Applications open for Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund (UK)

The Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund is a local community benefit grants programme administered by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI). It supports community projects that educate, raise awareness, and demonstrate community involvement in work promoting environmental issues and healthier lifestyles within 5 km of the Corby Knowe wind farm in County Antrim. The closing date is 1:00pm on Thursday 22 October 2026. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding organisation: Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI)

- Opportunity name: Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund

- Grant size: Up to £2,500

- Geographic eligibility: Projects must be within 5 km of the Corby Knowe wind farm site (straight-line measurement)

- Eligible applicants: Locally based not-for-profit, voluntary or community groups in Northern Ireland (see eligibility section)

- Priority themes (examples):

- Tackling rural isolation and marginalisation - Children and teenagers (including pre-school), skills development, arts and cultural activities - Community interaction and cohesion - Better use of existing community space (venues and outdoor spaces) - Environmental and conservation management - Recruiting and developing volunteers to strengthen community organisations

- Closing date: 1:00pm, Thursday 22 October 2026

- Application portal: CFNI Fundseeker Portal (new users should read the “How to Apply” guide)

About the Opportunity

The Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund was set up by Gaelectric in 2016 and is now managed by CGN Europe, a wind energy and energy storage company. The fund is administered by CFNI to ensure that local wind farm benefits translate into community support. The fund is intended for local projects that: - Educate, raise awareness, and demonstrate community involvement in work that promotes environmental issues and healthier lifestyles. Funding and Benefits

- Maximum grant: Up to £2,500 per project (exact award amounts are not specified in the source).

- Funding scope: The fund supports projects addressing issues within the following theme areas:

- Children and teenagers - Environment and living spaces - Community Partnerships

- Not specified in the source: Whether there is match funding, cost-sharing requirements, or restrictions on eligible costs beyond the “What we can’t fund” list.

Who Is Eligible? The fund is for locally based not-for-profit, voluntary or community groups working in Northern Ireland to improve the quality of life for local people. Geographic requirement - Projects requesting support must be located within 5 km of the wind farm site. - Applicant organisations must be located within the 5 km radius using straight-line measurement. - The source provides the wind farm site coordinates: 54.7811, -6.1719. Organisational requirements (as stated)

Applicants should be able to confirm:

- An active management committee - No two related cheque signatories - A governing document (e.g., Constitution in the name of the applicant organisation) - A current bank account in the name of the organisation - If submitting a bank statement that is overdrawn, an explanation must be provided - Up to date annual accounts - Compliance with conditions of previous grants, including submission of monitoring returns Not eligible (as stated)

The fund will not support:

- Individuals - Statutory organisations - Salaried posts - Trips abroad - Vehicles - Activities that duplicate existing services - Retrospective funding - Substitution for statutory funding

Additional exclusions include:

- Organisations or activities that promote causes contrary to CFNI purposes, including (but not limited to) those linked to the promotion of armaments, alcohol, human rights abuses, tobacco, or pornography. - The advancement of religion (including organisations whose purposes include the advancement of religion) - The establishment of endowment of any school or institution providing further education under the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 - Provision of assistance to any Housing Association under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 - Promotion of religious or political activity, including flags and emblems 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 Live grant restriction - Applicants that currently hold a live grant are not eligible to re-apply in any new round until all outstanding information is provided for the current grant (including details of spend and monitoring). Eligible Activities or Priority Areas The fund supports projects that address issues within the following theme areas: - Children and teenagers - Environment and living spaces - Community Partnerships Priority will be given to programmes/projects that: - Address marginalisation and help tackle rural isolation - Are aimed specifically for children and teenagers (including pre-school children), including: - skills development of local people - arts and cultural activities - Encourage community interaction and cohesion through activities and events - Improve utilisation of existing community space, including: - community venues - outdoor spaces - Improve local environmental and conservation management - Recruit and develop the capacity of volunteers to improve the sustainability of existing community organisations Why This Opportunity Matters This fund is designed to support small, local community benefit projects connected to the Corby Knowe wind farm area. It focuses on practical community outcomes—such as reducing isolation, supporting young people, strengthening community spaces, and improving environmental and conservation management—while also requiring applicants to meet clear local governance and eligibility standards. How to Apply - Read the guidance before applying. The source states applicants should read the text provided before beginning the application