Cellnex, Europe’s leading operator of telecommunications infrastructure, has launched the Cellnex UK Community Fund, a new grant programme that will invest directly in the communities where its digital infrastructure operates across the UK.
Grants are available across four themes: digital inclusion and skills, the circular economy, biodiversity and conservation, and AI and education. These reflect Cellnex’s ESG commitments and the priorities that matter most to the communities we operate in.
Who can apply
Applications are open to formally constituted organisations that can enter into a grant agreement, including registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee, and other not-for-profit organisations with a governing document and a UK bank account. Unregistered community groups are welcome to apply provided they are supported by a constituted organisation acting as an accountable body.
Projects must deliver their primary benefit in a local authority area where Cellnex UK operates digital infrastructure. Organisations based outside an eligible area may still apply provided the funded activity takes place within one.
What grants can cover
Grants can be used to cover the practical costs of delivering a project, including materials and equipment, venue hire directly related to project activities, volunteer expenses including travel, training and DBS checks, and a reasonable contribution to administrative costs. Grants cannot be used to cover staff salaries, general organisational running costs, retrospective funding or debt repayment.
How to apply
Funding decisions are made by an impartial employee-led board drawn from across the Cellnex UK business. Applications are assessed on two factors: geographic alignment with Cellnex UK infrastructure and the scale of direct community benefit expected. Every recipient is required to submit an impact report at the end of their project as a condition of funding.
What size grants are available?
The fund will award grants of up to £5,000 to individual organisations in its first year, representing a total investment of £180,000. Every grant is tied to a local authority area where Cellnex infrastructure is located, ensuring that the communities that host the company’s sites are the direct beneficiaries of its investment.