose. The tax is collected from landfill site operators and it is designed to push waste up the waste hierarchy into more resource efficient uses such as recycling. A proportion of the tax can be diverted in to the Landfill Communities Fund, where it is set aside to fund projects located within a 10-mile radius of active landfill sites.
Since its inception in 1997, the newly named FCC Communities Foundation has awarded over £250 million to projects as diverse as The National Centre for Writing based at Dragon Hall in Norwich, the redevelopment of Aberdeen Art Gallery and the War Horse project at Featherstone near Wakefield which saw the installation of a sculpture as a memorial to the 353 servicemen from the town who lost their lives in WW1.
Gary Allen, Chairman of FCC Communities Foundation said, “The launch of the rebranded business is an important step forward and is the final phase of an extensive programme of restructuring. It positions the company more directly in line with FCC Environment, who we manage and distribute funding on behalf of through the Landfill Communities Fund, something which can only be positive for both our businesses.”
Julie Fourcade, Head of External Affairs for FCC Environment said, “As one of the UK’s leading waste and resource businesses, we seek to maximise the value of the material that we collect recycling as much as we can. But it is a reality that for some materials, landfill is the only option and so we run a professional landfill business operating under license from the Environment Agency. FCC Communities Foundation allows us to, indirectly, give back to the communities in which we operate by funding worthy projects and demonstrating community value. To have the new company named so as to more closely align to our core business will only be a good thing.”
Simon Settle, General Manager of FCC Communities Foundation added, “Today is an exciting day for everybody involved in the business and is the culmination of two years hard work. I hope that this is the beginning of a closer working relationship with FCC Environment and one that will see many more fantastic community projects awarded funding across England and Scotland over the years ahead.”
FCC Environment is the leading UK waste and resource management company and is part of a global group with a strong heritage in providing services for communities and business.