Routh Wind Farm Community Fund

What is the Routh Wind Farm Community Fund and who is it for?

The establishment of Routh Wind Farm Community Fund formed part of the planning agreement when permission for the Hall Farm Wind Farm was granted in 2011. The Fund received its first donation in March 2014.

The wind farm is now owned by John Laing plc who is obliged to continue with the original commitment to the Community Fund and provides an annual donation of £36,000 to the Fund.

John Laing plc (external website - opens in new window)

The Fund is designed to promote initiatives for public benefit within a defined area (the area of benefit). The following types of projects are eligible for help from the Fund:

• Charitable activities 
  
• Educational activities 
  
• Community activities 
  
• Energy efficiency activities 
  
• Environmental activities 
  
• Community amenities. 

The area of benefit of the fund is the East Riding of Yorkshire with a preference for applications for projects within the proximity of the wind farm. 

Who can request funds?

Applications are welcomed from community groups, community organisations, charities, parish councils, schools, churches, firms and societies.

New groups or ideas for projects where a group does not currently exist can be considered (please contact fund administrator for further advice).

Individuals may not apply.

Are there any activities that cannot be funded?

The following activities cannot be supported by the fund:

• Any campaigns (e.g. political, religious or other campaigns)
• statutory duties of public bodies including parish councils, local authority, police, health, fire, coastguard and national government
• activities detrimental to the commercial operation of the wind farm.

How can the fund award money?

The fund panel can distribute the money as:

• commissioning - where the fund panel devise a public benefit project and employ a group to deliver it
• donations - where no conditions are placed on the money given to a project
• grants - where conditions on use are placed on the money given to a project with timescales, milestones and reporting arrangements in place
• loans - where the money is spent and repaid at a later date.

How much money can be applied for? 

There are no upper or lower limits on the amount of money that can be requested, however, the fund panel have indicated that applications above £15,000 would be considered exceptional.

Will the fund support 100% of the project costs?

The fund panel will generally support up to 80% of the costs of a project. However, in certain circumstances higher or lower limits may be applied.

How is the fund managed and who makes decisions about it? 

Decisions are made by a fund panel made up of the representatives from the following organisations:  

• Tickton Parish Council
• Routh Parish Council
• Leven Parish Council
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• East Riding Voluntary Action Services
• John Laing plc.

The Fund is open to receive an application for funding for a three-month window each year. The Fund has finite resources that can be over-subscribed. Applications go through a Technical Assessment process and the Fund Panel makes decisions using a scorecard approach based on the Fund criteria. 

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the Accountable Body for the fund and provides the secretariat and administration service though the Council’s Rural Policy and Partnerships Team.

What are the deadlines and timescales?

The Fund’s timetable for 2018 is as follows:

Fund opens for applications from: 1 January 2018.

Fund closes to applications: 30 March 2018.

Annual Review Meeting: 16 April 2018.

Fund panel decision-making meeting: 22 May 2018.

What is the application process from start to finish?

1. The applicant completes an online Application Form and submits it electronically with supporting evidence (quotes, permissions, accounts and bank statements). Online Application Forms and Application Form Guidance Notes are located on the “eastriding4communities” website which can be accessed using the links in last section below. 
   
2. The online system acknowledges receipt of application.
   
3. The Administrator carries out a Technical Appraisal (does the applicant have power and permissions to carry out the project, does the project meet the fund criteria, has all the necessary information been supplied?).
   
4. The Application is sent to Fund Panel for scoring.
   
5. Fund Panel meet and make a decision (full award, part Award or decline).
   
6. Administrator writes to unsuccessful applicants stating decision and reason.
   
7. Administrator writes to successful applicants offering funding and explaining any conditions that may apply. 
   
8. Successful applicants write back accepting the offer of money and conditions.
   
9. Successful applicants submit an invoice for 50% of the money (unless the total project value is £1000 or less which can be invoiced in full). Note: normal payment terms are 30 days. 
   
10. Successful applicants complete the project
    
11. Successful applicants submit End of Grant report, supporting evidence and invoice for 50% of funds.
    
12. Successful applicants submit any final receipts and bank statements.
    
13. Administrator includes a report on the project in Fund Annual Report. 
    
14. Fund Annual Report presented at Annual Review Meeting.

The Annual Review meeting is an opportunity to celebrate successful projects and for the Fund Panel to receive feedback from applicants and the community about the Fund.

The Annual Review Meeting will take place on Monday 16 April 2018 at 6pm at Tickton Village Hall.

How do I submit an application for funding?

Step 1: Please view and print (recommended) the Guide on how to submit an Online Application for Funding. This short document will help you to navigate the website on which the Application Forms are located.

Routh Wind Farm Guide to accessing and submitting your application to Routh Fund (pdf 341kb opens in new window)  

Step 2: To access the Application Forms and Guidance Notes (that will help you complete the questions contained on the Form) please follow the link below.

eastriding4communities (external website - opens in new window) 

Further reports on the Fund can be downloaded from the box below.  Please email the Fund Administrator if you have any further queries.  Minutes of Panel Meetings are also available on request.

Email: ruralfunding@eastriding.gov.uk.