Discover Funding Opportunities

Tannach and District Wind Farm Trust

The Tannach and District Charitable Wind Farm Trust has been established in partnership between Tannach and District Community Council and Foundation Scotland to manage funds from different companies or donors pledged for the benefit of the Tannach and District community. The Trust receives annual contributions from three wind farms: Wathegar Wind Farm (£30,030 index-linked), Wathegar 2 Wind Farm (£40,590 index-linked), and Bilbster Wind Farm (£4,025.50 index-linked). The Trust's available balance for grantmaking is currently £169,000. The fund supports projects that contribute to nine key outcomes including: creating opportunities for sports and recreation; improving settlement access safety; enhancing community activities and services for all ages; maintaining community life through events and improved amenities; encouraging economic activity; providing vocational skills and experience; promoting natural and cultural heritage; supporting sustainable energy use; and creating tourism opportunities. Applications must demonstrate contribution to at least one outcome with measurable activities and outputs. Applicants must show evidence of local consultation with beneficiaries and other groups, consider partnership working opportunities, demonstrate sustainable development practices including minimizing environmental impact, and use local procurement where appropriate. The fund prioritizes projects that bring clear benefit to residents of the Tannach and District area in Highland, Scotland.

RWE Camster Wind Farm Community Fund

This fund supports charitable activities or services of benefit to those living in the following Community Council areas in Caithness: Latheron, Lybster and Clyth; Watten; and Tannach and District. The fund is provided by RWE, owner of the Camster Wind Farm, and receives at least £150,000 annually (index-linked) for the Wind Farm lifetime, expected to be 25 years. The annual donation is split equally between the three Community Council areas. The fund supports projects that contribute to outcomes including increased sports and recreational opportunities, safer access through settlements, varied activities for all ages, enhanced community life, economic activity encouragement, vocational skills development, promotion of natural and cultural heritage, sustainable energy use, and tourism development. Applications can range from salaries and core costs to capital projects and feasibility studies. Constituted not-for-profit groups or organisations working to benefit people in these areas may apply. Applicants should demonstrate local consultation, consider partnership working where appropriate, and prioritize local procurement. Recommendations on grant awards are made by a Panel of people who live in the fund area, comprising up to 12 people with four representatives from each of the three Community Council areas.

RWE Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Community Fund (Halkirk District)

This fund supports charitable activities or services that benefit people living in the Community Council area of Halkirk District in Caithness. The fund is provided by RWE, owner of the Bad á Cheò Wind Farm, and receives at least £44,616 annually (index-linked) for the life of the Wind Farm, expected to be 25 years. Constituted not-for-profit groups or organisations working to benefit people in the area may apply for grants up to £10,000. The fund focuses on five key outcomes: developing services and facilities; sustaining and creating employment; increasing skills and knowledge; preserving and enhancing or giving better access to culture, heritage and the environment; and getting around and getting connected. Applications must demonstrate how they will contribute towards one or more of these outcomes with measurable activities and outputs. The fund emphasizes local consultation, partnership working, sustainable development, and local procurement. A Panel of local residents makes recommendations on grant awards, meeting four times per year to consider applications. Applications from groups based outside the fund area will be considered on a case-by-case basis if they demonstrate clear benefit for residents within the fund area.

Nadara Gordonstown Wind Farm Community Fund (Fyvie & Rothienorman)

This fund supports charitable projects that benefit people living in the Fyvie and Rothienorman sub-divisions of the Fyvie, Rothienorman and Monquitter Community Council area in Aberdeenshire. The fund was established in 2013 and will be available for the operating life of the wind farm, expected to be 25 years. The fund supports charitable activity that will sustain and develop the life of the community and ensure that the area is an attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit by making grants to support the costs of relevant projects, services, and facilities. Applications are expected to demonstrate how they contribute to the objectives set out in either the Fyvie or Rothienorman Place Standard reports or Community Action Plans. The minimum grant available from this fund is £501, with no fixed maximum amount. The fund makes awards twice yearly, in May/June and October/November. Groups, businesses and organisations working to benefit people living in Fyvie or Rothienorman can apply, including private businesses where the project provides significant public benefit and fits with the charitable aims of the fund.

Nadara Gordonstown Wind Farm Community Fund (Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford)

This fund supports charitable projects that benefit people living in the Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford Community Council area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is part of the Gordonstown Wind Farm Community Fund provided by Nadara, the owner of the Gordonstown Hill Wind Farm. The fund was established in 2013 and will be available for the operating life of the wind farm, expected to be 25 years, with an annual contribution of approximately £24,000. The fund supports charitable activity that will sustain and develop the life of the community and ensure that the area is an attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit. Applications should demonstrate how they fit with the objectives of the Auchterless, Inverkeithny & Fisherford Community Action Plan 2015. The Panel has indicated a preference for awards made for the purchase of capital items or towards the costs of capital projects, rather than for revenue items such as travel costs or the subsidising of activities, so that the fund will have a long-term impact. The fund prioritizes applications that explore other funding sources, use local procurement where appropriate, consider sustainable development and environmental impact, demonstrate local consultation with beneficiaries, and consider partnership working with other organizations. Groups, businesses and organisations working to benefit people living in the three communities can apply, and there are no set application deadlines - eligible groups can apply at any time.

Nadara A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund

The A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in the West Loch Fyne, Dunadd and Lochgilphead community council areas in Argyll & Bute, Scotland. The fund is provided by Nadara, the developer and owner of the A'Chruach Wind Farm. An annual amount of £149,000, inflation-adjusted, is paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, expected to be 25 years. The fund began in 2016 and supports positive change by investing in community-led activity that is strategic, positive and creative, helping create a legacy of lasting impact. The fund makes grants to support the costs of relevant projects, services and facilities across a wide range of community priorities. The fund offers two types of grants: a Main grants programme (small grants £500-£5,000; medium grants £5,001-£25,000; large grants over £25,000) and a Multi-year Flexible Funding programme (£2,000-£10,000 per year for up to three years). The fund's priorities were informed by community action planning and include advancing rural regeneration, enhancing infrastructure, establishing and improving community services, developing community facilities, enhancing leisure and tourism opportunities, and capacity building for community organisations. Applications are assessed by a Community Panel made up of local residents, community councillors and people who work or volunteer in the communities. The fund particularly encourages projects that demonstrate additional funding from other sources, use local procurement, build capacity through skills development, and involve partnership working. Multi-year flexible funding is available for organizations that demonstrate reach across multiple community groups, commitment to continuous improvement, and potential for long-term sustainability. Micro grants of £250-£500 are also available through local community councils for smaller community initiatives.

Minnygap Community Fund

The Minnygap Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living within the Johnstone, Templand, and Kirkpatrick Juxta community council areas, including the villages of Johnstonebridge, Templand, and Beattock in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The fund is provided by Minnygap Energy Ltd, owner of the Minnygap Wind Farm, and the Johnstonebridge Community Centre & Development Trust (JCCDT). Since opening in 2018, the fund provides £50,000 annually, rising with inflation, for the operating life of the wind farm. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant and sustainable communities, promote community spirit, support sustainable community assets including capital assets and community enterprises, provide safe places to live, help people into work, and improve local transport. Grant requests for equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities are considered. Grants are available in three tiers: small grants (£1-£600), standard grants (£601-£5,000), and large grants (£5,001-£12,000). Standard and large grants may be multi-year in nature, up to £12,000 per year over three years. A community panel of local residents makes recommendations on grant awards, meeting twice a year in January and July. The fund prioritizes applications that demonstrate match funding, use local procurement, show sustainability plans, build local capacity, and involve partnership working.

Lairg Wind Farm Community Fund

This fund supports charitable activities of benefit to those living within the Lairg Community Council area. The fund is provided by Lairg Wind Farm Ltd, the operator of the three-turbine wind farm at Cnoc Na Inghinnin. Starting in August 2012, it receives at least £22,000 annually (index-linked) for the wind farm's life, expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance the quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful, and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may be requested to support a wide range of costs and activities, such as equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional workers costs, consultations, maintenance, or refurbishment of community facilities. Awards will be prioritised that can demonstrate significant added value through leveraging additional funding from other sources, working in partnership with other groups and organisations to scale up projects and increase opportunities, and projects that have reach beyond one particular group or demographic that have potential to benefit the whole community. Though the upper limit for awards is stated as £5,000, awards above £5,000 can be considered in exceptional circumstances. Grant applications are considered at monthly meetings of Lairg Community Council. Applications must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of a Community Council meeting to be considered at that meeting. The Community Council currently meets on the first Wednesday of each month, excluding December.