Oaklands Solar Park and Battery Storage Community Fund

Fund Overview:

The Oaklands Solar Park and Energy Battery Storage development is committed to providing a one-off Community Benefit Fund (the Fund) of £150,000 for community projects.

Grants are available between £500 and £37,500.

Important Note: The first funding round closed earlier this year, and not all of the available funds were awarded. Discussions are currently ongoing with the local Advisory Panel to agree the timetable and process for distributing the remaining funds. Further information will be published once arrangements have been finalised.

Project Location:

Projects for which grants are requested must be for the benefit of the communities located within 1.5miles of the Solar Park development. To confirm eligibility, applicants should use the interactive map provided and check whether their project site falls within the designated benefit area. Only projects situated within this boundary will be considered for funding.

For a capital (physical) project, this needs to be delivered at a location within the Benefit Area. For the avoidance of doubt this means at any location within the radius boundary.

Where a grant supports a service or activity, the beneficiaries must be for individuals who reside within the Benefit Area. The activity itself therefore may take place outside the benefit areas (i.e. an excursion for a local elderly community group). However, the grant can only be used for costs which benefits the local residents.

Organisations located outside the benefit area can apply if they are delivering a service or activity for individuals residing within it. An example of this may be a youth worker employed by a local charity. The Fund could pay for costs associated with supporting young people that reside in the benefit area.

Project Purpose:

The Fund is open to any community project which is for the benefit of residents within the Benefit Area.

Grants will be available for both capital and revenue projects. Revenue projects can be delivered over a 2-year period.

• Community buildings and facilities. For example: capital improvement works to village halls, community centres, museums, heritage centres and community cafes.
• Energy conservation and renewable energy. For example: Insulation and energy efficiency improvements in community buildings, solar panel projects.
• Community activities and services. For example: projects addressing health and wellbeing, volunteering, social isolation, family poverty, community safety, access to amenities, young and older people’s projects, and projects providing support for local clubs and groups.
• Environmental and public open space projects. For example: projects involving parks, nature reserves, community growing schemes, and habitat/species conservation.
• Sports, recreation and play. For example: playgrounds, skate parks, sports equipment and sports field drainage projects.
• Educational grants. For example: targeted STEM educational activities, outdoor classrooms, Forest School development, educational trips.

The above list is not exhaustive and is provided to give ideas. You are encouraged to contact GrantScape if you are unsure if your project is eligible. We would much rather have the conversation to confirm eligibility before you take the time to complete the application form to then find out your application cannot be progressed.

Eligible Organisations:

Eligible Organisations, who can apply for funding include:

• Voluntary and community groups
• Local charities
• Local Authorities (if they are applying on behalf of a community project)
• Community Councils
• Schools and educational establishments (for projects above LEA responsibility)
• Social enterprises and Community Interest Companies operating on a non-profit-distributing basis. These are defined by Social Enterprise 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’. These organisations must have a minimum of three unrelated Directors, that also do not reside at the same address.

Organisations need 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 or with restrictive charges).
• Individuals applying directly to the Fund
• Projects that are religious in focus or that support a party-political campaign or cause, or may bring the Fund into disrepute. Please note this does not include capital building works to local Churches which are considered community assets.
• 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 duty, such as scheduled transport services, works to public highways and public car parks, or projects the responsibility of the LEA.
• Projects which are contrary to energy conservation and efficiency.

Match Funding:

Match funding is not required. However, for applications above £2,500, priority may be given to organisations that can demonstrate efforts have been made to fund raise towards the project costs, or that grant applications to other funds have been attempted.

In-kind contributions can be used as match funding. These are where materials, equipment or peoples time and skills are donated to the project at no actual “cash” cost to the project. These contributions can be made either by the applicant organisation or by other organisations, individuals or businesses. A formula within the application guidance notes shows how this can be calculated.

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.
• 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.

How will decisions be made:

A local Advisory Panel including representatives from the Community Council has been established to help decide which applications received will be prioritised.

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