Old Luce Community Fund

About this fund

This charitable fund is provided by Barlockhart Moor Wind Energy Ltd; Carscreugh Renewable Energy Park Ltd; Glenchamber Wind Energy Ltd, SSE, 2020 Renewables, Greencoat and ScottishPower Renewables, owners of nearby wind farms, who channel their community benefit funds through this single fund.  

The fund has been established by Old Luce Community Council, with the aspiration that all of the funds benefitting the Old Luce area can be administered through this single structure. The fund only supports projects located within or directly benefiting the Old Luce Community Council area, including the communities of Glenluce, Dunragit and Auchenmalg.

Grant Size:

• Standard Grant £500-£10,000
• Large Grant over £10,000

Purpose of this fund

Awards can support a wide range of costs and activities, including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities etc. Priority will be given to charitable projects that address community needs identified in the 2016 Old Luce Research & Consultation Report.

As well as demonstrating a fit with at least one of the outcomes above, priority for awards can be given to projects that demonstrate the following additional criteria.

• Match funding: That other possible funding sources for the project have been explored. This might include applicants raising some funds through their own fundraising efforts. The Trust should not displace funding that could be obtained from other sources but should help lever in additional funds if possible. Additionally, it should not reduce community-based groups’ commitment to organising local activities contributing to a vibrant community calendar and promoting community spirit. Ideally, applicants can demonstrate that a percentage of the total project cost will be sourced from other funding sources, including the applicant organisation itself, which might be in a position to contribute to the project cost. In exceptional circumstances, 100% of funding may be considered.
• Local procurement: Local suppliers will be used to provide goods and services, where appropriate (e.g. in terms of quality of products/services available) and feasible (in terms of availability and cost). (‘Local’ will vary depending on the nature and availability of the item/service in question. In some cases, it could be taken to mean within Old Luce and the surrounding area, but in others, Dumfries and Galloway or indeed the South of Scotland might be most appropriate).
• Sustainable development: That consideration has been given to help achieve sustainable development, including minimising the environmental impact of projects and reducing the applicant organisation’s ‘carbon footprint’. 
• Local consultation: The organisation has consulted an appropriate number of the project's intended beneficiaries and can demonstrate they are supportive of the proposal.
• Partnership working: The organisation has considered whether delivering their project in partnership with other organisations/groups will add value (financial, capability, or other). This could involve working with voluntary, private or public sector bodies that operate at the local, regional or national level.

Who can apply?

Your group/organisation must meet our common eligibility criteria. You don’t need to be a registered charity to apply.

What can’t be funded?

Information on what the fund cannot support is provided on our What we can't fund page

How are decisions made?

Old Luce Community Fund Advisory Panel makes recommendations on awards from the fund. The Panel is governed by a Terms of Reference developed and agreed between community representatives and Foundation Scotland and is reviewed from time to time.

The Panel is made up of people who live in the area and comprises members appointed by Old Luce Community Council. The remaining members were selected through a process of public advertising and recruitment. Each Panel member serves a minimum of two and a maximum of five years, with members retiring on a phased basis to ensure knowledge and expertise are retained. Opportunities to become a Panel member are openly advertised when these arise, both locally and on this webpage.

The Panel meets four times per year to make decisions on applications to the fund. The current Panel is:

• Boyd McIntosh
• David Ferguson
• Fred Murray (Old Luce Community Council)
• Ian Paterson (Old Luce Community Council)
• Marion Muir
• Lesley Goodchild (Chair)
• David Maxwell
• Kim Lupton

Minutes from recent Panel meetings can be viewed within the Useful links section. Minutes from previous meetings are available on request from the Community Funds Adviser.