Whiteside Hill Wind Farm Community Fund

About this fund

The Whiteside Hill Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in areas covered by the community councils of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm and the Royal Burgh of Sanquhar and District.

This fund is provided by Netro Energy, which manages the Whiteside Hill Wind Farm. An annual amount of at least £135,000 per year, rising in line with inflation, will be paid into the fund for the operating life of the wind farm, which is expected to be 25 years. The fund opened in 2018. 

Grant Size
Small grants up to £500
Standard grants of £501 and over
 

A separate fund has been established to support individuals to access training and education opportunities information on which can be found on the Whiteside Hill Education and Training Fund

Purpose of this fund

All applications should show how the event, project, activity, or service contributes to the Upper Nithsdale Community Trust (UNCT) priorities. Within the Upper Nithsdale area, the following have been identified as key priorities:

• Services and projects which deliver activities that bring economic benefits to Upper Nithsdale, for example, events, local festivals, arts and galas, employability activities, social enterprises, tourism related projects. 
• Services and projects which deliver activities that demonstrate community benefits and build community capacity in Upper Nithsdale, for example, community-managed services, community-run facilities, community safety activities, civic pride and environmental projects, and projects that identify community needs. 
• Services and projects which demonstrate early intervention and address the needs of disadvantaged groups in Upper Nithsdale, for example, young people are more actively involved in decision making, our aging population is active and engaged in influencing services in their own community, and projects that promote fairness and respect across communities. 

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.

Micro-Grants: If you are an individual or group looking for a small grant for charitable activities of benefit to any of the above communities or to help your organisation recover from the impact of the pandemic, you may also be able to apply for a micro-grant.  For more information, please contact your community council or the Upper Nithsdale Community Trust.

Additional criteria

In addition, applications that meet the following will be prioritised: 

• Evidence that the project/activity enhances or is additional to normal service provision 
• Can demonstrate community consultation 
• Can clearly provide evidence within the application that they are actively working in partnership with other organisations.

Multi-year awards, for a maximum of three years, may be applied for. Applications for multi-year awards can include an inflationary increase on the previous year.

Groups seeking to undertake capital projects concerning land or assets (e.g., village halls, community spaces) must either own the property or hold a lease.

Who can apply?

Individuals and unconstituted groups may apply for a small grant. 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 eligible communities can apply for small and standard grants. Your group/organisation must meet our standard eligibility criteria. You don’t need to be a registered charity to apply.

Applications from groups/organisations located out of 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.

Groups without a representative membership structure i.e., groups that unduly restrict their membership and/or where the committee or board is not elected by, or otherwise accountable to, a wider group of people.

Applications for fireworks or include Chinese lanterns and/or helium balloons.

Applications that include costs for depreciation.

Prizes or sponsorship money.

Applications requesting funding to support activity/projects, which as a result, will raise funds to donate to others.

How are decisions made?

The funding decisions are made by the trustees of the Upper Nithsdale Community Trust, who are residents drawn equally from Kirkconnel and Kelloholm and the Royal Burgh of Sanquhar and District community council areas.

The board meets at least twice a year to make decisions on applications to the fund. Minutes are available from the Community Funds Adviser (please see details below).

More information on the award-making process is available here.