The Marshes Community Benefit Fund (MCBF) Panel reveals the projects which have been awarded the first £60,000 of the annual £120,000 community payments made by Frodsham Windfarm Limited.
The application process attracted a lot of interest with seventeen applications totalling just over £200,000 competing for the initial tranche of funding available (£60,000). The independent panel of local residents have received from the successful applicants the final grant agreements for the shortlisted community projects which will ensure that they are capable of being delivered in accordance with the requirements of the Community Benefit Fund constitution.
The successful applicants are:
- Frodsham Women’s Institute – £250 towards the cost of the Frodsham Show
- Frodsham Junior Volleyball Club – £1,000 for training and development for their coaches
- Girl Guiding Frodsham – £1,500 towards the cost of an accessible toilet
- Alvanley Village Hall – £5,000 for cladding and insulation of the Hall
- 1st Helsby Scout Group – £30,000 towards refurbishing the Scout Hut
- Frodsham Cricket Club – £10,000 for a lawnmower and storage
- Elton Primary School & Nursery – £12,000 for a community garden
Dianne Walker (Panel Chairman) explained that Panel members are looking forward to seeing the successful projects being developed, to benefit the residents in the areas surrounding our new wind farm. The panel members will be monitoring the projects as they develop to ensure they meet the objectives set out in the signed agreements.
Projects that were not awarded funding in this round have also been notified. Eligible schemes that were unsuccessful in this round can reapply for future rounds.
For details of the Fund and information on the application process you can visit the website www.marshescbf.uk applications for the next round of funds will close at the end of 28th February 2018.
Notes for editors:
For more information please contact the communications team at the MCBF on e mail enquiries@marshescbf.uk or on the MCBF website www.marshescbf.uk.
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)
* Please note, further details of the individual projects should be sought from the recipients of the funds