Deadline: 06-Nov-2025
The Long Mountain Community Benefit Fund offers a chance for local organisations near the Long Mountain wind farm to secure support for projects that benefit their communities.
The fund will support projects that address a range of vital community concerns. These include initiatives that foster cross-community relations and strengthen social cohesion, as well as projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and enhancing the sustainability of local community facilities. It also welcomes efforts that provide social, cultural, or sporting benefits for local residents, alongside educational programmes that incorporate elements of sustainability. In addition, projects offering environmental or economic benefits to the community will be considered for support.
This fund has been established by Energia Renewables in partnership with local groups around the Long Mountain Wind Farm (Glenbuck Road, Dunloy) to ensure that while the wind farm delivers environmental advantages, it also brings tangible social and economic benefits to nearby communities.
To be eligible, applicant organisations must operate within a 5‑mile straight‑line radius of the wind farm site entrance (coordinates: 54.97242, –6.43305). The fund is administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.
Grants of up to £3,000 are available. Projects supported must fall under one or more of the theme areas: developing cross community relations; energy efficiency and sustainability of local community facilities; social, cultural or sporting benefit; educational issues with a sustainability angle; environmental benefit or economic benefit.
Eligible applicants include constituted voluntary organisations, community groups, and local youth groups. Examples of possible supported projects include local cultural initiatives, establishing “Men’s Shed” style ventures, small capital improvements to community facilities, contributions to core operational costs, environmental awareness efforts, activities supporting youth, elderly or persons with disabilities, community‑wide events, or strategic multi‑community partnership projects with a focus on enhancing community relations.
The fund will not support organisations or activities that promote armaments, alcohol, human rights abuses, tobacco, pornography, or those whose purpose is the advancement of religion. It will also not fund endowments for further education, assistance to housing associations, religious or political activities (including related flags or emblems), CICs without proper structure, individuals, statutory organisations, salaried posts not directly tied to a new project, funding for trips abroad or vehicles, duplication of existing services, retrospective funding, or substitution for statutory funding.
Applicants must be not‑for‑profit, voluntary or community groups in Northern Ireland, have an active management committee with at least two unrelated cheque signatories, possess a governing document (constitution) in the group’s name, maintain a current bank account in the organisation’s name, present up‑to‑date annual accounts, and comply with conditions of prior grants including submission of monitoring returns.
For more information, visit The Community Foundation Northern Ireland.