A diverse range of community projects have been awarded just over £66,000 in the third round of awards since the Marshes Community Benefit Fund was established
The Marshes Community Benefit Fund (MCBF) Panel reveals the projects which have been awarded funding from the annual £120,000 community payments made by Frodsham Windfarm Limited.
The application process attracted a lot of interest with twelve applications, totalling just over £238,315 competing for a total of £67,000 of funding available in this round.
The independent Panel of local residents agreed to award £66,919 to five projects which, in the views of the Panel majority, best met the requirements and objectives of the Community Benefit Fund.
The successful applicants are:-
- Frodsham Junior Football Club £40,000 towards a 3G pitch at Helsby High School.
- Helsby Hillside School, £7,123 for a running track
- Helsby Parish Council £2,000 for two defibrillators
- Frodsham Castle Park Arts Centre £15,000 for a new elevator
- Frodsham Film Society £2,796 for a new projector lamp
Dianne Walker (Panel Chairman) explained that Panel members considered the successful projects as clearly defined with a demonstrated need, were well thought out and are of significant benefit to the residents in the areas surrounding the Frodsham Wind Farm.
The Panel members will be monitoring the projects as they develop to ensure they meet the objectives and conditions set out in the signed award agreements.
Projects that were not awarded funding in this round have also been notified. Eligible schemes that were unsuccessful in this round may reapply for future rounds.
Dianne Walker also commented that some of the projects from 2017 are now reaching completion with photographs and reports on their progress available to view on the Marshes Community Benefit Fund web-site, Twitter and Facebook page.
For details of the Fund and information on the application process you can visit the FAQ page, applications for the next round of funds will re-open on 1 December 2018 and close on 29 February 2019.
Notes for editors:
For more information please contact the communications team at the MCBF here or here on our FAQ page.
The Marshes Community Benefit Fund has been set up by Frodsham Wind Farm Ltd (a joint venture between Belltown Power and Peel Energy). The £66m project consists of 19 wind turbines on the Frodsham Marshes adjacent to the Manchester Ship Canal and the Mersey Estuary. Construction of the wind farm started in April 2016. Cheetham Hill Construction Limited has been the main contractor for the construction of the project.
Frodsham Wind Farm Limited is committed to providing an annual Community Benefit Fund (CBF) of £120,000 for community projects each year over the life of the wind farm. Payment is made in two instalments of £60,000. The MCBF has been set up as a not-for-profit unincorporated organisation (NOU) with a formal constitution.
The process for applying to be an MCBF Panel member is now closed and the Panel is at its full complement. Panel membership is for a fixed term being the earlier of 3 years or a member’s resignation or removal (in specific circumstances). Vacancies, when they arise in future, will be posted on the MCBF website, along with details of the application process, eligibility criteria and deadlines.
Community groups, charities, schools, businesses and clubs may apply to the MCBF governing panel for funding towards not-for-profit projects which are designed to benefit the local communities. Guidelines for applications and details of the award process are available on the MCBF website.
The MCBF will allow groups and organisations to apply for grants between £150 and £60,000. There will be two application rounds per year with closing dates being 28th February and 31st August each year. Projects for which grants are requested should be located within the defined MCBF area. A plan showing the area is available on the MCBF website.
Applicants will be required to have a written constitution a set of rules or a governing document and a bank or building society account with a minimum of two signatures in place before a grant can be made from the MCBF.
The panel will consider applications twice a year, the main criteria for successful grant applications will be:
- The social, economic and environmental benefits which will stem from successful implementation / completion of the project
- The level of community support for and involvement with the project.
Other factors that will also be considered and which must be demonstrated as part of the grant application include:
- The ability of the applicant to deliver the project
- How the benefits will continue after completion of the project, i.e. its sustainability and legacy
- Value for money
- Presence of any match-funding (for grant applications over £2,000)
Further details of the individual projects should be sought from the recipients if the funds.