Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Education & Training Fund

Area:

• Fife Key dates

Deadline: Apply at any time

About this fund:

The Middle Balbeggie Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (MBET Fund) supports residents living in the Thornton Community Council area who wish to engage in study or training. The fund is provided by Middle Balbeggie Wind Limited, the wind farm operator at Middle Balbeggie.

The fund opened in 2017 and provides up to £12,000 annually to support local people aged 16 and over to engage with vocational education and training opportunities. The annual amount available to the fund will be reviewed periodically but could continue for the wind farm's operating lifetime, which is expected to be 25 years.

Purpose of this fund:

The MBET Fund provides grants to help local people with vocational education and training opportunities to increase their skills and enable access to a wider range of employment opportunities. Funding can be used to cover part or all of the course fee, travel costs, essential equipment such as books or IT equipment, childcare and subsistence.

Additional criteria:

There is no restriction on the sector or subject chosen. The important thing is that you are committed to completing the study and showing how it will help you realise your employment ambitions.

Preference is given to requests for courses and training provided in Fife, but this does not exclude consideration of other proposals.

Who can apply?

Applications are welcome from anyone who is:

Aged 16 and over A resident in Thornton On (or applying for) a further education or training course to develop skills and employability.

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 - 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