Discover Funding Opportunities

RWE Lochelbank Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The RWE Lochelbank Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Glenfarg or Earn Community Council areas in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. This Fund is provided by RWE, the owner of Lochelbank Wind Farm in Perthshire. The Fund opened in 2011, with an annual contribution of £20,000 rising with inflation, expected to be approximately £33,000 in 2026. The Fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may support a wide range of costs including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and more. Grants in excess of the maximum and multi-year requests (up to 3 years) can be considered in exceptional circumstances with strong community support and significant impact potential.

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.

River Avich Hydro Education & Training Fund

This fund provides bursaries for individuals living in Inverinan, Lochavich, Dalavich, or Kilmaha seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. Awards can support participation in a range of courses, from short non-certificated courses to post-graduate degrees. Started in 2021, the fund is being provided by Awesome Energy Dalriada (AED), owner and operator of the River Avich Hydro-power Scheme. AED is a community benefit society set up and run by the local community to develop and operate the hydro scheme. Bursaries are available for individuals seeking to improve their employability prospects or develop a new career. The fund aims to support local residents in gaining the skills and confidence required to enter or retain employment in sectors including management of natural resources, STEMD, construction, tourism, hospitality, food and drink, rural development, health and social care, education, creative industries, and other sectors generating benefits for the local community. Bursaries can support a wide range of courses, full or part-time, including driving lessons/tests, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, NC, HNC, HND, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate qualifications (but not PhDs), and short vocational courses. Bursaries can cover travel, subsistence, childcare, driving lessons and tests, study aids, technical aids/equipment, course fees not already being paid for from elsewhere, and accommodation costs.

Plains Community Fund

The Plains Community Fund is a long-term funding initiative for the Plains community in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, established through the Greengairs East wind farm. The fund is expected to operate for approximately 30 years, with over £30,000 available for distribution each year. Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are available to support charitable activities that contribute to improved physical and mental health, reduced isolation or loneliness, increased access to education and employment, improvements to the local environment, or reduced food or fuel poverty. The fund supports community groups and organizations working to benefit people in Plains, with grants available for a wide range of costs including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Decisions are made by a Community Panel of local residents twice per year.

Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Kinglassie)

The Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Kinglassie) supports community projects benefitting those living in the Kinglassie Community Council area. The fund is provided by Westfield Wind Farm Limited (WWFL), the owner and operator of the Westfield Wind Farm in Fife. The fund opened in 2014, with an annual amount of £20,000, rising with inflation, paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may support a wide range of costs, including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Grant requests range from £500 to £4,000, though funding requests in excess of the maximum and over multiple years (up to 3) can be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applications demonstrating strong community support and significant impact potential are particularly welcomed, especially those supporting priorities in the Kinglassie Community Action Plan. Decisions are made by a Community Panel of up to nine members who live, work, or volunteer in the area.

Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Cardenden)

The Nadara Westfield Wind Farm Community Fund (Cardenden) supports community projects benefiting residents of the Cardenden Community Council area in Fife, Scotland. This charitable fund is provided by Westfield Wind Farm Limited (WWFL), a subsidiary of Nadara, and was opened in 2014. An annual amount of £9,375, inflation-adjusted, is paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, which is expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grant requests to support a wide range of costs and activities will be considered including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional workers, consultations and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Applications for projects that contribute to the aims of the Cardenden Community Action Plan are particularly welcome. The fund is overseen by a panel of residents and community councillors who help promote the fund locally and advise on grant awards.

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.

Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Community Fund

The Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in the Thornton Community Council area in Fife, Scotland. The fund began in 2017 and is provided by Middle Balbeggie Wind Limited, managed by Netro Energy on behalf of Alpha Real Capital. An annual amount of £19,200, inflation-adjusted, will be paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, which is expected to be 25 years. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may support a wide range of costs, including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and more. Applications are particularly welcome from projects which align with the priorities identified in Thornton's Local Place Plan. Grants in excess of £10,000 can be considered in exceptional circumstances where applications demonstrate strong local support and significant impact potential. Multi-year funding requests for periods of up to 3 years will be considered. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

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.