EDF Renewables Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

Area:

• Moray

About this fund:

Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund is provided by EDF Renewables, the majority owner of Dorenell Windfarm Limited. The fund supports charitable activities that benefit residents living in the areas served by the following community associations:

• Cabrach Community Association
• Dufftown and District Community Association
• Glenlivet & Inveravon Community Association
• Glenrinnes Community Centre

Purpose of this fund:

The fund supports community-led, charitable activities and provides benefit to people living in the fund area. Applications must demonstrate how the proposed project or activity will contribute towards the themes and priorities identified in the Community Development Plan, as follows:

Theme Priorities

1: Community and recreational facilities, groups and activities

• Community halls
• Recreation facilities
• Opportunities and facilities for young people

2: Environment and Heritage

• Walking and cycling networks
• Museum, visitor and heritage centres
• Preservation and enhancement
• Village and town enhancement

3: Local economy and tourism

• Access to ICT
• Tourist accommodation and hospitality
• Tourist attractions, events and promotion
• Training and enterprise
• Partnership work between communities and estates

4: Housing and sustainable development

• Housing initiatives
• ICT
• Low carbon and green initiatives

5: Transport and access to services

• Transport (includes gritting where not covered by the local authority)
• Health and care
• Access to education
• Childcare
• Support for vulnerable children and families

Applications for projects that fall outside the listed priorities but still meet with the strategic themes may be funded, where there is clear evidence of need and community support.

Awards can support both revenue and capital costs and a wide range of activities, including equipment costs, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations and feasibility studies, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and so on.

Additional criteria:

Applicants should also show how they meet or have considered the following cross-cutting themes in a way that is relevant to the proposed project or activities. Where there is competition for funding, priority may be given to projects that can demonstrate the impact they will make in these areas:

• Local procurement: Local suppliers of goods and services will be used, where appropriate and feasible. (Note: information on the number of competitive quotations required to accompany applications is provided in the application form).
• Partnership working: The applicant has considered whether delivering their project in collaboration with other groups or organisations can bring about greater impact.
• Building capacity locally: The applicant has considered whether the project provides opportunities to build the skills and knowledge of group members or other local people or groups connected with the project.
• Sustainability: Where the project or activity is recurring in nature, for example, an annual event, that the applicant can demonstrate their intention for the activity to become sustainable at some point in the future without the need to rely on grant funding in the longer term. Where the main purpose of the project is to develop an enterprise (whether a not-for-profit or private enterprise), its commercial viability will be a key consideration and should be demonstrated through a robust and realistic business plan.
• Leverage or match funding: That the applicant has secured or is seeking to secure match funding for the project (e.g. from local fundraising activity, other grants, or crowdfunding) and/or that the applicant can demonstrate what other funding may be secured as a result of implementing the project.
• Creating a lasting legacy: projects that are likely to benefit beyond the life of the Dorenell Wind Farm (expected to be 25 years) are particularly encouraged.

Who can apply?

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in the fund area can apply for a grant. Your group or organisation must have a constitution (governing document or set of rules) and be set up on a not-for-profit basis. It does not need to be a registered charity to apply. All groups/organisations must meet our standard eligibility criteria.

Applications from groups/organisations located out with the fund area will be considered on a case-by-case basis. They must demonstrate a clear benefit for residents within the fund area. The fund will not support organisations or groups with unduly restrictive membership criteria.

Statutory authorities may apply for funding towards non-statutory projects or services where this will add value to an existing or planned provision in the fund area. There must be evidence of matched funding from the statutory authority and close partnership working with local community organisations or groups.

Applications from private businesses will be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for funding toward projects benefitting the wider community. Such applications must be for discrete projects that are charitable in purpose (i.e. not for regular running costs), that the business is unable to finance itself, and where any private gain is incidental and clearly outweighed by public benefit. Where appropriate, private businesses should seek to work in partnership with local groups and should seek to provide match funding