Celebrating community climate action in the northeast
The Vattenfall Unlock our Future Fund has celebrated another year of community grant making, with a special celebration event in Inverurie last week.
In the six years since the fund opened, 86 awards totalling a huge £816,000 have been made to climate smart community projects in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. This year alone saw a record 20 projects awarded a total of £200,000, the biggest round of funding to date.
The celebration event in Inverurie highlighted the range of groups and projects taking positive action in their communities – providing valuable local services and also taking practical measures to reduce their carbon footprint.
The Vattenfall Unlock our Future Fund is provided by Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Vattenfall, and is administered by Foundation Scotland.
Kerry Birse, Local Liaison Officer for Vattenfall said:
It’s so heartening to see the real impact the Unlock Our Future Fund is having across such a wide array of projects in Aberdeen City and Shire. The fund is a trail blazer in its support of projects that are helping tackle climate change and support a sustainable future. From funding an electric van to deliver fruit and vegetables, and restoring local community spaces, to helping a rugby club cover the cost of new heaters to keep their facilities warm and save energy, the fund really is making a tangible impact for those living and working in our local community.
The celebration event took place on a snowy day in Inverurie, where several groups were recognised for the steps they are taking to improve the energy efficiency of their facilities. Aberdeen Association of Social Service, Belmont Community Cinema, Fraserburgh and District Men’s Shed, Garioch Rugby Club, Mormond West Parish Church Hall, Magpie Reuse Centre, Strichen Community Park, Strichen Town House, Tullynessle and Forbes Community Hall, and the Victoria and Albert Halls in Ballater all received grants from between £892 to £20,000 for measures such as insulation, glazing, solar panels, battery storage, low carbon heating systems and energy efficient equipment - including a cinema projector.
These diverse groups and projects all have a common aim - to improve the comfort of community spaces and also reduce running costs and carbon emissions.
Aberdeen Performing Arts, the local charity in charge of iconic theatre venues in the north east, received funding for specialist equipment to improve the efficiency of energy use in their buildings.
Emma Gartland from Aberdeen Performing Arts said:
We are so grateful to be receiving such a generous award of £20,000 from the Vattenfall Unlock Our Future Fund to help us with upgrading the Building Management System at His Majesty’s Theatre. This work will allow us to be in better control of our energy usage, making us more efficient and saving us a considerable amount of money in utilities. While the focus is usually on the glitz and glamour of this historic theatre, these works are essential to help us bring this almost 120 year old building into the 21st century, and achieve our mission to make our venues as sustainable as possible.
A number of local sports clubs also received awards to improve their energy efficiency with upgrades to outdoor lighting and other equipment. Turriff United and Hall Russell United Junior FC both received grants for LED floodlights while Buchanhaven Hearts Junior FC was awarded funding to purchase a robotic mower, replacing their diesel grass cutting equipment (with funding from the North Connect Legacy Fund).
Projects encouraging local food growing and promoting less food waste were supported, with awards made to Gairn Community Garden and Ellon Community Allotments to develop food growing sites. Community Food Initiatives North East received funding for an electric van to deliver fruit and veg and the Seed Box also received an award towards the purchase of a small electric vehicle to collect garden waste for a community composting scheme.
The event provided an excellent opportunity to share ideas, advice and inspiration and celebrate the great work of so many local groups and volunteers.
The fund will open again in 2025.