New Community Fund launched for Prestonpans, Cockenzie & Port Seton

Grants of up to £2,000 are now available to community groups and charities tackling the effects of poverty and inequality or working to improve the local environment in Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton, through the newly launched Inch Cape Construction Fund.

Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm will be located off the Angus coast while its onshore substation is under construction at the site of Cockenzie’s old power station, where electricity generated by the offshore turbines will be brought ashore. 

The project developer, Inch Cape Offshore Ltd has worked with Foundation Scotland to launch a new Fund to provide grants for communities in the surrounding areas during the project’s construction phase.  

The Fund aims to tackle the effects of poverty and inequality, such as isolation, ill health and access to services, and support initiatives to improve the local environment.  This may be local groups taking action to reduce loneliness, or those supporting projects aiming to improve mental or physical health and wellbeing or increase access to learning.  It could also include organisations with projects designed to improve the local environment and contribute to a sustainable future.  

The Fund will be for the benefit of people of all ages, ranging across children, families, adults or older people.  

Groups can apply for funding at any time during the coming 12 months.  A total of £45,000 will be released across the year to give groups time to develop plans and ideas before applying. 

Sue Vincent, Stakeholder and Communications Manager with Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm said: 

We anticipate that the Inch Cape Construction Fund will be able to support a wide range of worthy initiatives and help make a difference to the community local to where we are carrying out our onshore construction work. We are grateful to the team at Foundation Scotland for their expertise and look forward to our ongoing partnership.

Malcolm Jack, Community Funds Manager at Foundation Scotland, knows the importance of locally available funding: 

Foundation Scotland makes sure that community benefit funding reaches as deep into communities as possible.  We’re delighted that Inch Cape has chosen us to support and run this Fund.  Our extensive experience working with communities and the renewables sector will help make sure the Fund has maximum impact in Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton.

Information and the online application forms are available here  

For further information please contact: Malcolm Jack, Community Funds Manager
Email: malcolm@foundationscotland.org.uk