Windfarm funds providing innovative support for community groups
Celebration as successful first year of project leads to funding extension
Community benefit funding from the EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Wind Farm, which is administered by Foundation Scotland, has been put to innovative use in Limerigg & Slamannan, by supporting the creation of a brand-new Community Development Officer role. Hosted by CVS Falkirk, the role was created to catalyse groups and projects in Limerigg & Slamannan, to better benefit those communities.
Community benefit funds from local wind farms are not unusual, and there are over one hundred across Scotland. What makes this project so novel is that the funds were used to commission and create this development role, with the purpose of bringing together and connecting the communities as a whole - groups, projects, and services.
The EDF Burnhead Fund for Limerigg & Slamannan has been awarding vital grants for a variety of small-scale and shorter-term activities for a number of years, benefiting the area and its residents. However, resident discussions with Foundation Scotland also revealed ideas for larger-scale projects with the potential for longer term, significant impact. Residents were committed to enhancing the community and accessing untapped potential to engage more residents in community development activity.
After further discussion, it was decided that a Community Development Officer would be able to provide and broker support, capacity and expertise to help take forward community development plans and flagship projects. The role would be hosted and supported by CVS Falkirk & District.
Taking a co-production approach, the new role and a project framework were created, then approved and funded by the EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Wind Farm Community Fund.
In their first year in post, the Community Development Officer has worked successfully with six new or enhanced projects and services, supported new and existing community groups and local charities to apply for funding, revitalised a Community Action Plan and helped move several flagship projects and partnerships forwards. The Community Development Officer is supported by CVS Falkirk & District and can access support, expertise and technical knowledge from colleagues there.
One project that has been supported by the Community Development Officer is Martha’s Pantry, which provides food and household goods to the communities of Limerigg & Slamannan, supporting the people who are most directly affected by the cost-of-living crisis. The Community Development Officer supported the launch of this new community food larder, and their successful application for funding to the EDF Burnhead Fund.
They have also set up a weekly open door/drop-in session within Slamannan, to discuss support mechanisms for community activity and the potential for new ideas. The Community Development Officer attends many of the community groups meetings to discuss their challenges, highlight CVS Falkirk & District’s assistance and support the groups to overcome challenges.
The project has been so successful that funding has been agreed for at least another two years. The aim is to continue to bring together volunteers and community activists to realise their ambitions for the places they live, and to improve communities for everyone.
The Community Development Officer will also explore opportunities for community ownership and community asset transfer, create a Youth Group in Slamannan where young volunteers can access training before taking on their own projects and activities, and provide links between community groups and projects to build capacity and share resources.
Victoria McRae, Chief Executive Officer of CVS Falkirk and District said: “We are so pleased that, as a result of this partnership, our team at CVS Falkirk & District are able to continue supporting the communities and third sector groups of Limerigg and Slammanan to help them realise their ambitions for community-led projects and activities, that will then improve the lives of residents. The concept of the initial project was co-produced with community representatives, and it has continued with this ethos of co-production and community participation at its heart. This approach has proven successful, enabling a number of notable achievements in the first year, plus significant development of larger and longer-term projects that will benefit local people for many years to come.
“As the Third Sector Interface (TSI) for the area, supporting a strong and thriving third sector throughout Falkirk District is our key objective, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with Foundation Scotland and work together to enable delivery of this dedicated and bespoke programme of support which meets the unique needs of these small, rural communities.”
Malcolm Jack, Community Funds Manager at Foundation Scotland said: “At Foundation Scotland, we’re committed to making community benefit funds work as hard as possible to fuel community groups and projects which make a real difference to people’s lives. Liaising with residents, we recognised how a community development officer could accelerate community projects and services in Limerigg & Slamannan. I’m delighted the partnership with CVS Falkirk has proved so successful here, and I know we’re already working with a number of communities in other parts of Scotland to explore similar approaches."
Emma Baldrey, EDF Renewables’ Onshore Portfolio Lead for Burnhead Moss Wind Farm said: "It’s so heartening to see our Burnhead Moss fund be used in such a collaborative way amongst existing community organisations in the Limerigg & Slamannan area. We are delighted to see that jobs are being created and as a result, community development plans specific to the local area coming to life. Well done to all involved!"