Glenkerie Fund awards over £49,000 to support community improvements
Over £49,000 has been awarded to improve community facilities, support young people and enhance local green spaces in the first funding round of 2025 from the Glenkerie Wind Farm Community Fund.
The Fund, provided by renewable energy company Nadara and administered by Foundation Scotland, aims to enhance the local environment, ensuring that it is an attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit.
Since launching in 2014, the Fund has helped support projects which encourage and promote community spirit, ensure adequate access to services for community members, improve local transport, grow the local economy and develop and maintain community assets. Funding decisions are made quarterly by a panel of local residents, who have a passion for the area in which they live. The most recent panel meeting was held in Coulter Village Hall, which was itself recently funded by the Glenkerie Fund.
Projects supported in the first funding round of the year included Biggar Youth Project, a local charity providing a safe and inclusive space for young people. The project received a 3-year, £30,000 award to support its core running costs following the organisation’s relaunch and building refurbishment. Funding will enable the project to continue offering activities, mentoring and support services for young people in the area.
The Biggar Gillespie Centre, a volunteer-run community venue providing space for events, activities and a community cafe, was awarded £10,000 to help complete a refurbishment programme. The funding will support the installation of a lift and toilet upgrades, improving accessibility and ensuring the centre remains a vibrant hub for local residents.
Lastly, Broughtonknowe Community Woodland received £9,134 to fund multiple initiatives following the community purchase of a local woodland near Broughton in the Scottish Borders. The funding will support beehives, oak planting, improved signage and a picnic shelter to encourage community engagement and environmental learning, as well as promote as sense of community ownership.
Dr Janet Moxley, Secretary and Board Member of the Biggar Youth Project, said:
"We are delighted to have received support from Nadara Glenkerie Community Fund through Foundation Scotland, which will allow us to support our activities for young people in Biggar and the surrounding area. Having just completed an extensive refurbishment of our building, we are keen to develop and expand our programme, which is led by a team of professional youth workers. We are the only organisation in the Biggar area which offers this sort of service. This is an exciting time for Biggar Youth Project and we are very grateful to the Nadara Glenkerie Community Fund for their continued support."
Niome Lucjan, Community Funds Adviser at Foundation Scotland, said:
“The awards from this round will have a significant impact for the communities they reach and will continue to benefit them for generations to come.”
The Fund is open to applications on a quarterly basis. The next deadline for community organisations is 17 July 2025.
Read more about Glenkerie Wind Farm Community Fund here