Kinglassie community bowled over by funding landmark
The Nadara Westfield Windfarm Community Fund in Kinglassie is marking its tenth year of support for local grassroots projects. In that time, the fund has awarded 66 grants totalling over £161,000. The fund also supported individuals during the 2020 Kinglassie floods.
The Kinglassie Fund is owned by Nadara energy and is administered by Foundation Scotland. It has been instrumental in providing opportunities for communities to thrive by supporting local individuals, groups and organisations. Funding has been strategic and considered, with projects varying in reach and focusing on priority areas within Kinglassie to ensure significant impact for the local community.
The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that, enhance quality of life for local residents, contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities and promote community spirit.
Organisations who have benefited include Kinglassie Miners Charitable Society and Bowling Club, Kinglassie Pilgrams Way and Heritage Group, Kinglassie Primary School Parent Council, Kinglassie Toddlers and Mitchell Hall Resource Centre Group who received awards of between £6,000 and £16,000.
Previously funded projects have also included the Kinglassie Action Group, which was originally set up as a coordinating organisation to support with managing community improvements and liaise with Fife Council. Over a number of years, the group received 8 awards totalling just over £40,000 for a series of projects. This included a grant of £13,000 to contribute to the installation of the local skate park and ball court, funding towards the installation of a defibrillator in the village as well as Christmas lights and decorations. They were also awarded £7,800 to help with the resurfacing of Black Dykes Road, a small unadopted road in the village.
Another organisation which has benefited from funding over the years is the Kinglassie Old Fold Retreat Association. To date, they have been awarded £16,735 which has been used to support activities including an annual dinner and social event benefitting 110 local pensioners, care home residents and support volunteers, offering opportunities to enhance wellbeing and improve community cohesion.
Kinglassie also has access to an Education and Training Fund, which opened just last year and has already awarded bursaries to 5 individuals with a combined total of £2,500. These bursaries have supported individuals with transport costs, subsistence and equipment costs, giving access to learning opportunities that may otherwise be unattainable due to financial constraints.
Through the Fund, the Kinglassie Community Council also has access to a microgrant scheme which provides opportunities for unconstituted groups and individuals to apply for up to £250 of funding. The scheme has supported groups including the Kinglassie Mothers and Toddlers, community planters and the football club.
All awards from the fund are decided by the Westfield Kinglassie Panel, which is made up of local residents from the Kinglassie Community Council area. The Panel Members use their local knowledge and passion to ensure that awards are making a direct impact in the community.
A local resident and Panel member said:
I'm delighted to be a part of the fund panel. I love that we can award funds to local groups who are working hard in our close-knit community.
Niome Lucjan, Community Funds Advisor with Foundation Scotland said:
The Panel continues to demonstrate the power of local residents and the difference a community can make when it focuses on long term impact. Being a Panel member is a great responsibility and the Panel has risen to the challenge and shown its commitment, knowledge and dedication to Kinglassie.
As the Fund celebrates its tenth year of making significant impact within the community, many projects have flourished with opportunities that may otherwise not have been possible without the Fund, and the array of awards underscores the difference the Fund has made to the community of Kinglassie.
Read more about the fund here.