Deadline: 28-Feb-23
The Spirit of Lanarkshire Wind Energy Co-operative (SOLWEC) is inviting applications for Community Fund to support communities in the vicinity of West Browncastle and Nutberry wind farms to pursue projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions or improve the environment and benefit the people who live in the immediate vicinity of the windfarms.
The SOLWEC Board allocate a proportion of profits every year towards a Community Fund. They have expanded this fund to include funding organisations to carry out energy audits for community buildings and feasibility studies particularly for ideas which link to the aims of the fund.
Funding Information
- Up to £100,000 is available for this fund, of which £50,000 will be targeted at energy audits for community buildings and feasibility studies particularly for ideas which link to the aims of the fund.
Eligibility Criteria
- The fund is available to constituted groups in South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire within a 10 mile radius of the two Wind Farms.
- Groups must have an up-to-date Constitution or Governance Document.
- Applicants must have a Bank, Building Society or Credit Union Account in the name of the organisation.
- Any grant received must be spent within one year of award.
- Groups will not be eligible to make application for another grant from the fund until all monitoring and evaluation reports have been completed.
They will not fund the following:
- The repayment of loans or payment of debts.
- Payments towards areas generally understood to be the responsibility of statutory authorities including schools. i.e projects that take place in school, during school hours and/or only for the benefit of the pupils will not be considered. PTAs/Parent Councils can apply if appropriately constituted but must provide evidence that the project has genuine wider community benefit.
- Groups who will then distribute the funds as grants, prizes or bursaries.
- General fundraising appeals or activities.
- The SOLWEC Community Fund is not able to support year on year revenue funding for projects.
- The purchase of food, alcohol, tobacco or drugs. There is no restriction on having food, alcohol or tobacco at funded events, but the grant should not be used to purchase them. However, their Warm Welcome support scheme can provide funding towards the cost of hot food and drink at Warm Welcome venues.
- Promotion of religious or political views.
- Projects where the main beneficiaries reside outwith 10 miles of the SOLWEC windfarms even if the organisation’s address is within those areas.
- Activities which are critical of renewable energy.
- Costs which have already been incurred at the time of application.
- Activities which might bring Spirit of Lanarkshire Wind Energy Co-operative into disrepute.
- Activities which could be funded by the existing unrestricted reserves of an organisation unless there is an explanation for this.
For more information, visit SOLWEC.
