Routh Wind Farm Community Fund

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

The first planning permission was granted in 2011 for the building of Hall Farm Wind Farm.  As part of this section 106 agreement the Routh Wind Farm community Fund was created and it received its first donation in March 2014.

The wind farm is now owned by John Laing plc who is continuing with the original commitment to the Community Fund and provides an index-linked annual donation to the Fund of around £40,000/annum.

John Laing plc (external website) 

What is the area of benefit for the Fund?

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. 

What types of activities will the Fund support?

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.

Who can make an application?

Applications are welcomed from community groups, community organisations, charities, parish councils, schools, faith based groups, not for profit companies 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 distribute money?

Payments from the fund will usually be made in the form of grants.  Subject to appropriate governance measures as required, other forms of financial assistance (e.g. commissioning, loans, donations) can be considered by the fund panel.  For further details contact the fund administrator at:

Email: ruralfunding@eastriding.gov.uk

For information on other funding opportunities please visit: Finding a grant

How much money can be applied for?

Applications for over £1000 should be made, online, to the main fund. There are no upper or lower limits on the amount of money that can be requested, however, the fund panel has indicated that applications above £15,000 would be considered exceptional.

Applications for under £1000 should be made to the Small Grant fund. This is a simpler application process for small one-off projects. Unlike the main fund (which is open to receive applications for three months), the Small Grant fund is open year-round.

Please also see the answer to 'How do I submit an application?'

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 how it is spent?

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.

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

What are the deadlines and timescales?

The main fund is open from 1 January 2023 and will close on 14 April 2023.

Applications will be considered at a panel meeting on 23 May 2023. 

Applications to the Small Grants fund can be made at any time.

What is the outline process from start to finish?

For the small grant option the applicant completes a paper based application using the forms and guidance that can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.  The applicant completes the form and returns it to the administrator via email.  The application is then circulated to the panel for a decision and if the application is approved by a majority the applicant is informed and the grant is paid directly into the group/organisations account without the need for an invoice.  In most cases this process should only take approximately 14 days from application to decision.

For applications to the main fund:

1. The applicant completes an online application form and submits it electronically with supporting evidence (including quotes, permissions, accounts and bank statements).  These forms can be accessed using the link in the How do I submit an application for funding? answer below
   
2. The online system acknowledges receipt of application
   
3. The administrator carries out a technical appraisal (does the applicant have the ability 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. The fund panel meet and make a decision (full award, part award or decline).  Panel members are required at meetings to declare any interests that they have in particular applications and, where this is the case, take no part in decisions relating to that application (they leave the room whilst this application is discussed)
   
6. The administrator emails unsuccessful applicants stating decision and the reasons
7. The administrator sends an offer letter electronically to successful applicants offering funding and detailing how payments will be made and any conditions that may apply to the award
   
8. Successful applicants accept the offer by sending back a signed and scanned copy electronically via a link supplied by the administrator
9. Awards up to £10,000 are payable by invoice supplied on return of the signed offer letter.  For awards over £10,000 an initial invoice for £10,000 can be submitted with a copy of the signed offer letter with the balance being payable on a second invoice which can be submitted with the end of grant form.  For awards over £20,000, an individual payment plan will be approved by the panel when the award is made.  Please note: normal payment terms are 30 days
10. Successful applicants complete the project
    
11. Successful applicants submit an end of grant report (again electronically using a link supplied) plus supporting evidence along with any final invoice as appropriate
12. The administrator includes a report on the project in the fund's annual report.  The annual report is a document that records the awards made during that year and profiles all the projects supported

How do I submit an application for funding?

Applications to the main fund (over £1000) should be made online within the Flexi-Grant system. 

To access this system visit the Flexi-Grant website:

Flexi-Grant System (external council website)

There are two options on the system to choose from:

• For small grant applications - select 'up to £10k' form
  
• For larger grant applications  - select 'over £10k' form.

Both forms have Guidance Notes to help you complete the form.

Applications for up to £1000 should be made on the Small Grants form which, along with Guidance Notes, can be downloaded from the table below.

If you have any queries please contact the fund by email: ruralfunding@eastriding.gov.uk

For information on other funding opportunities please visit: Finding a grant