Two Ridings Community Foundation

Knabs Ridge Wind Farm Community Fund

A wind farm community benefit fund from RWE Renewables, administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation, for small charities and voluntary and community groups in the parishes around Knabs Ridge Wind Farm near Harrogate (Birstwith, Felliscliffe, Hampsthwaite, Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw, Menwith with Darley, Norwood and Washburn), North Yorkshire. Microgrants of up to £700 are open all year with no deadline, and repeat activity can be funded at up to £700 a year for up to three years in one application. Larger grants (up to £3,500) closed on 8 June 2026 and reopen during 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £2,100; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Small voluntary organisations, community groups, small charities and other not-for-profit organisations (CICs and CBSs must meet Two Ridings' additional criteria, including an asset lock and at least three unrelated directors) where the purpose of the grant is wholly charitable, based in and/or delivering activities or services for residents of the parishes of Birstwith, Felliscliffe, Hampsthwaite, Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw, Menwith with Darley, Norwood and Washburn (the guidance also names Fewston), including the rural areas between villages
Organisations must have annual income (turnover) under £500,000, a governing document with charitable objectives and a charitable dissolution clause with a named body in the asset lock, and a bank account in the group's name with at least two unrelated signatories
Two Ridings' general criteria also ask for local leadership and at least three unrelated trustees or committee members
Parish councils can apply if the project is wholly charitable and outside their usual remit

What it funds

Charitable, educational, community, environmental, energy efficiency or general community amenity activities in the local area that enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and promote community spirit and community activity, with priority for projects that make a lasting benefit to people's lives

Past grants have funded refurbishment of community buildings, equipment for playgroups, drama clubs, sports facilities and play areas, and a graveyard recording project.

Microgrants are up to £700, available year-round if funds allow; if the work will be repeated you can apply for up to £700 a year for up to three years (e.g. room hire each year), saying clearly that it is a multi-year request.

The fund supports full cost recovery and can accept applications that are predominantly for overheads relating to direct delivery (rent, heating and lighting, insurance, core staff not involved in delivery, stationery, small capital items, internet, volunteer costs).

What it will not fund

Private businesses or individuals
General appeals or sponsorship
National organisations and their affiliates (locally constituted and managed branches can apply)
Work which has already started or taken place (retrospective funding)
Work normally funded from statutory sources
Work undertaken by or on behalf of statutory bodies as part of their statutory activities
Prize money
Purchase of gifts
Work of a political nature
Loans, deposits or on-granting
Payment of commission-based fundraisers / fundraising (overheads must not include these costs)
Work undertaken by or on behalf of schools, colleges or universities as part of their statutory curricular activities
Teacher training
Work where the main beneficiaries are animals
Work which does not directly benefit people living in the area of benefit
Overseas holidays or trips
Organisations that mainly give funds to other organisations or individuals
Work for the advancement of religion (religious groups can apply if the main focus is not proselytising)
Work normally undertaken by infrastructure organisations
Organisations with substantial unrestricted funds (contact Two Ridings if this may apply)
Previous grant recipients with outstanding reporting information
Trading activity, or overheads/general running costs, of CICs, companies or Community Benefit Societies

How to apply

Check your general eligibility on Two Ridings' How to Apply page
Read the Knabs Ridge Guidance Notes 2026, even if you have applied before
Click 'Apply for a microgrant' on the fund page and register your email; follow the emailed link to the online form (you can save drafts)
Complete the form (stating clearly if you want a multi-year microgrant and how much for each year) and attach your supporting documents, or email them to grants@tworidingscf.org.uk
An assessor may phone or meet you to discuss the application
If successful, send a recent bank statement within 4 weeks of the award email, and complete an end-of-grant report when the project finishes

For a microgrant for an event, apply at least 12 weeks before the event.

Larger grants are closed; the 2026 round (up to £3,500) closed at noon on 8 June 2026 and larger grants reopen during 2027.

Documents sent by post should not be stapled; a paper application form is available on request (01904 929500).

Have ready

Constitution / governing document / set of rules
Contact details (address and email) of your management committee, trustees or directors
Most recent annual accounts or financial records showing balance of funds, income and expenditure (management accounts if you do not have a full year's records)
Safeguarding policy (if you work directly with children or vulnerable adults)
If successful: a bank statement dated within the last three months, or a paying-in slip, in the organisation's name (no transaction lists or screenshots)

Applications are only processed once all documents are received; contact Two Ridings if you are missing any.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.