Middlemoor Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund – Funding Criteria for Individuals

The Fund will consider grant requests from £250 up to £2,500 (see below) from individuals residing within 7.5 km of the development. To check if you live within the eligible funding area, please click on the map image below to be taken to the interactive google map:

Each year £20,000 will be ringfenced from the Fund for grants for individuals located in the Parish of Eglingham. A further £10,000 will be ringfenced for grants for individuals located within 7.5 km of the development but outside of Eglingham Parish.

Applications from within Ellingham Parish are excluded as it has its own exclusive Community Fund from a different windfarm development.

Applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis, and once all funds have been awarded, the Fund for individuals will close to applications until the following September, when the next year’s budget will become available.

Examples include:

• encouraging and nurturing talent within the arts or amateur sport
• supporting individuals to access education, training courses and personal development opportunities
• enabling access to apprenticeships or vocational courses

Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications will be prioritised if funding is limited.

Other courses will also be considered where the applicant can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in such things as securing / retaining work, developing significant sporting ability and personal development.

You will need to demonstrate that the activity is not just transient in nature, but rather that by the individual engaging in this activity, there will be some long lasting or enduring benefit to the individual which can be built on over time.

Courses supported can be on a full or part-time basis and may be: *GCSE, A and S level, *SVQs, *Apprenticeships, *Modern Apprenticeships, *Foundation Apprenticeships, *undergraduate degrees, *post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs), *short vocational courses, *other courses that meet the Fund purpose.

How much can you apply for? 

Primary School Age

An award (or awards) of up to a maximum of £1,000* per child throughout the duration of their time at primary school. For example, an individual might receive two separate grants of £500 for a child aged 8 and 10 through two separate applications. You can only apply for one grant per academic year.

An application could be considered for equipment, books, materials, educational trips etc. The applicant will need to clearly show how any award will support the educational needs of the child.

Secondary School Age

An award (or awards) of up to a maximum of £2,000* per child throughout their duration of time at secondary school. For example, an individual might receive two separate grants of £1,000 for a child aged 14 and 15 through two separate applications. You can only apply for one grant per academic year.

An application could be considered for equipment, books, materials, educational trips etc. The applicant will need to clearly show how any award will support the educational needs of the child.

*Awards of up to £2,500 could be considered in exceptional circumstances where the applicant can demonstrate a higher level of need; e.g., where a child has an Educational Health Care Plan, and the application does not cover support that is a statutory duty of the Education Department or local authority.

Post 16 Education and Training

An award of up to a maximum of £2,500 per person, per academic year (September to September).

Examples of Eligible Costs

Awards are made for costs that are directly related to attending your course or apprenticeship, including:

• Course fees, where these costs cannot be waived or funded through any other means
• Study aids and equipment
• Tools for the trade you are training for
• Accommodation costs
• Childcare costs to allow you to study
• Driving lessons and test. Please remember to tell us why you need financial support for this. You are eligible for up to £500 towards this.
• Applications to support travel, materials, subsistence costs, equipment, educational trips that enhance the educational experience etc. can be considered. Applicants will need to clearly show how any award will support your educational needs or sporting development.

You must provide information on the full costs that you need to meet in relation to the course. For example, if you are a first-time applicant taking a week-long course that costs £400, you will only be able to apply for £400 plus related travel & subsistence. And if you receive funding from elsewhere, for example, £100 towards the course fees, you will only be able to apply for £300.

Exclusions 

• Applications cannot be for university course fees, or items that are deemed to be the responsibility of statutory services in any circumstances.
• You cannot apply for funding for any costs incurred before a decision can be made on your application (retrospective funding).
• We will not fund training or equipment that your employer should be providing for you or that is necessary for you to carry out your current job.
• Apprentices cannot apply for any cost that can be claimed back from their employer or another source.
• Costs relating to PhDs.

Study location

We recognise that there are limited further education opportunities within the Fund area, therefore you can apply for the costs involved in studying anywhere in the UK.

Who can apply?

The fund is open to individuals with primary or secondary school age children and post 16 year old individuals (as per limitations to funding expressed above) and who live within the eligible area.

Applications for anyone under 18 years of age must come directly from a parent or legal guardian.

How are decisions made?

Once your application is received, GrantScape will review it, including how it meets with the Fund criteria. We may contact you by telephone or email if we have any questions about your application.

Applications are then forwarded to the local Panel. They will make a recommendation as to whether to support your application. The recommendation from the Panel will then be presented to GrantScape’s Trustees to ratify the panel’s decision as the charity carries the ultimate responsibility for all grant awards made.

You will normally receive a decision on your application within a month of submitting the form.

If you are successful, you will be required to provide evidence of expenditure for all costs relating to the grant.

If, after reading the above, you are confident that your application meets the Criteria, please click below to access and complete your application.