Twin Rivers Wind Farm Community Fund

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

Twin Rivers Wind Farm is owned and operated by NTR plc which has been investing in sustainable infrastructure since 1999 and specialises in developing, constructing and operating onshore wind projects throughout the UK and Ireland:

NTR plc (external website)

As part of the developments planning permission, granted in 2008, a commitment was made by the original owner (Co-operative Group Ltd) to create a community fund. The current owner is continuing this commitment.

The Twin Rivers Wind Farm Community Fund receives an annual donation from NTR plc of c.£30,000 per year which is index-linked to inflation. The Twin Rivers wind farm started exporting electricity towards the end of 2016 and the fund received its first donation at this time.

The objectives of the fund are to disburse monies received from the developer to promote initiatives that contribute to sustainable community development, renewable energy, and energy efficiency measures, greening of communities, conservation of natural resources and wider UN2030 Sustainable Development Goals. These funds to be disbursed by the fund panel, in line with the planning agreement, as follows:

• 50% of the annual donation to be disbursed for the benefit of communities of the parishes of Reedness, Swinefleet and Twin Rivers in the East Riding of Yorkshire
  
• 50% of the annual donation to be disbursed on environmental education supporting activities by schools within the East Riding of Yorkshire area.

What is the area of benefit for the Fund?

Half of the annual donation is to be disbursed specifically for the benefit of communities of the parishes of Reedness, Swinefleet and Twin Rivers in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Half of the annual donation is to be disbursed on environmental education supporting activities by schools within the wider East Riding of Yorkshire area.

What types of activities will the Fund support?

The Twin Rivers Wind Farm Community Fund is designed to support a wide range of community based projects including community, charitable, amenity, educational, environmental and energy efficiency initiatives for the benefit of the communities within the area of benefit.

Who can make an application?

Applications are welcomed from community groups, community organisations, societies, charities, parish councils, schools and churches. New groups or ideas for projects where a group does not currently exist can be considered. 

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)
  
• Services that would normally be funded by the local or national government including all statutory bodies
  
• 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 information on other funding opportunities please visit: Finding a grant

How much money can be applied for?

There are no upper or lower limits on the amount of money that can be requested, however, applicants should take into account the overall scale of the annual funds available.

Applications for over £2000 should be made online, to the main fund (please see 'deadlines and timescales' section below.

Applications for up to £2000 should be made to the fund's Small Grants Fund.  This is a simpler application process for small one-off projects, and, unlike the main fund, is open year-round to receive applications.

Please also see section below 'How do I submit an application?'

Will the fund support 100% of the project costs?

The fund panel will take account of, and look for evidence of, the applicant's own contribution towards the total project costs (with a minimum expectation the applicant will supply 20% of the projects total cost from own resources - including in-kind volunteer time).

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

Decisions about how the annual donation is spent are made by the Twin Rivers Wind Farm Community Fund Panel. The panel is made up of nominated representatives from the following organisations (1 member from each): 

• Reedness Parish Council 
  
• Swinefleet Parish Council 
  
• Twin Rivers Parish Council 
  
• The developer  
  
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

An officer from East Riding of Yorkshire Council attends all meetings as the fund’s administrator. 

The Fund is open to receive applications for funding during a three-month window each year. The fund has finite resources that could 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 through the council’s rural policy and partnerships team.

What are the deadlines and timescales?

The Fund’s timetable for 2021 is as follows:

• Fund opens for applications to the main fund from 16 September 2021
• Fund closes to applications to the main fund on 1 November 2021
• Decision Making Panel Meeting 17 November 2021.

What is the outline process from start to finish?

Applications can either be made to the main fund or, for smaller amounts, there is a small grant option.

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 decision relating to that application (they leave the room whilst this application is discussed)
   
6. The administrator emails unsuccessful applicants stating decision and 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
13. The fund annual report is presented at the annual review meeting.  This meeting is an opportunity for members of the public to hear about the work of the fund.

An annual review meeting will be held on 8th September 2021 commencing at 6pm, Ousefleet Village Hall.  This meeting (open to members of the public)  is an opportunity to celebrate successful projects and for the fund panel to receive feedback from applicants and the community about the fund.

How do I submit an application for funding?

Applicants to the main fund (over £2000) 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 medium sized 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.

Smaller applications for up to £2000 should be made on the Small Grants Application Form which, along with Guidance Notes, can be downloaded below:

Small Grants Application Form (word 18kb)

Small Grants Guidance Notes (pdf 110kb)

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