Tyrone Three Community Benefit Fund (Gortfinbar, Eshmore and Altamuskin)

Purpose of the fund:

This local community fund has been set up by Energia Renewables, working in close partnership with local groups from the areas surrounding the Tyrone 3 Windfarms.  The Tyrone 3 Windfarms comprises three farms, which are:

• Altamuskin      (6 wind turbines / 14.1MW)
• Eshmore           (3 wind turbines / 7.0MW)
• Gortfinbar       (5 wind turbines / 15.0.MW)

The windfarms are situated in close proximity to each other between the town of Ballygawley and the villages of Carrickmore, Sixmilecross and Beragh in County Tyrone. They are located in the Mid Ulster District and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council areas respectively.

Energia has set up the fund to ensure that the wind farm, whilst having obvious environmental benefits, will also provide significant social and economic benefits to the local community. The Tyrone 3 Windfarms Community Benefit Fund will be administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

Funding will be available to local community projects that are planned and run for the benefit of the local population and are within 7 miles of the centre of the three windfarms – as per map.

In the event of oversubscription, priority will be given to projects based within 5 miles of the centre of the three windfarms – as per map. 

The fund will support projects addressing issues within the following theme areas:

• Energy efficiency and sustainability
• Social, cultural or sporting benefit for the local community
• Educational issues with a sustainability angle
• Environmental benefit or economic benefit

Fund priorities:

• Projects that improve the utilisation of existing community space in areas within the fund boundary.
• Contributions towards running/administration costs and for purchasing additional equipment to expand and support new and existing services/activities in each of the areas.
• Particular emphasis will be placed on funding activities/services that are specifically aimed at older people, people with disabilities, children and teenagers (including pre-school children), providing skills development of local people and promoting health related activities or services.
• Applicants are encouraged to network, share best practice and co-operate more between the areas. Projects which demonstrate the ability to collaborate, network and share best practice will be encouraged and supported.
• Projects and programmes offering invaluable advice and information and signposting on key Rural issues should be supported e.g. Farm Support Services, Welfare & amp; Benefits and Parenting/Family issues etc.
• Outdoor/Environmental projects will be considered in terms of encouraging a healthier and active community as well as protecting and enhancing the local environment.
• Wider community events and programmes that encourage greater community interaction (including cross community aspects) encompassing the local rich and varied cultural aspects of music, drama, dance and sport.

Examples of who can apply:

• Constituted voluntary organisations and community groups
• Local youth groups

Examples of projects that the fund might support:

• Local cultural projects recording and researching history
• Establishment of a “Men’s Shed” or other similar initiative
• Small capital works to a community facility
• Environmental awareness projects
• Activities supporting young people, the elderly, those with disabilities
• Community wide events
• Strategic projects that will benefit a number of communities, including partnership applications

Grants size:

Grants up to £5,000

What we will not fund:

The Community Foundation will not fund organisations or activities which promote causes that are contrary to our purposes. Causes and activities that are contrary to our purposes include, but may not be limited to, those outlined in our investment policy.  We will not therefore fund organisations or activities which we determine are linked to the promotion of armaments, alcohol, human rights abuses, tobacco or pornography.

In addition, the Tyrone 3 Community Benefit Fund will not support:

• The advancement of religion.  This includes organisations whose purposes include the advancement of religion;
• The establishment of endowment of any school or institution providing further education within the meaning of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1972;
• The provision of assistance to any Housing Association within the meaning of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976;
• Promotion of religious or political activity, including any flags and emblems that may deem to be associated with such;
• CIC Companies Limited by Shares, or CICs without an asset lock clause.  Eligible CICs must have at least three unrelated committee members, and/or the majority of the committee unrelated;
• Applications from individuals;
• Applications from statutory organisations;
• Salaried posts;
• Trips abroad;
• Vehicles;
• Activities that duplicate existing services;
• Retrospective funding;
• Substitution for statutory funding.

In 2022, the success rate for applications to this fund was 67%

Please note – Applicants that currently hold a live grant under this programme:
Can you please submit your monitoring and spend information for this grant as soon as possible as this will need to be submitted prior to payment of any new award, if your application is successful.

For further information and to find out if your group or project is eligible, please contact the grants team on 028 9024 5927.