A new Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme (BEVS) will be launched later this year. In addition, Defra will be reopening the existing Badger Vaccination Fund for applications in 2014.

BEVS is likely to include longer term match funding and an enhanced training offer. In order to take forward the Government policy that any licensed badger vaccination projects should be coordinated and delivered privately, and deployed strategically, eligibility criteria will be attached to the funding and support offer. This will include a requirement that projects will only be eligible for funding if they are within the Edge Area. A small number of supporting criteria are likely to include, for example, an undertaking to vaccinate across a minimum area and to vaccinate every year for a minimum number of years.

Defra is working with stakeholder groups to design the detail of the new scheme so that it gives the best opportunity for jointly funded, privately-led projects to make an effective contribution to combatting TB in cattle.
As the 2014 open season is now underway, the Government appreciates the organisational and logistical challenge that the timing of the launch of the new scheme presents to groups wishing to vaccinate in 2014. The Government will do all it reasonably can to support groups in making bids for funds to start vaccination in new areas in 2014 under the new scheme after its launch. In addition, the existing Badger Vaccination Fund will also be opened for a further and final year with a reduced set of eligibility criteria. These are set out below.

How to apply

To apply for the existing Badger Vaccination Fund for 2014, schemes must involve two or more adjacent cattle farms in the Edge Area comprising the counties of Hampshire, East Sussex, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire. Defra will also take into account the applicant’s progress on securing a Natural England vaccination licence, the cost of the scheme per km2 and measures taken to secure best value for money in their vaccination scheme.

Successful applicants will be awarded up to 50 per cent of their first year’s eligible vaccination costs. This means the scheme is open only to new vaccination projects.

You do not need to have obtained a licence to trap and vaccinate badgers to apply for a grant, but payment of the grant is contingent on the work being completed within the 2014 vaccination season which runs to the end of November.

Any vaccination project awarded funding for 2014 under the existing Badger Vaccination Fund will be able to apply for any additional support that may be available under the new scheme once it has launched but will need to demonstrate it can meet the new scheme criteria.

For more information, including on eligible vaccination costs, please email tbadmin@defra.gsi.gov.uk for an application pack for the Badger Vaccination Fund; these should be returned no later than 19/08/2014. Applications received after that will not be accepted. We aim to let successful applicants know about their awards by w/c 12/09/2014.

As in previous years, this scheme is supporting staff and volunteers from voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations who undertake vaccination training; and trained VCS lay vaccinators working in the field under their annual certificate of competence.

The new scheme will be launched in due course. This will be announced in a further Information Note that will be put on the GOV.UK site, and sent directly to key stakeholder groups. If your organisation would like to receive this information, please email tbadmin@defra.gsi.gov.uk to provide your contact details.