Dorenell Wind Farm powering community action plan priorities
Six groups have benefitted from awards totalling £170,000 in the most recent round of funding from the EDF Renewables UK Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
The fund supports charitable projects which benefit residents of Dufftown, Auchindoun, Glenrinnes, Glenlivet, Inveravon, and the Cabrach, to address a number of issues and priorities identified by local residents and captured in the area’s recently updated Community Action Plan.
Supporting young people and providing opportunities for them is one priority. Speyside Youth has been supported by the fund for the past three years and a new award of £67,000 will continue to contribute to core staff costs for youth workers for the next three years, to support the Youth Café and other activities which improve opportunities, skills and wellbeing of local youngsters. An award of £4,874 was also made to the 1st Dufftown Scout Group to fund a summer camp. Another group which involves young people and older residents – Dufftown and District Pipe Band – was awarded £3,000 to purchase essential items such as raincoats and pipe reeds.
Heritage is another key theme for the fund and the recent round saw two important projects supported. An award of £54,393 was made to Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust to continue to fund a Heritage Ranger for a further two years. This role was created in order to promote the unique heritage and dark sky environment of Glenlivet and Inveravon. The ranger provides ongoing support to local heritage groups, such as the Scalan Association and the Cairngorm Astronomy Group and runs a programme of events which aims to boost quality, year-round tourism. A further award of £11,000 was made to support the creation of a community memorial garden in Braes of Glenlivet that will serve the local population and act as a place of remembrance.
Addressing the fund theme of improving community facilities, Glenrinnes Community Centre received support for the following projects - £2,712 to fund four picnic tables to create an outdoor seating area; £21,108 to fund an emergency generator; £2,962 to insulate the roof space and £2,268 to upgrade the lighting to LEDs.
Finally – and demonstrating how responsive and flexible the EDF Renewables UK Dorenell Community Fund is - an award of £1,000 was made to the charity Together for Short Lives to contribute towards the Butterfly Fund which provides financial support to bereaved families.
The Dorenell Wind Farm Community Fund is provided by EDF Renewables UK. EDF Renewables UK, Director of Asset Operations, Piero Maggio said:
We really enjoy receiving updates on how the Dorenell Community Benefit Fund is put to use locally and it never ceases to amaze us how diverse and interesting the recipients are. Congratulations to all involved in such worthy and fantastic projects.
Decisions on awards are made by a panel of local volunteers, supported by Foundation Scotland which administers the fund. There is currently a vacancy for a panel member in Glenlivet & Inveravon so please get in touch if you are interested in this role.
Projects that benefit the communities of Dufftown, Auchindoun, Glenrinnes, Glenlivet, Inveravon or Cabrach can still apply for funding of up to £30,000 for projects and activities that are charitable in nature, community-led and that will benefit local residents. Grant awards are recommended by a panel of representatives drawn from those communities.
The deadlines for the EDF Renewables UK Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund year ahead are 31st March, 31st July and 30th November.
Dorenell also provides funding for microgrant schemes which are run by each of the community associations involved in setting up and running the Fund: Cabrach Community Association; Dufftown & District Community Association; Glenlivet & Inveravon Community Association and Glenrinnes Community Centre.
These microgrants allow smaller groups to apply for up to £1,000 for events, activities, equipment and projects. More information is available from local community associations.
Full details on the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Fund are available here