Minnygap Community Fund

Area:

• Dumfries and Galloway

Key dates:

• Application deadline: 13/05/22
• Panel meeting: 11/07/22
• Application deadline: 11/11/22
• Panel meeting: 09/01/23

About this fund:

The Minnygap Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living within the Johnstone, Templand and Kirkpatrick Juxta community council areas. This includes the villages of Johnstonebridge, Templand and Beattock.

The fund is provided by Minnygap Energy Ltd, owner of the Minnygap Wind Farm, and the Johnstonebridge Community Centre & Development Trust (JCCDT). The fund opened in 2018. An annual amount of £50,000, rising in line with inflation, will be paid into the fund for the operating life of the wind farm.

Grant Size:

• Small grants between £1 - £500
• Standard grants between £501 - £10,000

Purpose of this fund:

The fund will provide grants to support charitable activities that:

• Enhance the quality of life for local residents
• Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities
• Promote community spirit and encourage community activity
• Support sustainable community assets, including capital assets (like land and buildings), community enterprises, local exchange systems, people’s skills and abilities, culture and the local environment
• Provide a safe and pleasant place to live
• Help people into work
• Improve local transport.

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.

Additional criteria:

• Leverage or match funding: That the applicant is seeking to secure match funding for the project (from local fundraising activity or other sources) and/or can demonstrate what other funding may be secured as a result of implementing this particular project.
• Local procurement: That local suppliers of goods and services will be used, where appropriate (e.g., in terms of quality of products/services available) and feasible (in terms of availability and cost). The definition of ‘local’ will vary depending on the goods/services in question. In some cases, it could be taken to mean within the Area of Benefit but in others Dumfries and Galloway or the South of Scotland might be most appropriate.
• Sustainability: That organisations can demonstrate their intention for the project to become sustainable in the future without the need to rely on grant funding.
• Building capacity locally: That the applicant has considered whether the project provides opportunities to build the skills and knowledge of group members or other local people connected with the project. This could be through formal or informal learning activity, e.g. through some form of mentoring activity, peer support or buddying scheme and/or any other learning opportunity that could be created through the project.
• Partnership working: Where appropriate, that the applicant has considered whether delivering their project in partnership with other organisations / groups will add value (financial, capability, or other). This could involve working with voluntary, private or public sector bodies that operate at local, regional or national level.

Who can apply?

Individuals and unconstituted groups may apply for a small grant, but must have a sponsoring organisation, which will receive the grant and make payments on behalf of the individual or unconstituted group. This may be a Community Council. Individuals may apply for no more than £250. All projects must be charitable and be able to demonstrate community benefit.

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in any of the eligible communities can apply for small and standard grants. Your group/organisation must meet our standard eligibility criteria. You don’t 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.
• 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