Supporting Our Local Community

The Airport Community Fund is dedicated to bringing lasting benefit to those areas most affected by the airport’s operations. You can apply for grants of up to £2,000 for items of 'lasting benefit'

Click here to apply for an EMA Community Fund Grant.

EMA Community Fund - Low Carbon Energy Fund

The EMA Community Fund has ring-fenced £150,000 of funding to provide a ‘Low Carbon Energy Fund’ for local community and public buildings such as schools and village halls. The fund will contribute towards solar panels, LED installations, electric charging points, air and ground source heating and similar proven technologies for ‘green energy’. This aligns with both MAG’s ‘Zero Carbon Airports’ agenda and also with wider COP26 targets.

Renewable and low carbon technologies are proven, with the cost having reduced significantly over the last decade. At EMA we have our own on-site wind turbines and supply agreements which mean that all of our electricity is generated from renewable sources. With the cost of energy increasing, particularly over recent months, renewable energy offers not only a chance to reduce emissions but also security over future energy costs.

The Low Carbon Energy Fund is now open for applications from organisations within parishes most local to the airport and identified as being most affected by the airports’ operation.

Please see our 'Low Carbon Energy Fund Guidance document' for more information about which communities are eligible as well as details on how to apply. Only communities outlined within the area circled on the map in the guidance document are eligible to apply.

There is a maximum cap of £10,000 per bid and organisations that are successful in securing a grant will have 12 months to complete their project.

Eligible bids should be for community facilities such as schools, sports facilities and community buildings. Local charities, not-for-profit community groups, parish councils and other statutory bodies within the eligible area can apply using the normal Community Fund Application Form, available here.

The EMA Community Sponsorship fund is a 'small grants fund' to support local charities and community groups with projects and events that provide a benefit to the local community and, without support, might otherwise not be able to take place. Please read the criteria within the EMA Community Sponsorship Form carefully and if you wish to apply, please complete and return this form to us by email at community@eastmidlandsairport.com

Criteria:

• The maximum award is £200, however exceptions will be considered for events and projects within our nearest villages. For larger ‘capital’ projects of lasting benefit please consider applying for an EMA Community Fund Grant of up to £2,000.

• Priority funding allocations will be given to local charities and community groups or organisations. Projects must fall within the airport ‘Area of Benefit’ as set out within the rules of our Community Fund.

• EMA Community Sponsorship must have a direct benefit to the local community

• EMA Community Sponsorship can be used to support a community project or event, but not for salaries or maintenance. EMA Community Sponsorship cannot be given to national charities, for profit organisations or to individuals who are fund-raising.

• Requests for EMA Community Sponsorship will be considered once a month. Applications will only be considered on receipt of completed application form. Funding is at the discretion of the Airport. Successful applicants can apply once a year

The EMA Sound Insulation Scheme (SIGS) is designed to help the people who are affected most by noise from aircraft and the airport. The scheme has helped many homeowners close to the airport to improve the sound insulation of their homes.​

The households that the scheme applies to are in a boundary surrounding the airport. Within the boundary, any building​

(or part of a building) which is being used as a domestic dwelling (a home) may be eligible for a grant, as long as it was built​ before January 2002.  ​

For more information about our SIGS scheme please see our Living Near the Airport factsheet and our SIGS Brochure​

The SIGS brochure includes a map which shows the boundary for the scheme and the different zones within it, as well as details of how to find out whether you are eligible, and the contact details of our managing agent.​

Planes cause turbulence in the air that they fly through. This turbulence can continue for some time, and reach the​ground, especially if there is little wind to break it up.  A vortex is a circulating current of air caused by planes. When an aircraft is coming into land, it is common for the vortex to reach the ground. 

The force of the vortex can sometimes damage the roofs of houses under a flight path very close to the airport. Pitched roofs with loose tiles are most at risk of vortex damage.​

Because it is not always possible to identify the aircraft responsible, EMA offer a goodwill policy of inspecting and repairing all vortex damage, as part of our commitment to the local community.  There is only a very small area of Kegworth that is potentially affected by vortexes.​

For more information about vortex strikes please see our Living Near the Airport fact sheet. If you think that a vortex has damaged your property, contact the Community Team as soon as possible by emailing community@eastmidlandsairport.com .  Out of hours, please contact the Airport Duty Manager on 07880 787513.​

Airport Trail:​

We’ve invested in a six mile walking trail, which encircles the airport, providing stunning views of both airport operations and our rural setting. The Airport Trail  features a picnic site and locally produced artwork along the route.​

The East Midlands Aeropark:​

The Aeropark is both an aviation museum and a viewing area where you can study the preserved planes of yesteryear or watch the modern airliners of today taking-off and landing at a growing international passenger and cargo airport. ​

The Aeropark is run by the Aeropark Volunteers Association (AVA) who run the public open days at the Aeropark, as well as restoring and maintaining all the aircraft on display.  The Aeropark has regular opening  hours and is also available for group visits – visit the Aeropark website for more information or email groupvisits@eastmidlandsaeropark.org for more details about school or group visits.​