Funding

NnG Fund 2026

Neart na Gaoithe Community Fund 2026 is managed by Foundation Scotland.  Neart na Goithe translates from Gaelic to mean Strength of the Wind.

Elie and Earlsferry Community Council is to receive £10.800 each year for three years to award grants to – constituted community groups, charities, companies Ltd by guarantee, social enterprises and informal/unconstituted community groups. The latter will be restricted to not more than £1,000.

Grants will be awarded annually in June and decided by a majority vote of CC members in a full CC meeting.  The sub-committee consisting of Carol Birrell, Grizelda Cowan and Alison Christian will filter the applications and only pass on those that have their unanimous approval.  If there is still money after June there will be another opportunity for grant applications announced in July.  We note that we have to spend all of one year’s money to be eligible for the next year’s.

The fund’s objective is primarily to enable charitable OSCR | Meeting the Charity Test: Guidance  improvements to Elie and Earlsferry and any application that will benefit, enhance and preserve our community will be considered. Excluding those mentioned in Funding exclusions | Foundation Scotland.

We will advertise and promote the fund through our website and local notice board as well as social media.  Invitations to apply for online application forms and deadline dates will be publicised in the same way. We will communicate with applicants via emails and all decisions will be recorded in the CC minutes.  We will insist on a progress and or completion report to the Community Council within 6 months of the grant being awarded and if applicable after 12 months. 

The Fund’s money will be deposited in the E&ECC’s bank account and separately accounted for by the Treasurer and the usual three signatures required on cheques.

Enquiries to: Carol Birrell

EECC’s terms and conditions of grants are provided below:
 

1. Timescales

The grant must be spent by the date stated in your offer email unless an extension is agreed in writing by EECC.
 

2. Legislation and Liability

Your grant is awarded based on the information you supply to EECC at the time of your application and during our assessment of that before the grant is offered. If any of this information is subsequently found to be misleading, inaccurate or false, then the grant must be returned to EECC in full.

You undertake that any volunteers, persons employed or contracted to carry out work paid or otherwise linked to the grant will be suitably qualified and trained to do so.

The Grantee is responsible for ensuring that appropriate insurance cover is in place for all buildings, property, and contents funded or used in connection with the grant. This includes, but is not limited to, buildings insurance, contents insurance, and any other relevant coverage. Additionally, the Grantee must have adequate public and employer’s liability insurance in place as required for their activities.  

3. Use of Funds

The grant must not be used for any purpose other than that specified in your offer email unless agreed in writing with EECC. If any part of the grant is not used for the purpose specified above, or other purposes agreed with EECC, it must be paid back to EECC.

You undertake that any persons employed or contracted to carry out work paid for with the grant will be suitably qualified to do so. In the event of your organisation being wound up, Foundation Scotland will be informed immediately. In such cases, any unspent grant funds must be returned to Foundation Scotland. Also refer to the Assets Purchased section below.

4. Progress and Reporting

You must keep all records pertaining to your grant for a minimum of six years and be prepared to submit these on request. We must be given a progress report after 6 months and have a completion report by 12 months.

5. Acknowledgements & Publicity

The fund your grant comes from and Foundation Scotland should be acknowledged in connection with the grant award as per our guidelines provided in your offer email. This includes acknowledgement in publicity in any media, publications or other outlets.

It would also be extremely helpful if you could provide photographs or video recordings that help illustrate your project and demonstrate its benefits, to be used by Foundation Scotland for publicity purposes. If you're happy for us to use your imagery for publicity purposes, consent is required for all photos or video recordings featuring clearly identifiable individuals.

We would ask that you invite Foundation Scotland to attend any promotional or public launch pertaining to this grant award.  You will e-mail Foundation Scotland a copy of any literature/materials produced with the grant and/or notification of any related website featuring the project that the grant is contributing towards.

You will give recognition of the support of Foundation Scotland and the fund that your grant comes from in your organisation’s annual report.

6. Accounting

Your organisation will show the grant income as restricted in its accounts and include a note in its annual accounts showing that the grant is provided by the fund (stating the name of the fund) and through Foundation Scotland.

7. Assets Purchased

Any asset purchased with the grant will not be sold, gifted or otherwise disposed of to any other organisation or individual within the appropriate financial life (based on accepted depreciation rates) of the asset or within a ten-year period, whichever is the longer, without our prior approval in writing. 

If your organisation is wound up, any equipment purchased with the grant will be made available to redistribute to another organisation operating within the geographical area served by the fund form which your grant is paid.  EECC will agree the organisation to which it is made available.

Any asset purchased using the grant must never be sold or gifted to the financial gain of an individual or individual(s).