RWE Bowbeat Wind Farm (Peebles & Eddleston) Community Fund

About this fund

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

£104,000 will be ringfenced annually for the Fund (adjusted for inflation), and represents two-thirds 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 - £10,000 (and up to £50,000 in exceptional circumstances - please refer to Additional Criteria below)

Multi-year grants (up to 3 years): £3,000 - £30,000 (ie. £1,000 - £10,000 per year)

In 2026 the Fund will operate 2 Rounds of applications, with 3 Rounds per year planned for future years.

Purpose of this fund

The Fund will support charitable activities that achieve one or more of the following priorities:

•    Enhance the quality of life for local residents. 
•    Contribute to a vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable community. 
•    Promote community spirit and encourage community activity. 
•    Tackle climate change at a local level.

Additional criteria

One year grants in excess of the standard maximum stated can be considered in exceptional circumstances, up to £50,000. Such applications should be able to demonstrate (a) widespread community support and (b) significant and long-lasting impact in the community. Groups seeking a Large Grant must speak initially with Foundation Scotland prior to submitting an application (contact details below).

Additionally, the following additional/cross-cutting criteria will be advertised to promote good practice and assist in decision-making: 

•    Local consultation and support:  Groups should show that they have consulted within the community or involved an appropriate number of the intended beneficiaries of the project and can demonstrate local support or demand for the proposed project/activities. 
•    Supporting Community Action Plan themes and priorities: projects demonstrating strong alignment with most recent local Community Action Plan(s) or Local Place Plans will be particularly welcome. 
•    Match funding: Grants can cover 100% of project costs, but preference is given to projects demonstrating other funding to cover a proportion of the project costs.  
•    Local procurement: Projects demonstrating use of local suppliers for goods and services (where appropriate and available) will be looked upon more favourably. ‘Local’ will vary depending on the nature and availability of the goods or service in question, and it is recognised that sometimes cost of local supplies may sometimes be slightly higher than comparable suppliers elsewhere.   
•    Care for our environment:  Groups demonstrating efforts to minimise the environmental impact of projects and reduce their ‘carbon footprint’, or maximise the positive environmental effects of their project, will be looked on more favourably.  
•    Partnership working: Groups are encouraged to demonstrate how local partnership working is improving or sustaining the impact of their activities. This could involve evidence of working with voluntary, private or public sector bodies that operate at local, regional or national level. 

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 Peebles & Eddleston Community Council Areas.  For example: sports sessions taking place elsewhere that Peebles & Eddleston children attend because there are no other such sessions taking place within the area of benefit; an arts group from a neighbouring town sending volunteers into Peebles & Eddleston Areas to deliver local sessions; or improving a woodland pathway spanning three community council areas used frequently by 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.

How are decisions made?

A Community Panel made up of 7 people who live, work or volunteer in the Royal Burgh of Peebles & District and Eddleston & District Community Council Areas, meets 2 or 3 times 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. The Community Panel of 7 will comprise:

• 3 residents from Eddleston and 4 from Peebles Community Council areas. 
•  At least 1 and up to 2 of whom will be a member from each Community Council.  
• In the absence of sufficient resident members the Community Council may co-opt additional Community Council members.

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. You can apply to become a panel member here

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