ESB s HUNTERS HILL WIND FARM COMMUNITY FUND

Transcription

1 ESB s HUNTERS HILL WIND FARM COMMUNITY FUND 2018 HOW TO APPLY GUIDE THIS DOCUMENT OUTLINES: Sectin 1: Abut Our Funds Sectin 2: The Eligibility Criteria Sectin 3: The Applicatin Prcess Sectin 4: The Decisin Making Prcess Sectin 5: The Grant Offer Sectin 6: The Grant Claim Sectin 7: The Fllw-Up Sectin 8: Further Infrmatin SECTION 1 - ABOUT OUR FUNDS: Hunters Hill Wind Farm Cmmunity Fund was established by ESB with the intentin f helping the cmmunities neighburing the wind farm t becme mre sustainable thrugh the supprt f psitive lcal initiatives and activities. The Fund seek t address current and emerging issues, needs and pprtunities within cmmunities, enriching lives and creating brighter pssibilities fr lcal residents. Typically, the award value is between 500, and Hwever, the suggested award value is neither a minimum nr a maximum, rather an indicatin f the scale f resurces available annually. The fund will priritise applicatins frm lcal cmmunity grups and rganisatins frm within the area f benefit. Hwever, applicatins frm utside this area may be cnsidered if a prject directly addresses a current r prspective need /issue /pprtunity f the cmmunities nearest the wind farm. SECTION 2 - THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: 2.1 WHO CAN APPLY? Typically, the funds are available t cmmunity and vluntary rganisatins fr prjects which are in the vicinity f ne f ur wind farms. These include, but are nt limited t; Registered Charities Cmmunity/Vluntary Grups ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 1 f 8

2 Sprts, and Recreatin Clubs Primary schls In rder t apply these rganisatins must have: A cnstitutin A bank r building sciety accunt in the name f the rganisatin/grup Charitable aims (i.e. wrk t the benefit f the wider cmmunity) A management cmmittee r bard 2.2 WHO CANNOT APPLY? The funds are nt available t: Individuals Private - Sectr Organisatins Organisatins with that restrictive members nly cnditins t access Applicatins n behalf f ther rganisatins r in the name f a prfessinal fundraiser 2.3 WHAT WE CAN SUPPORT? We supprt prjects which fcus n the fllwing themes; Educatin and skills. Health, safety and wellbeing. Envirnment and habitat cnservatin. Energy efficiency and sustainability. Culture and heritage. Recreatin, sprt and scial inclusin. 2.4 WHAT WE CANNOT SUPPORT? We cannt supprt prjects; Where wrk has cmmenced n a prject prir t applicatin submissin Which directly replace statutry activities / funding Which d nt directly benefit the lcal cmmunity, and are nt deemed as nt-fr-prfit Which prvide unnecessary duplicate activities / services / infrastructure within the cmmunity Which impact upn, r adversely affect the sustainability f an existing facility r service that may be lcated and / r perating elsewhere in the area f benefit Where duplicate funding frm ther surces exists, hwever matched funding is welcmed Which cnflict with r adversely affect the aim, bjectives r plicy f the ESB r any ther assciated cmpany Which directly prmte / advance: any particular religin / faith any particular plitical party any type f hunting / shting Which seek t purchase / cver the cst f the fllwing: Salaries f cre staff Feasibility Studies ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 2 f 8

3 Musical Instruments Retrspective funding where cntracts have already been signed and/r rders placed befre funding apprval Recverable VAT csts Fundraising campaign cntributins r csts SECTION 3 - THE APPLICATION PROCESS: In rder t make an applicatin t ne f ur Funds yu will need t visit ur website,, and fllw the steps t access ur nline applicatin frm. 3.1 HOW TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM? As a general pint, it is imprtant that applicatins are presented as chesive prjects and that applicants avid a shpping list apprach. When cmpleting yur applicatin frm yu will need t demnstrate: Prximity f prject t wind farm Is yur prject lcated within 7.5km f Hunters Hill Wind Farm Cmmunity Fund area f benefit? What is the distance frm the wind farm? The fund will priritise applicatins frm lcal cmmunity grups and rganisatins frm within the area f benefit. Hwever, applicatins frm utside area f benefit may be deemed eligible if their prject directly addresses a current r prspective need/ issue/ pprtunity f the cmmunities nearest the wind farm. Evidence f Grup backgrund and prven capacity Please include a brief histry f yur grup, aims and bjectives etc. Hw many peple are invlved with the running f yur grup, including peple wh help ut with fundraising r vlunteering? Prf f quality wrks undertaken t date Please include details f any ther prjects cmpleted by yur rganisatin t date? Evidence f a multi-sectral, reginal and scial inclusin impact f yur prject - If the applicatin relates t current cmmunity infrastructure / buildings, give a brief summary as t the grups that use the facility? Wh will benefit frm the prject, d they live lcally, r des the prject have a mre strategic fcus? Hw des the prject plan t include minrity r disadvantaged grups? Evidence f prject life-span and levels f users Hw d yu knw the prject is needed? Have yu dne any research? Has the prject been requested by users f yur grup? Hw many peple currently use yur services and hw many are likely t use any new services? Are there any peple that are excluded frm using yur services at present, and if s why? Quality f Prpsal Yu shuld ensure that yur budget is realistic and that cstings are as accurate as pssible. It is helpful when the prject is well summarised, as this infrmatin is essential t evaluate the impact f the wrk f the rganisatins and individuals it supprts, and the difference it makes t cmmunities. 3.2 WHAT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS NEEDED? Yu will need t submit the fllwing with yur applicatin: A cpy f yur rganisatins bank, credit unin r pst ffice accunt statement ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 3 f 8

4 A cpy f yur grup cnstitutin Map marked with prject lcatin Qutatins are required t verify the value f each item yu wish t purchase, as fllws: Up t 2,000 1 qute Up t 5,000 2 qutes Fr wrks relating t renvatin/cnstructin/refurbishment: Permissin t prceed frm land wner Planning permissin, r a letter f exemptin frm the relevant Lcal Authrity 3.3 WHAT HAPPENS ONCE YOUR APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED? Once yu have submitted yur applicatin: Yu will receive an t cnfirm receipt f yur applicatin. We will make checks t ensure the applicant rganisatin and prject meets the funds eligibility and criteria. Yur prject will then be assessed, during which time applicants may be cntacted by Omagh Frum team as part f their assessment prcess t discuss the prject and reserve the right t ask applicants t submit further infrmatin in supprt f their applicatin. SECTION 4 - THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: 4.1 HOW YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE ASSESSED? The decisin t award a grant depends n the fund under which the applicatin was submitted. In either circumstance, each prject is judged under a cmmn set f evaluatin criteria: Evaluatin Criteria Ttal Marks Brief Descriptin Prject Life-Span and Levels 30 marks Where that prject is likely t: f Users still be in place after 5 years will receive the highest scres between marks e.g. Capital Investments in Infrastructure still be in place fr a perid f 3 t 5 years will receive scres between 15 and 22 marks e.g. IT Equipment, Machinery that is essential fr a grup t deliver a high value service fr the cmmunity - higher marks fr thse prjects with educatin and capacity building impacts still be valuable fr a perid f 1-3 years will receive a scre f between 10 and 18 marks e.g. materials, tls have a nce ff valuable impact fr an area will receive between 5 and 12 marks the higher scre being applied where there are multiple psitive impacts especially in terms Extent t which prjects cntributes t the bjectives f sustainable develpment and educatin. 20 marks Prjects which demnstrate a clear cntributin t the stated aims f the Funds impact will ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 4 f 8

5 f the Cmmunity Fund Prjects with a brader multisectral, reginal & scial inclusin impact Quality f Prpsal and prf f quality wrks undertaken by applicant t date Grup backgrund and prven capacity Prximity f prject t windfarm Ttal receive between 10 & 20 marks. Prjects with a lesser emphasis will receive between 0 & 10 marks. 15 marks Prjects that receive an investment where the applicant demnstrates: brad multi-sectral impact (5 marks) reginal impact (5 marks) scial inclusin impact (5 marks) 15 marks High quality prpsals will receive between 10 & 15 marks. Thse f a lesser quality, but still demnstrate a capacity t deliver, will receive between 5 & marks Prjects frm established grups with prven capacity will receive between 5 & 10 marks, newer grups with little r n track recrd & prf f capacity will receive between 0 & 5 marks. 10 marks Prjects will be placed n a scale, thse within 1km f the Wind Farm will receive 10 marks; within 7.5kms will receive 1 marks and prjects lcated greater than 7.5kms will receive 0 marks. This is will evaluated with due regard t the area f benefit. 100 marks 4.2 WHEN, AND HOW WILL YOU BE NOTIFIED OF A DECISION? Applicants will be ntified in writing f a decisin being made within tw mnths frm the clsing date f the funds. Successful applicants will receive a cntract and prvisinal grant ffer letter including payment frm and guidelines. A letter will be sent t unsuccessful applicants. 4.3 IS IT POSSIBLE TO APPEAL A DECISION? Thrughut the prject evaluatin prcess, care is taken t assess all applicatins against criteria in a cnsistent and equitable way. Applicants wh d nt agree with the utcme f the applicatin prcess can write t the relevant Omagh Frum t request additinal feedback n their applicatin. Althugh the decisins made by the Omagh Frum evaluatin cmmittee are final and nt subject t appeal, such requests enable us t learn, and may infrm future strategies. SECTION 5 - THE GRANT OFFER: 5.1 HOW TO ACCEPT A GRANT OFFER? In rder t accept a grant ffer all cntracts must be signed and returned via pst t Omagh Frum within 28 wrking days f receipt. ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 5 f 8

6 5.2 WHAT ARE THE ASSOCIATED TERMS & CONDITIONS? There are a number f terms and cnditins cntained within the cntract, which an applicant agrees t when it s sign and return. Belw are sme examples f the terms and cnditins which may be cntained in a cntract: Funding must be exclusively fr the purpses f implementing the prject as stated in the applicatin frm. Funding fr ne prject cannt be transferred t anther prject and / r activity. All Cntracts cntain a clsing date after which time yur grant ffer will becme vid, generally this is six mnths frm date f issue. If, fr sme reasn, yur prject has becme delayed and will nt be cmpleted by the clsing date, please cntact Omagh Frum immediately. Every applicant in receipt f funding must infrm Omagh Frum immediately f any change t their circumstances. Any change must be reviewed, acknwledged and agreed by Omagh Frum where a specific change t the use f the grant is requested. In relatin t wrks f a cnstructin / renvatin nature, an engineer s reprt must be furnished when applying fr yur grant drawdwn certifying the value f the wrk undertaken and cnfirming the wrk cnfrms t relevant planning, building and fire regulatins and ther statutry building / ther regulatins Wrks cmpleted and r gds purchased must be adequately insured and evidence f same must be available fr inspectin by funder. Where planning permissin is required, the payment f grant aid is subject t submissin f relevant dcumentatin frm the relevant Cuncil. Please prvide evidence that yu have permissin t undertake the wrks, this shuld either be specified in a lease r evidence f same prvided in a separate dcument frm the wner. It is imprtant that the wrk f the wind farm fund, ESB and/r assciated cmpanies is acknwledged in any published materials, which relate t the grant-funded prject. Therefre, if an applicatin is successful, rganisatins are required t: (a) acknwledge the cntributin f the wind farm fund, ESB and/r assciated cmpanies in any publicity they might prduce and (b) allw and participate in any publicity that the wind farm fund, ESB and/r assciated cmpanies might rganise. Please nte the prvisinal grant ffer letter may stipulate further cnditins which will need t be fulfilled within the 28 day timeframe. 5.3 WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU BREACH THESE TERMS & CONDITIONS? In the event that Omagh Frum cnsiders an applicant has breached the terms and cnditins, Omagh Frum reserve the right t withdraw the awarded grant and all funding must be returned. ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 6 f 8

7 Additinally, n future applicatins fr funding will be accepted frm rganisatins/individuals fr a minimum f tw years. After this perid, nly if the rganisatin can prvide evidence that actin has been taken t strengthen their capacity (i.e. the grup s ability t cmplete a prject as per guidelines prescribed by Omagh Frum/ESB), which will include evidence f supprt sught frm apprpriate supprt/umbrella rganisatins. SECTION 6 - THE GRANT CLAIM: 6.1 HOW DO I CLAIM THE GRANT? All grants frm ur funds are made retrspectively, as such; mnies will nly be made available t an rganisatin upn cmpletin f the prpsed prject. Fr grant aid t be paid ut yu must submit all the necessary dcumentatin, incmplete claims will result in delays prcessing yur claim. Name f grant recipient - When prcessing yur grant payment Omagh Frum will make the payment t the name f the grup r cmpany stated n the Offer Cntract. All the dcumentatin required, such as receipts, invices, Tax Clearance Certificates, etc., must be in the same name. Letter/ requesting payment f grant - The letter/ shuld clearly state yu nw wish t draw dwn yur grant. Please als utline any differences in yur actual expenditure cmpared t what was prpsed in yur riginal applicatin and qutatins. A template letter will be prvided. Invices & Receipts - All expenditure yu wish t claim grant aid fr must have supprting, independent and riginal dcumentatin prving purchase and payment. Please nte, all invices and receipts must be dated within the eligible dates. (i.e. expenditure is eligible frm the date that Omagh Frum received the signed Cntract frm yu and ceases n the clsing date stated in that cntract.) Any expenditure incurred utside these dates will nt be eligible fr grant aid. After yu have gathered yur invices and receipts, please list them n the Grant Claim Frm, which yu must als sign. Cheque Payments f Invices - Where a payment by cheque has been made, please submit yur bank statement(s) supprting the cheque number(s) being cashed. Cash Payments f Invices Applicants are advised t n cash payments are eligible. Debit / credit payments, and Electrnic Fund Transfer - Please prvide a print ut f these transactin(s) Independent validatin Over the curse f yur applicatin r as part f yur Grant Offer Cntract, yu may have been asked t prvide independent validatin f wrk dne. Examples include Engineer s Reprts, etc. Evidence f wrks cmpleted/gds purchased - Fr all wrks f a cnstructin/renvatin nature, please take phtgraphs befre and after the wrk has been cmpleted and return t Omagh Frum with yur claim dcumentatin. Alternatively, yu may electrnic cpies f phtgraphs t inf@maghfrum.rg. If the purchase f equipment has been grant aided, please prvide serial numbers and phtgraphs. 6.2 END OF PROJECT REPORT The cmpletin and return f an utcme reprt upn the cmpletin f yur prject is a fundamental requirement f the terms and cnditins set ut in the cntract. It helps us understand the needs f the cmmunity and demnstrates the impact f the funding at cmmunity level. Failure ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 7 f 8

8 t submit a satisfactry utcme reprt will be cnsidered a breach f ur Fund s terms and cnditins, nn-payment f grant and may als affect any future funding applicatins. A template utcme reprt will be prvided, hwever the length and cntent f such reprts depend upn the scale f the funded prject. SECTION 7 - THE FOLLOW UP: 7.1 MONITORING Omagh Frum, ESB and / r any assciated cmpanies reserve the right t undertake mnitring visit(s) t any f the funded applicants. In rder t see hw a prject is prgressing, r the cmpleted prject in actin. Where multi-year funding is agreed, an apprpriate mnitring framewrk will be agreed and implemented. SECTION 8 - FURTHER INFORMATION: If yu need further infrmatin, please cntact Omagh Frum via: Telephne: inf@maghfrum.rg Pst: Hunters Hill Wind Farm Cmmunity Fund c/ Omagh Frum fr Rural Assciatins Omagh Cmmunity Huse 2 Drumragh Avenue Omagh, BT78 1DP Website: ESB s Hunters Hill Wind Farm 2018 Hw t Apply Guide Page 8 f 8