Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

Area:

• Scottish Borders

About this fund:

The Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in the areas of Ettrick & Yarrow, Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk & Midlem, Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water, Hawick and Denholm & District.

The fund is provided by Greencoat UK Wind, the owners of the Langhope Rig Wind Farm located near Hawick in the Scottish Borders. It opened in 2014. An annual amount of £80,000, rising in line with inflation, will be paid into the fund for the operating life of the wind farm. In 2020, the annual contribution to the fund was just over £98,000.

The fund comprises of two sub-funds.

• Sub-fund A operates as a single, joint fund which supports groups and organisations delivering projects and services across the three community council areas of Ettrick Yarrow, Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk Midlem, Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water. Grant Size:From £1,000 - £20,000
• Sub-fund B includes the above three community council areas and also Hawick and Denholm & District. Each of the five community councils is responsible for fund distribution locally within their own community council area. Please contact the individual community councils for further information.

Purpose of this fund:

The fund will provide grants to support charitable activities that:

• Encourage community activity and promote community spirit
• Ensure adequate access to services for all community members
• Build the local economy
• Build community capacity and cohesion between groups
• Develop or maintain community assets.

Grant requests to support a wide range of costs and activities will be considered, such as equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities etc. For revenue projects, there is no guarantee of ongoing support. The fund encourages groups to be working towards being self-sustaining where possible.

Additional criteria:

Applications for grants of over £20,000 can be considered where an application is for a strategic project. This means a project that would be delivered over more than one year, or a collaborative project that brings benefits to people across all three community council areas. Those wishing to apply for more than £20,000 are advised to call the fund administrator (contact details below) to discuss their application in the first instance

Who can apply?

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in any of the eligible communities can apply. Your group/organisation must meet our standard eligibility criteria. You do not need to be registered charity to apply.

Applications from groups/organisations located out with the fund area will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must demonstrate clear benefit for residents within the fund area.

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