Over £1,000,000 Awarded to Local Organisations by The Marshes Community Benefit Fund

sparkling golden 1 million gbp graphic

At the most recent meeting on Monday 7th October, the panel awarded £111,934 to 12 community projects. This took the total value of the grants awarded since inception to an amazing £1,093,887.

The Fund was created in 2016 by the Frodsham Windfarm Limited partners to invest £3,000,000 over 25 years in the region. The equated to £60,000 for the 2 funding cycles each year, as the fund was linked to inflation the amount available to the panel to award has now increased considerably from the initial figures.

Over the last 8 years, the fund has awarded grants across the region and has helped a huge number of groups across a wide section of society. In total 133 grants have been awarded and a selection of the awards are detailed below:

  • £45,000 towards a 3G football pitch
  • £39,455 to the Green Gates Community project
  • £56,305 to create an outdoor multi use games area at a local school
  • £22,356 for building work to develop a local a Youth Centre
  • £15,000 to fund a lift replacement in an Arts Centre
  • £10,000 to buy a minibus for a local scout group
  • £4,500 to a gardeners association
  • £1,000 to a knitting club providing winter clothing for vulnerable people
  • £1,000 to a group providing transport to doctors appointments for the elderly and vulnerable

In addition, we have supported various Christmas festivals, Literary festivals, The Coronation celebration, multiple sports clubs and dementia groups.

Additionally, The MCBF have funded the purchase of computers for libraries, multiple defibrillators and significant amounts of sports equipment.

Andrew Jones, the Chair of the panel

Passing the £1,000,000 milestone is significant event for the Marshes Community Benefit Fund. The panel were proud to award £111,934 during the current funding cycle and we were delighted with the wide variety of groups who we were able to support.

Although we have awarded over £1,000,000. There is still over £2,000,000 still available for us to award to local community groups over the coming years. The panel are keen to reach as many people as possible and I would encourage all groups of volunteers, sports clubs, Arts providers, community event organisers etc.. to visit our website and look at the funding available to them.

I would like to thank all of the panel members, past and present, who have given up their free time to join the panel. This is a milestone that each and everyone of them should be proud of. A special mention must go to Mike Garvey and Will Cook who have been on the panel from the very start.

The next round of funding closes on 28th February 2025 and full details are available on our website. We also have a number of vacancies on the panel, if anyone would like to join the panel then please visit this page for more details.

Background

The Fund was created in 2016 as an independent entity by the Frodsham Windfarm Limited partners, the Fund is managed by a Panel of independent volunteers and is governed by its Constitution.

The Fund receives an annual grant from Frodsham Windfarm Limited of up to £120,000. This annual payment will be provided every year the wind farm operates and is expected to amount to some £3 million. The Marshes Community Benefit Fund (MCBF) Panel will control the administration of the MCBF and will consider applications from groups and organisations for awards of between £250 and £60,000 from the MCBF in each of the two application rounds to be held each year.

Each MCBF Panel Member was selected on the basis of having significant local ties, knowledge of the area and professional skills. An independent organisation vetted the Panel Members and praised its composition. Each Panel Member is contributing their time and skills for free.