The Four Winds Community Fund
Our community fund is currently OPEN. Please download and read the guidance note first, and then use the application form.
Four Winds is an ethical organisation and a social enterprise. It is not a profit maximising organisation. It seeks to pay a reasonable return to its members on capital invested, and a sufficient return to attract and retain that capital, but is also motivated by broader community objectives and the values of the co-operative movement.
Subject to all final capital and operating costs, we set aside 5% of turnover per year for a community fund, and share equally any interest that annually exceeds 10% to support local community projects.
You can find out about some of the projects we have funded in the case studies below.
Submitted applications will be considered at one of the next co-op board meetings. These are held approximately four times a year in January, April, August and October.
Depending on the number of applications, we may not be able to contact unsuccessful applicants.
The areas that are eligible for community funding, based on proximity to either the Duckmanton or Shafton wind turbine
(Last updated 9/2025)
Previous grant recipients
Barnsley Hospice increase their efficiency and reduce their bills with new water heaters
Four Winds recently awarded Barnsley Hospice a grant for the purchase and installation of two new water heaters. They have said: “These new efficient heaters will not only increase our water-heating efficiency by more than 16%, but also ensure we have lower energy bills and provide a constant and reliable…
2023/2024 Community Fund Allocations
The grants issued in the Financial Year 2023/24 were the following: Duckmanton School £10,000 Energise Barnsley £7,500 Climate Action NE Derbyshire £2,775 Stainsby Festival £7,376.18 Ashgate Hospice £12,210 Freedom Community Project £5,000 Chesterfield Food Bank £7,000 Barnsley Food Bank £7,000 CAB Chesterfield £7,000 CAB Barnsley £7,000 Above: LED Lighting…
Ashgate Hospice has been refurbished
Four Winds Co-op recently attended the opening of the refurbished Ashgate Hospice which included LED lighting funded by the co-op. Thanks to funds, donations and free materials they could do a full makeover including replacing the leaking roof, total redecoration, installation of new windows and doors, installation of a self…
Composting Toilet at Rhubarb Farm
Four Winds were very pleased to be able to assist in the funding of the second composting toilet at Rhubarb Farm (https://rhubarbfarm.wixsite.com/rhubarbfarm) which increased the client base Rhubarb Farm is able to serve. Four Winds Director Eddie Peat attended the official opening of the toilet. This one composting toilet will…
The Oxcroft Centre
The Oxcroft centre is a former miners institute at Oxcroft. Whilst the building was relatively modern, built in 1994, it has some aged electrical systems. An application was made by the centre for replacement of internal lights with LED’s. Grant of £1,781.35 was agreed and this has been paid following…
Duckmanton School Solar Panels
Four Winds Energy Co-operative has supported the installation of solar panels on a local primary school at Duckmanton. The solar energy system was installed in August 2016 and enable the school to reduce its energy costs. The money allocated to the community fund has been used to support the installation…