Carrick Futures

About this fund

Carrick Futures is supported by ScottishPower Renewables community benefit funds for Arecleoch and Mark Hill Windfarms in South Ayrshire and receives in the region of £350,000 from ScottishPower Renewables each year. However, amounts available for new awards vary, depending on existing funding commitments.

The fund primarily support projects located within or directly benefiting one or more of the six community council areas of Ballantrae, Colmonell & Lendalfoot, Barr, Barrhill, Pinmore & Pinwherry and Girvan & District. Some funds are also available for projects located within or directly benefiting the wider Carrick area. Priority will be given to applications which also benefit one or more of the main beneficiary communities listed above.

Carrick Futures supports a range of community activity in accordance with its own purposes as laid down in its Articles and Memorandum of Association. It is expected that ScottishPower Renewables will continue to make this annual donation for the operating life time of each wind farm.

The membership of Carrick Futures is up to 60 individuals, with up to 10 nominated by each of the six primary Community Council areas. Those members then elect up to 12 Directors, two from each of the six community council areas.

Purpose of this fund

Carrick Futures can support charitable activities that support the rural regeneration and sustainability of Ballantrae, Colmonell & Lendalfoot, Barr, Barrhill, Pinmore & Pinwherry, Girvan & District and Carrick.

Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities.

The Board has agreed three strategic aims, which it will use to prioritise proposed projects. These are:

• Improving access to services (in particular public transport)
• Enabling a diverse and sustainable population mix (services for young people and older people, but also activities that help create opportunities for families and working age people to live in the area).
• Improving equality of opportunity (including tackling poverty and disadvantage).

Grant requests to support a wide range of costs and activities will be considered, such as equipment, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and capital costs to purchase or develop community assets.

Additional criteria

Two levels of awards are normally available for activities that benefit the local community. The amount and type of information required from applicants differ depending on the size of the application being made:

• Standard grants: £500 - £10,000.
• Large grants: over £10,000.

There is a two-stage application process for large grants. An initial one-page outline proposal is required. The Board will review the proposal and agree on whether to invite a full application to future rounds.

Awards can be multi-year in nature, normally up to a maximum of 3 years. If the total request exceeds £10,000, an initial enquiry should be made using the large grant process.

For awards up to £500, a small grant scheme is also available and administered directly by each of the six main Community Councils. Please contact your Community Council directly for further details.

Who can apply?

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in any of the eligible communities can apply.

We cannot fund the following:

• Non constituted groups.
• Applications from individuals. However, individuals may be able to apply for funding under any micro-grant scheme associated with a fund, or under some education and training funds.
• General fundraising appeals or activities.
• Trips abroad (unless otherwise stated on the fund page).
• Costs already incurred or activities which will take place before we’ve decided on an application, i.e. retrospective funding.
• The repayment of loans or payment of debts.
• The advancement of religion or politics, including requests to support religious or political groups' core activities. However, religious groups may apply for funding for non-religious activity that will benefit the wider community beyond their own specific congregation and is open to all on a non-denominational basis. For example, a church may apply for funding to upgrade a church hall that is regularly used by other community groups.
• Payments towards areas understood to be the exclusive responsibility of statutory authorities. However, we can provide grants to Parent Teacher Associations/Parent Councils if they are appropriately constituted and occasionally to schools where the activity being delivered is additional to the core curriculum/statutory activity.
• Activities that are likely to bring the fund, Foundation Scotland or the donor into disrepute. For example, we can’t fund groups or organisations using hate speech or inciting violence, or those linked to such groups or organisations.
• Activities that conflict with the interests of the funder. For example, where a renewable energy company provides funding, we can’t fund any projects or organisations that are anti-windfarm or anti-renewable energy as such activities are likely to be contrary to the interests of the funder or its subsidiaries.
• For place-based funds, we can’t support projects which don't benefit the people who live within the defined fund area. Projects that benefit people in the fund area plus others outside that area can be supported on a proportionate basis. Applicants to these funds don’t need to be based in the fund area.
• For themed/cause-related funds we can’t support projects which don’t relate to the priorities stated for the fund.
• Costs directly related to the sale of alcohol, including but not limited to the refurbishment of a bar area