GrantRadar

Dogger Bank Wind Farm

Dogger Bank Operator Fund

Small grants of up to £1,000 from Dogger Bank Wind Farm for constituted community groups with an annual turnover below £100,000. Groups must deliver activities in South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland or East Riding of Yorkshire, near the wind farm's operation bases. Grants fund community-focused or charitable activities, from sports kit to mental health groups. The fund is open for 2026 applications on a short form, and a panel meets monthly, but demand is high and there can be a wait of two to three months before your application reaches the panel.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £1,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Community groups that have a constitution, have an annual turnover below £100,000 and deliver activities in Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside or East Riding of Yorkshire
  • Schools cannot apply, but constituted Friends groups and Parent Teacher Associations can
  • Groups awarded a grant must leave a gap before reapplying: the guidance says a group successful in 2026 cannot reapply before 1 January 2028
  • You need a bank account in the group's name, because a recent bank statement is required

What it funds

  • Community-focused or charitable activities that enhance quality of life for local residents
  • Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities
  • And/or promote community spirit and encourage community activity

Examples given range from sports kit to mental health groups.

Priority goes to activities close to the wind farm sites at Port of Tyne, South Tyneside (NE33 1RZ); Wilton, Redcar and Cleveland (TS10 4FX); and Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire (HU17 0RN).

Energy efficiency measures are encouraged in place of energy costs.

What it will not fund

  • Projects which do not support people in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland or South Tyneside
  • The advancement of religion or politics, including the core activities of religious or political groups
  • The purchase of firearms
  • Costs of energy consumption
  • Repayment of loans or payment of debts
  • Costs already incurred or activities taking place before a decision is made (retrospective funding)
  • Areas generally understood to be the primary responsibility of statutory authorities
  • Anti-wind farm or anti-renewable energy activities, or activities contrary to the interests of SSE and its subsidiaries
  • Schools (constituted Friends groups and PTAs can apply)
  • Groups awarded a grant in the previous year (a 2026 grantee cannot reapply before 1 January 2028)

How to apply

  1. Download the Operator Fund guidance and application form (Word document) from the Dogger Bank community page
  2. Complete the form: group and contact details, local authority area, whether you have a constitution, last year's income and expenditure, the project (about 150 words), how it helps the community (about 150 words), total project cost, amount requested and any own funds or fundraising
  3. Email the completed form, with a bank statement from the last three months and a copy of your constitution, to Lbush@equinor.com
  4. A panel of wind farm representatives and local stakeholders considers applications monthly; you are told the outcome by letter or email

The fund is open for 2026 applications with no deadline. There can be a wait of up to three months before an application goes to panel, so apply early for time-sensitive events.

Activities must not take place before a decision is made.

Have ready

  • Completed Operator Fund application form
  • Bank statement for the group from the last three months
  • Copy of the group's constitution

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