Wind farm fund powering community action in Highland
Grants of up to £150,000 are now available from the Beinneun Community Benefit Fund to support projects that benefit residents of the two community council areas of Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston and Glengarry.
The fund is provided by Beinneun Wind Farm Ltd, the company which owns and operates the Beinneun wind farm in Highland. A huge total of over £2,500,000 has already been distributed since the fund opened in 2017.
The fund provides grants to support community activities which enhance economic, social or environmental sustainability, and aims to ensure that successful applications are translated into real projects that make a material difference and deliver a lasting legacy.
Most recently, this included supporting the Glenmoriston Millennium Hall Association with the cost of replacing the septic tank and pumping chamber to restore the public toilets at the Glenmoriston Millenium Hall.
Now administered by Foundation Scotland, the fund has three tiers that local groups can apply to:
- Small grants of between £1,000 and £5,000
- Main grants over £5,000 and up to £150,000
- Multi-year awards up to £150,000
Awards from the fund are decided by a Community Panel, made up of representatives who live, work or volunteer in the two community council areas. They use their local knowledge to ensure that awards are making a direct impact in the community.
The Community Panel particularly welcome applications that can demonstrate environmentally responsible and sustainable practice.
Rachel Searle, Head of Communities at Foundation Scotland said:
There is so much critical community led activity happening across the area. The Beinneun Fund is a valuable source of support to help sustain and develop this. The Beinneun Fund also has a helpfully high threshold of £150,000 so is able to consider both larger scale or longer term, multi-year costs.
Full details on how to apply are available on the Fund page here