RWE Bowbeat Wind Farm (Innerleithen) Community Fund

About this fund

The RWE Bowbeat Wind Farm (Innerleithen) Community Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Innerleithen & District Community Council areas. This Fund is provided by RWE Renewables UK Operations Limited, the owner of RWE Bowbeat Wind Farm.

£52,000 will be ringfenced annually for the Fund adjusted for inflation, and represents one-third of the total annual donation from RWE Bowbeat Wind Farm split between the three Community Councils of the Royal Burgh of Peebles & District, Eddleston & District, and Innerleithen & District. The Fund will receive this annual donation for the benefit of residents for the remaining lifespan of the wind farm (up until 2030). 

Grant Sizes:

1 Year grants: £1,000 - £5,000 (and up to £10,000 in exceptional circumstances - please refer to Additional Criteria below)

Multi-year grants (up to 3 years): £3,000 - £15,000 (ie. £1,000 - £5,000 per year)

Purpose of this fund

The purpose of The Fund is to improve community life in Innerleithen & District for current and future generations by improving facilities, services, environment, activities and opportunities, making the area a friendly, welcoming and sustainable place to live in and visit.

The Fund provides grants to support charitable activities that:

• Enhance quality of life for local residents.
• Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities.
• Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.

Grants may support a wide range of costs, for example the costs of equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and more. The costs of group international trips abroad will be considered providing they can show educational or positive impact, and that evidence of additional fundraising efforts to support overall costs can be demonstrated.  

Additional criteria

One year grants in excess of the standard maximum stated can be considered in exceptional circumstances, up to £10,000.  Such applications should be able to demonstrate strong community support and the potential for significant impact in Innerleithen.  If you wish to apply for more than the standard maximum, please contact Foundation Scotland first (contact details below) to discuss your proposal and we will be able to give you tailored advice before completing an application form.  

Additionally, groups are encouraged to demonstrate one or more of the following cross-cutting good practice criteria in their application(s), which will be taken into account during decision-making:

• Local consultation and support:  evidence of having consulted within the community, engaged with Innerleithen residents. and/or demonstrating local support or demand for the proposed project/activities.  
• Protection or improvement of the local environment:  applications which show an alignment with these values will be viewed favourably.
• Alignment with the Innerleithen & District Community Action Plan. 

Who can apply?

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in eligible communities can apply.  Your group/organisation must meet our standard eligibility criteria. You do not need to be a registered charity to apply. Please also refer to the Additional Criteria above for further information. 

Groups headquartered, based or delivering activities outside the Fund area may apply for funding provided that the activity, service or project they are providing evidences benefits for the communities within Innerleithen & District.  For example:  sports sessions taking place elsewhere that Innerleithen children attend because there are no other such sessions taking place within the Innerleithen area; an arts group from a neighbouring town sending volunteers into Innerleithen to deliver local sessions; or improving a woodland pathway spanning three community council areas used frequently by Innerleithen residents.  Grants proportionate to the proportion of benefit accruing to the Fund area of benefit may be considered where projects benefit more than one locality.  

What can’t be funded?

Information on what the Fund cannot support is provided here. 

Please note:  group overseas travel involving Innerleithen groups or residents can be supported by this Fund, provided that the trip aligns with Fund purposes, objectives and criteria laid out above. 

How are decisions made?

A Community Panel made up of 7 people who live, work or volunteer in Innerleithen & District, meets twice a year and makes recommendations on grant awards from the Fund.  The Panel advises on overall Fund strategy and is governed by the Terms of Reference.

This will include:

• 3 Community Council representatives.
• 1 Community Trust member.  
• 3 ‘wider community’ representatives (or 4 if no Community Trust members are available), all of whom are selected through an open and transparent process.  

Minutes of the latest Panel meetings are available on request from the Community Funds Adviser. Contact details can be found below.

More information on the award-making process is available here. 

Panel Recruitment

We are recruiting for Panel members now. To apply to become a panel member please click here.