Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund

About this fund

The Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Coalburn Community Council area and Douglas Community Council area (incorporating Glespin and surrounding areas). The fund is a vehicle through which two different funds are administered, provided by:

• Ventient Energy Ltd, the owner and operator of the Galawhistle Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire (opened in 2017).
• Greencoat UK Wind, the owner of the Douglas West Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire (opened in late 2021).

An annual amount of £225,000, index-linked, will be paid into the fund each year for the operating life of these wind farms. From this, annual grants of £15,000 each will be provided from the fund to both the Douglas St Bride's Community Group and the Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society, subject to annual reporting, with the remainder available for other distribution.

Grant size available: £500- £20,000. See below for exceptions.

Purpose of this fund

The fund will support positive change by investing in a wide range of inspirational, community-led activity that is strategic, positive and creative and helps deliver a legacy of lasting impact. It will do this by making grants to support the costs of relevant projects, services and facilities. The key themes and priorities of the fund will be regularly reviewed, so please re-visit this fund page when considering an application.

Applications are currently expected to address one or more of the following outcomes:

• Help people into work
• Improve local transport
• Improve quality of life, health and well-being
• Build capacity for local groups and individuals
• Build sustainable community assets, including capital assets (e.g. land and buildings), community enterprises, local exchange systems, people’s skills and abilities, culture and the local environment.

Additional criteria

Grant requests over £20,000 will be considered in exceptional circumstances and if they provide genuine wider community benefit. Multi-year grants may be paid for projects lasting up to three years. If you wish to apply for more than £20,000 please contact the Fund Coordinator (see below) to discuss your proposed project before completing the application.

Applicants are also encouraged to consider the following cross-cutting themes when preparing applications:

• Matched funding: Grants can cover 100% of project costs but applicants are encouraged to seek other sources of funding for part of the cost. In particular, larger applications will, ideally, demonstrate that a percentage of the total project cost will be sourced from the group’s own fundraising efforts or other grants.
• Financial sustainability: For longer-term projects, the ability to demonstrate financial sustainability beyond the life of the grant – without reliance on continuous grant funding – is favoured.
• Local procurement: Local suppliers are favoured for the provision of goods and services. The term ‘local’ will vary depending on the nature and availability of the goods or service in question. It could refer to the Coalburn, Douglas and Glespin areas, South Lanarkshire or west central Scotland as appropriate.
• Capacity building: Applicants are encouraged to consider how the project will provide opportunities to build the skills and knowledge of group members or other local people. This may be a key aim of the project or an indirect benefit arising from the project.
• Partnership working: Applicants are encouraged to consider collaboration with other appropriate organisations on the delivery of their project.

Who can apply?

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin and surrounding areas can apply. You don’t need to be registered charity to apply but your organisation must meet our standard eligibility criteria.

Groups delivering projects or activities located outwith Coalburn, Douglas or Glespin may apply as long as the project or activity for which they are seeking funding will bring some benefit to residents of those areas. Applicants will need to state what proportion of the overall beneficiaries live in those areas.

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