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Withernwick Wind Farm Community Fund

The Withernwick Wind Farm Community Fund currently receives an annual donation from the developer. Find out more about funding information for communities here.

Funds now open

The Main Fund is now open. The Small Grants Fund is open from 15 June 2026.
For more information about the fund please email ruralfunding@eastriding.gov.uk.

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What is the Withernwick Wind Farm Community Fund?

The Withernwick Wind Farm is owned and operated by EnergieKontor UK Ltd who make an annual donation of around £50,000 per year to a community fund.

The Withernwick Wind Farm Community Fund was set up to distribute this donation and the first grant payments were awarded in 2013 to support a wide range of projects of benefit to the local community.

For further information on EnergieKontor UK Limited please visit:

EnergieKontor UK Limited (external website)

What is the area of benefit for the fund?

The area of benefit for the fund is the electoral wards of Mid and North Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire with a preference for appropriate initiatives in the proximity to the wind farm.

What type 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:

Educational Initiatives
Environmental Initiatives
Energy-efficiency Initiatives
Community initiatives.

Who can make an application?

Applications are welcomed from legally-constituted organisations: community groups, community organisations, charities, social enterprises, town and parish councils, schools and faith-based groups.

New groups or ideas for projects where a group does not currently exist can be considered.

Applications cannot be accepted from individuals.

Applicants may only submit one application to one level of funding, at any one time, within the Withernwick Wind Farm Community fund (Small or Main).

For further advice please contact the fund administrator:

Email: ruralfunding@eastriding.gov.uk

Are there any activities that cannot be funded?

The following activities cannot be supported by the fund:

Activities detrimental to the commercial operation of the wind farm
Political or religious campaigns
Statutory duties of the public body including the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Humberside Police, Fire and Rescue Services, the Coastguard, the Health Authority or Parish Council.

How can the fund distribute the 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

How much money can be applied for?

Small grant – up to £1,500
Main grant 1 – over £1,500 to £10,000
Main grant 2 – over £10,000 with no upper limit.

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

Will the fund support 100 per cent of the project costs?

Projects that show their own contribution to costs will be viewed more favourably.

As a guide, a minimum of 20 per cent, and ideally up to 50 per cent of the total project costs are suggested as a contribution.

How is the fund managed and who makes decisions on how the money is spent?

Decisions on how the money is spent are made by a fund panel made up of representatives from the following organisations:

Aldbrough Parish Council
Ellerby Parish Council
Hatfield Parish Council
Mappleton Parish Council
Withernwick Parish Council
Withernwick Community Association
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
A representative from the developer.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the accountable body for the fund and provides the secretariat and administration service through the council's Grant Management team.

What are the deadlines and timescales?

Both the Main Fund and Small Grants Fund are open, and will close once this year’s allocation has been committed.

For more information about the fund please email ruralfunding@eastriding.gov.uk.

What is the application process from start to finish?

Applications can either be made to the Main Fund or, for smaller amounts there is a Small Grants option.

Please note: that applications for the Small Grants option the applicant completes an online application form and submits it electronically with supporting evidence (including a bank statement, constitution, accounts and a safeguarding policy).

These forms can be accessed using the link in the ''How do I submit an application for funding?'' answer below and in most cases this process should only take approximately 14 days from application to decision.

For applications to the Main Fund:

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
The online system acknowledges receipt of application
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?)
The application is sent to fund panel for consideration
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)
The administrator emails unsuccessful applicants stating decision and the reasons
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
Successful applicants accept the offer by sending back a signed and scanned copy electronically via a link supplied by the administrator
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. Please note: normal payment terms are 30 days
Successful applicants complete the project
Successful applicants submit an end of grant report (again electronically using a link supplied) plus supporting evidence along with any final invoice as appropriate
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 for up to £1,500 should be made online with within the FlexiGrant system:

Flexi-Grant System (external council website)

For Main Grant applications – select up to £10k form or the above £10K form.

There are guidance notes to help you complete the form:

Withernwick Wind Farm Community Fund - Small Grants Guidance Notes (pdf 65kb)

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.