Denny and District Community Fund

About this fund

The Denny & District Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Denny & District Community Council area in Falkirk local authority.  

The Fund is provided by:

• Nadara, which owns Earlsburn Wind Energy Limited (Earlsburn Wind Farm) and Kingsburn Wind Energy Limited (Kingsburn Wind Farm);
• Netro Energy, which owns Falkirk Todhill Wind Ltd (Todhill Wind Farm).  

An annual amount of £66,000, inflation-adjusted, will be paid into the fund each year for the wind farms' operating life.

Grant size: £500 - £10,000

If you can demonstrate why you need a grant of over £10,000 and there's significant community support for the project you propose, then the panel may consider your request. If you think this applies to your project, please do contact the Community Funds Adviser for an initial discussion. Please do not complete an application form for this level of funding without speaking with us first.

Purpose of this fund

The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that:

• Enhance quality of life for local residents.
• Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities.
• Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.

Grants may support a wide range of costs, for example the costs of equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities, and so on. This fund is available to support a range of groups and organisations and can help local facilities, services, and activities to thrive, providing opportunities for local people after what has been a very difficult two years. 

Additional criteria

Applications are particularly welcome from established groups that are looking to develop or enhance the service they provide, or new groups providing new opportunities that will address one of the three priorities listed above.

Applicants are also encouraged to reflect one or more of the following cross-cutting issues appropriately and proportionately relative to their project.  They may not all be relevant, but where they can be integrated into project planning/activity the application will likely be considered more favourably because the impact of the award will be enhanced.

• Green alternatives: The fund would like applicants to explore green alternatives where possible, for example, a greener alternative to a gas boiler.
• Partnership working:  Groups are encouraged to consider how the project can be delivered in conjunction with other organisations/groups that may add value to it (financial, capability, or other).  This could involve working with voluntary, private or public sector bodies that operate at local, regional or national levels.
• Building capacity locally: The fund is keen to support projects that will build the skills and knowledge of group members or other local people connected with the project.  This could be formal or informal, such as through some form of mentoring activity, peer support or buddying scheme and/or any other learning opportunity that could be created through the project.
• Local procurement: The fund welcomes applications that seek to maximise the benefit to the local community so if projects need to purchase resources, equipment or expertise, do provide evidence that you are looking locally and seeking to enlist or contract work to local suppliers if it is available and affordable.
• Reducing carbon footprint: The fund wants groups to consider how they will reduce any carbon footprint associated with the project.
• Timescales: Projects must usually be completed within 12 months. Please note however that multi-year grants (grants stretching over a period of years) can be considered. Please contact the Community Funds Adviser if you have a multi-year project you would like to discuss. Contact details can be found below. Since projects cannot be funded retrospectively, please ensure that your application is for a project that only commences after decisions on awards are made

Who can apply?

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in Denny and District can apply. You don’t need to be a registered charity to apply, but your group/organisation must meet our standard eligibility criteria.  

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

What can’t be funded?

Information on what the fund cannot support is provided here.  

Additionally, the fund cannot support:

• Anti-wind farm or anti-renewable energy activities, including activities contrary to the interests of the companies contributing to the fund;
• Activities that bring the companies contributing to the fund or Foundation Scotland into disrepute.

How are decisions made?

The decisions are made by Denny Community Fund panel members. The panel is made up of local individuals from the Fund area. We always welcome interest from local people in becoming a panel member, so please do just get in touch if you would like to discuss. 

Minutes of the latest panel meetings are available on request from the Community Funds Adviser. Contact details can be found below.