Resize text:

Tween Bridge Wind Farm Community Benefits Fund

COMMUNITY groups close to a new wind farm could be eligible for a cash boost.

Further to the completion of the new Tween Bridge Wind Farm near Thorne and Moorends, energy company E.ON has committed to providing grant funding for communities close to the development.

The South Yorkshire Community Foundation has been working in local communities throughout the area since 1986 and will be administering the Tween Bridge Wind Farm Community Benefits Fund.

How much is the fund?

£55,000 will be made available each year in grants for the operational lifetime of the wind farm.

What is the area of benefit?

A 3-mile radius of the wind farm site.  Broadly, the following percentage split applies:

•  Thorne & Moorends – 80% of the fund will be directed towards these communities
•  Parts of Hatfield, Hatfield Woodhouse, Sandtoft, Fosterhouses, Stainforth, Ealand, Fishlake, Crowle & Belton and other settlements within the defined 3–mile radius of the wind farm - 20% of the fund will be directed towards these communities

*Download the area map to see if your community group falls within the three mile radius

The priorities for the fund are:Projects and initiatives that, involve one or more of the following criteria:

• Capital item(s) with a tangible and lasting benefit, including improvements to community buildings
• Environmental improvements to the physical, built, social or educational environment of the area, including bio-diversity and habitat conservation
• Energy conservation and increased use of renewables 
•  Other projects that are community based and/or community led with preference and priority given to the following types of activities:

1. Projects which enhance routes in to employment for all age groups
   e.g.  Supporting job creation, skills development, education or training, developing sustainable employment or volunteering opportunities
   
2. Projects which aim to tackle and reduce crime
   e.g.  Neighbourhood Watch programmes, the provision of positive diversionary activities tackling antisocial behaviour and the abuse of drugs or alcohol
   
3. Projects providing positive aspirational activities for young people.
   e.g.  Improvement and maintenance of recreational facilities, youth engagement, support for new and existing positive activities for young people.

Who can apply?

• Locally led and run, and constituted, community or voluntary organisations
• Locally led and run registered Charities
• Local schools and colleges

All of the above must be benefitting the residents of the defined Area of Benefit (you may be asked to provide evidence of the number of beneficiaries you serve and where they reside as part of the application process)

Who and What cannot be funded

• Parish, Town or Metropolitan Borough councils
• Registered Community Interest Companies, also known as CICs
• Individuals
• The promotion of religious or political views
• To replace existing statutory Council provision (but such facilities could be enhanced e.g. Parks)
• For private benefit (but schemes which individuals can access such as an educational bursary may be acceptable)
• Applications which the Community Foundation believes, in its discretion, present or have identified a health and safety risk; 
• Against the interests of the developer or wind farm landowner (s)
• Retrospective funding – i.e. things or activities that either have already been paid for, or have already happened

How much can you apply for?

•  Grants will normally be in the region of £1,000- £5,000.
•  Grants of over £5,000 may be considered in exceptional circumstances

Groups applying for this funding should be able to demonstrate how they meet the priorities.

How to apply?

South Yorkshire Community Foundation are not accepting applications unless the group, or project, has made contact with the Foundation to discuss their proposal prior to any application being submitted.

To do this please contact our Outreach Worker, Karen Walke -

Tel: 0114 242 9005 (On Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday)

Email: Karen.walke@sycf.org.uk 

Write to: Outreach Worker, South Yorkshire Community Foundation, Unit 3 G1 Building, 6 Leeds Road, Sheffield, S9 3TY