River Avich Hydro Open Grants Fund

About this fund

This fund provides grants for charitable projects and activities that primarily benefit residents of Inverinan, Lochavich, Dalavich, or Kilmaha. It’s part of the overall River Avich Hydro Community Benefit Fund.

Started in 2021, the fund is provided by Awesome Energy Dalriada (AED), owner and operator of the River Avich Hydro-power Scheme. AED is a community benefit society set up and run by the local community to develop and operate the hydro scheme.

There is no fixed amount of funding available in any year; the amount available is decided in June each year by local anchor organisation Dalavich Improvement Group and is also dependent on AED’s profitability and other financial commitments. In 2023, the total amount available for distribution via this fund was just under £18,000.

To see the geographical areas the fund covers, please click here to view a map of the River Avich Hydro Community Benefit Fund Area.

Purpose of this fund

The fund supports charitable activity that delivers on the strategic themes and associated priorities set out in the Dalavich Improvement Group Community Action Plan. These themes are listed below; please view the Community Action Plan for details of the priorities. Proposals that fall outside the priorities yet still meet with the themes may be supported, where there is clear evidence of need and community support.

Fund themes:

• Community Centre
• Infrastructure and services
• Communication/ Community spirit
• Local environment
• Tourism and facilities (activities)
• Children and young people
• Employment and opportunity

Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities, including, for example, equipment costs, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations and feasibility studies, and repair or refurbishment of community facilities.

Additional criteria

Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal meets with or consider the following additional criteria appropriately and proportionately relative to their project.

• Local procurement: Local suppliers will be used to provide goods and services to be purchased with the grant, where appropriate (e.g., in terms of quality of products/services available) and feasible (in terms of availability and cost). The meaning of 'local' will depend on the availability of the item or service in question. In some cases, it could mean suppliers located within the fund area, but in others, Mid-Argyll / Oban and Lorn or the West of Scotland may be most appropriate. Applications are required to also meet with Foundation Scotland’s policy on value for money; the preference for local suppliers is simply where requirements set out in that policy have also been met.
• Collaboration: You have considered how delivering your proposed project in collaboration with other organisations or groups could add value (financial, capability, or other). This might involve working with voluntary, private or public sector bodies that operate at local, regional or national levels to deliver the greatest impact.
• Building capacity locally: You have considered opportunities to build the skills and knowledge of local people and/or groups benefiting from, or otherwise connected with, the project. This could be through training, mentoring, coaching or peer learning, or any other learning or development opportunity that could be provided through the project.
• Financial sustainability: if the application is for the costs of a recurring activity (for example, an annual gala or the ongoing running costs for a club or facility), that you have considered how the activity may realistically become sustainable in the future (without the need to rely on Avich Hydro Scheme Community Benefit Fund monies). For example, through volunteer delivery, charges to beneficiaries (balancing this against affordability issues) or some form of trading (selling goods or services).
• Match funding: that you have demonstrated what other funding your group has explored, secured or is seeking to secure for the project (e.g., local fundraising activity, other grants, crowdfunding).
• Environmental sustainability: You have considered the potential impacts of your project on the local and global environment and design their project accordingly. The following should be considered: saving energy and water, sourcing heat and power from renewables, re-using and recycling materials or equipment, enabling non-fossil-fuel powered transport to/from activities, conservation of flora and fauna, and education/awareness-raising amongst project beneficiaries.
• Creating a legacy: projects that are likely to provide lasting benefit to the community and reasonably demonstrate this are likely encouraged.

Who can apply?

Constituted groups and organisations working to benefit people in the fund area can apply. The fund area covers the following post-codes: PA35 1HN; PA35 1HL; PA35 1HH; PA35 1HJ, and PA35 1HS.  A map of the area can be found above in the About this Fund section. Applications from groups/organisations located out-with this area will be considered where they demonstrate a clear benefit for residents within the fund area.

Your group or organisation must also meet Foundation Scotland's Common eligibility criteria. It does not need to be a registered charity to apply.

Applications from private businesses for funding toward projects benefitting the wider community will also be considered. Such applications must be for discrete projects that are charitable in nature, that the business is unable to finance itself, and where any private gain is incidental and clearly outweighed by public benefit. We will request a copy of the business’ latest verified accounts. The fund will not support regular running costs for businesses, nor projects where there is evidence that this would displace any other local business. Private businesses are advised to contact the Fund Manager before applying.

Where appropriate, private businesses should seek to partner with local groups and seek to provide match funding.

What can’t be funded?

Please read through What we can't fund page, these exclusions apply to all Foundation Scotland funds.

How are decisions made?

Recommendations on grant awards are made by a Community Panel of up to seven members, as follows:

• Two representatives of Dalavich Improvement Group
• Two representatives of Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council
• Three representatives of the wider community, appointed on an open and transparent basis

Panel Members serve for between two to four years, retiring on a phased basis, but are eligible to stand again.

Current Panel members are:

• Elizabeth Foy Dalavich Improvement Group
• Chris Fowler Dalavich Improvement Group
• Michael Urwin Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council
• John Fleming Avich and Kilchrenan Community Council
• Roger Bartholemew Community Representative
• Martin McLaughlin Community Representative
• Vacancy for a Community Representative

The Community Panel aims to meet to make decisions on applications at least once and up to two times per year. Minutes of the latest panel meetings are available on request from the Community Fund Adviser.

If you are interested in becoming a panel member, please contact Debbie Herron at deborahherron@foundationscotland.org.uk 

For further information on how decisions are made please visit How funding decisions are made.