Hampole Community Benefit Fund Criteria

Fund Overview

Bluefield Solar Income Fund is offering a Community Fund worth c£10,000 a year (rising with inflation each year) for the lifetime of the wind farm to support local charitable causes.

The Fund gives groups the opportunity to apply for grants between £250 and £10,000. There will be one application round to apply to each year – next closing date at the top right of this page.  Additional rounds will be established if all the funding is not allocated.

Match funding is not required for applications of less than £2,000. However, for applications above £2,000, priority will be given to groups that can show evidence of match-funding being sought from other sources. This might include in-kind contributions.

The Fund is for the benefit of community groups, voluntary organisations and the local community in the area of the Hampole Wind Farm. A local Advisory Group (AG) representing a range of community interests has been set up to help decide how to allocate the funding. AG Membership will consist of one representative from the Parish Councils of Hampole and Skelbrooke, Hooton Pagnell, Brodsworth and two Elected Councillors representing the Sprotbrough Ward.

You are very welcome to contact the members of the AG to discuss a potential application:

• Nick Balliger, Hampole and Skelbrooke Parish Council, 01302 728983 balliger@tiscali.co.uk
• Steph Willmer, Hooton Pagnell Parish Council, 07973 846176, stephanie.willmer@btinternet.com
• Pam Moorhouse, Brodsworth Parish Council, 01302 727185,  pamela.moorhouse@btinternet.com
• Cllr Cynthia Ransome, Sprotbrough Ward, 07792 287109,  cynthia.ransome@doncaster.gov.uk

Project locations

Projects for which grants are requested should be located in the areas of Hooton Pagnell, Brodsworth, Green Lane, Pickburn, Hampole, Moorhouse and Skelbrooke, and within a 4km radius of the wind farm.

Project Purpose

Grants are available to support new or existing community-based initiatives that bring demonstrable benefit to residents of the local area. These may include:

• Improvements to community buildings, e.g. village halls, community centres
• Improvement to local green spaces, e.g. village greens, nature reserves, community woodlands, allotments, planting schemes
• Provision of new or improved local amenities, e.g. children’s play areas, sports facilities, cycle paths
• Energy efficiency or renewable energy projects, such as insulation, efficient boilers or small scale renewable energy installations
• Projects for the benefit of pre-school or school age children, or older people

Eligible Organisations

Eligible Organisations, which can apply for funding include:

• Voluntary, community groups
• Parish Councils
• Residents associations
• Sports clubs and facilities
• The Scout and Guide Movement
• Senior citizens clubs and activities
• Playgroups
• Youth clubs
• Schools and educational establishments
• Social enterprises and Community Interest Companies operating on a non-profit-distributing basis. These are defined by Social UK as ‘businesses that trade to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. They make their money from selling goods and services in the open market, but they reinvest their profits back into the business or the local community’. Such organisations must have a minimum of three unrelated Directors.

Applicants are required to have a written constitution, a set of rules, or a governing document and a bank or building society account, held in the name of the organisation, in place before applying for a grant.

Exclusions

Grants will not be available for:

• Commercial organisations
• Private membership-based sports clubs and facilities unless membership is open to the general public without undue restriction (e.g. not membership by nomination organisations)
• Projects that only benefit one individual (unless the application is received from an organisation and the project directly benefits individuals, e.g. energy saving measures such as insulation)
• Projects that are narrowly religious in focus or that support a party political campaign or cause
• Funding core costs in organisations, e.g. running costs, administration costs, building rental costs etc.
• Retrospective funding (i.e. funding can only be requested for works that will begin / expenditure that will be incurred AFTER our funding decision has been made and a formal grant Contract issued)
• Works considered a statutory responsibility, such as scheduled transport services, works to public highways and public car parks

Judging Criteria

The main criteria used when assessing applications received will be:

• The social, economic and environmental benefits which will result from the project
• The level of community support for and involvement in the project

Other factors will also be considered which must be demonstrated in the application:

• The ability of the applicant to deliver the project
• How the work will be continued after the project has been completed i.e. its sustainability and legacy
• Value for money

If, after reading the above, you are confident that your project meets the criteria, please click Next, below: