Guidance

Introduction

Halkirk District Benefit Fund receives an annual payment from the Causeymire Wind Farm, which is owned
and managed by Ventient Energy. The wind farm is situated near several sites of special scientific interest
and is part of the wider Flow Country area. There are 21 turbines within the wind farm.

Area of benefit

Halkirk and District Community Council area and including Altnabraec, Banniskirk, Calder, Georgemas,
Harpsdale, Spittal, Mybster and Westerdale

About this fund

New Company Purposes were agreed at September 2024 AGM. The Company’s main Purpose is consistent with furthering the achievement of sustainable development.  The Company’s Purposes are:

• To provide or advance the accessibility of recreational facilities, and/or organising recreational activities, which will be available to members of the Community and public at large with the object of improving the conditions of life of the Community.
  
• Advancement of citizenship or Community development, including rural or urban regeneration.
  
• To advance educational opportunities in the Community relating to environment, culture, heritage and/or history.
  
• To advance environmental protection or improvement including preservation, sustainable development and conservation of the natural environment, the maintenance, improvement or provision of environmental amenities for the Community and/or the preservation of buildings or sites of architectural, historic or other importance to the Community.

Who can apply to the fund?

• For grants to individuals you must live within the Halkirk District Community Council boundary.
  
• Organisations and clubs based within Halkirk District Community Council boundary can apply.
  
• Organisations and clubs based out with the Halkirk District Community Council can apply provided the request is for activity benefitting residents of the Halkirk District Community Council

What cannot be funded

• Non constituted groups.
• Fundraising appeals or activities.
• Activities that do not benefit residents of the fund area.
• Costs already incurred or activities which will take place before your application has been decided (retrospective funding.
• The repayment of loans or payment of debts.
• Halkirk District Benefit Fund Application Guidelines
• Registered company No: 281781
• Scottish Charity No: SC039254
• Halkirk District Benefit Fund Registered Office: 28 Queensgate, Inverness, IV1
• The advancement of religion or politics. (Religious groups may apply for funding for non-religious activity that will benefit the wider community).
• Funding to support activities considered to be the responsibility of statutory authorities.
• Any activities that are considered likely to bring the fund, or the donor into disrepute.
• Any activities that conflict with the interests of the funder
• Alcohol

Additional points for consideration

Consultation

Applicants requesting funding for community activities or projects should demonstrate they have undertaken consultations with the project’s intended beneficiaries and can clearly evidence community support.

Partnership working

Applicants should consider whether delivering their project in partnership with other organisations / groups will add value to their project. This could involve working with voluntary, private, or public sector bodies.

Local procurement

Where possible, applicants should consider local providers of the goods and services they are seeking a grant towards. However, this should be shown to offer the best value, balancing considerations of cost, availability, and quality.

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Decision making process

Board

Halkirk District Benefit Fund is run by a board of Directors. Each year at the Annual General Meeting Directors who have served their time on the board step down. Members of the fund can be nominated to take a position on the Board of Directors. There are seven places on the Board of Directors.

The process

All applications to the fund are assessed by the administrator prior to being sent to the Board of Directors. The checks we have in place are to prevent fraud and limit risks.

Governing documents

We check:

1. Your organisation has charitable purposes, and these are described in your governing document.
2. Your governing document includes suitable restrictions on the disposal of assets under the
   organisation’s control and, its management committee or board members’ remuneration. It should
   feature:
   a. A charitable dissolution clause (or ‘asset lock’) stating that on winding up the organisation’s net
   assets must be put towards a similar charitable purpose(s) to that of the organisation.
   b. Suitable restraints on the provision of benefit to individuals.
   c. If the governing document allows for the remuneration of any Board or management committee
   members your organisation it must comply with OSCR’s guidance on this.

Management committee

We check:

1. There is a minimum of three unrelated persons on the management committee or Board.
2. Most of your management committee or Board members are unrelated.

Accounts and financial procedures

We check:

1. Your latest set of approved accounts. These will need to have been approved by your management
   committee or Board. If your organisation is less than 18 months old, no accounts are required.
2. Registered charities, your accounts must be prepared in accordance with the requirements of
   Office Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).
3. The organisation name on your accounts must match the name on the governing document and
   bank account.
4. You must have your own bank account.
5. Your financial transactions are required to be either authorised (before payment) or checked (after
   payment) by another person independent of the person initiating the payment.
6. Where possible your appointed account signatories must not be related. This is to safeguard against fraud or misuse of charitable funds in the organisation’s control.

Policies, procedures, and safeguarding

We expect applicants to have adopted or be developing policies and procedures appropriate to the
organisation’s size and purpose and in line with any legal requirements.

If your organisation’s core activities, or the project you are applying for, includes work with children and / or vulnerable adults, you must have an appropriate Safeguarding Policy and, procedures setting out how the policy is implemented in place before application.

Included in your policy should be:

1. The purpose & scope of the policy in a statement
2. Suitable training in safeguarding
3. Safe arrangements for all work involving vulnerable adults/children and young people.
4. Procedures for responding to and reporting abuse or suspected abuse.
5. Contact details, of at least one nominated Safeguarding person.

Your project

We check:

1. The project fits the fund criteria.
2. The organisations competence and financial status
3. How the project has been identified
4. How the project has been planned.
5. The budget planning to ensure it is realistic.

Additional information

For some projects the administrator may require additional information. To present to the Board If this is
required you will be contacted by telephone or email and asked to provide this.

Notification

Applicants will be informed of the Board decision within 2 weeks of the Board meeting advising next steps and any conditions of offer. Unsuccessful applications can receive feedback to help them understand why their application was not funded.

All decisions are final.