Caithness Community Fund

Micro Grant Application

What is Caithness Community Fund and who is it for?

Caithness Community Fund is funded by ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) community benefit funds, from its Halsary Windfarm. The fund supports projects located within Caithness, incorporating the community council areas of Berriedale & Dunbeath, Bower, Caithness West, Castletown, Dunnet & Canisbay, Halkirk District, Latheron Lybster & Clyth, Royal Burgh of Wick, Sinclair Bay, Tannach & District, Thurso, Watten, and any other surrounding area the Funding Panel deems to be of significance.

Projects must benefit one or more of the communities, which are geographically defined by community council boundaries.

How is Caithness Community Fund managed, and who makes the decisions?

Caithness Community Benefit Fund is managed by a panel of 12 local representatives one from each community council area in Caithness who make the decisions on grant awards from the fund. Administration is provided by Caithness Voluntary Group, a registered charity and company limited by guarantee.

Who can apply for a grant?

Applicants must normally fulfil the following conditions to apply to the fund.

· The proposal is for projects or activities consistent with the overall priorities and criteria of Caithness Community Fund.

· Applicants have a constitution (governing document or set of rules) and are set up on a not-for-private-profit basis. However, groups do not need to be registered charities to apply.

· Applicants must provide their latest set of accounts, signed by an independent third party.

We welcome pre-application enquiries – please contact Caithness Voluntary Group yvonne@cvg.org.uk – halsary@cvg.org.uk

What will Caithness Community Fund support?

Caithness Community Fund will support community-led activities that support the rural regeneration and sustainability of communities in Caithness. These activities would typically relate to community facilities, skills and employment, community or local events, sport and recreation, environmental improvements, youth and education, heritage and/or net zero/emissions reduction initiatives.  Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities including running costs. Groups seeking to undertake capital projects in respect of land or assets (e.g. village halls, community spaces) must either own the property, or have a minimum twenty-five-year lease.

What sizes of grants are available?

• Micro grants up to £500

• Main grants from £501-£7,500

Grant holders must be able to spend their grant within 12 months of an award.

How much is available?

Approximately £55,000 is available each year.

Categories on what you cannot apply for are listed below.

• Religious purposes (where one religious group would benefit over another or the promotion or activities of any religious group). Where a religious building (Church, Church Hall etc) is a community resource and the application is for the improvement of the community hub which would benefit the whole community, this would be acceptable.

• Political purposes (applications which promote political views or the activities of political groups cannot be supported);

• Entertainment or hospitality purposes (where funds would be used to offer a gift, hospitality or entertainment with the intention of achieving an advantage over others);

• Funding cannot be awarded to be spent at the discretion of a person or legal entity;

• Any purpose which is averse to ScottishPower Renewables, its parent company or group companies, windfarms, renewable energy industry or the electricity industry;

• Investment in any windfarm or windfarm site which does not belong to ScottishPower Renewables;

• The funding or replacement of a service which is provided by, or is the legal responsibility of, the local authority or other public authority or a statutory responsibility;

• Projects which cannot demonstrate a significant benefit to the local community;

• Funding for the repayment of loans or debts or applications to the Fund for loans;