The South Kyle Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

About this fund

The South Kyle Wind Farm Community Benefit is providing assured income to the communities of Dalmellington, Patna and New Cumnock in East Ayrshire and Carsphairn in Dumfries & Galloway. 

Foundation Scotland administers the fund in partnership with four organisations in the area of benefit – Dalmellington Parish Development Trust, Patna Action Group, New Cumnock Development Trust and Carsphairn Renewable Energy Fund Ltd (CREFL). The fund design has been influenced by four principles:

• Purposeful – the fund has a distinct purpose to contribute to the wellbeing and sustainability of the four communities. It will help create possibility, opportunity and positive economic, social and environmental change and development in communities.
• Context specific – the fund components and their governance and administration arrangements are tailored to each communities own context and capacity.
• Collaborative – although much of the spend will be targeted at projects and activity happening in each of the communities (not necessarily across them) the communities are committed to sharing resources, ideas and learning. 
• Accountable - at all levels, the fund will be transparent and promote and support deliberation and decision-making processes that are accountable, inclusive and community led.

The fund operates on an initial four-year cycle. In the first cycle, from 2023 – 2027 the funding is being distributed through four different strands:

• Paid/ Contracted Support
• Local Community Funds
• Education and Training Schemes
• Flagship Change Projects (larger priority projects in community action plans, see below for examples)

Each strand addresses the fund’s outcomes and objectives by tackling immediate needs and/or addressing longer term challenges that the communities feel they want to – and can - influence or change. The strands encourage and enable community level autonomy where the community feels it has the capacity to operate independently whilst also retaining an area wide coherence, encouraging connection and collaboration across and between the communities.

Operating as a shared but secure resource across the four communities, the South Kyle Fund provides upfront reassurance about providing the developmental capacity and support the communities want alongside funding for flagship projects that the communities have each decided to be a priority over the next four years. This will act as a signal of confidence in projects that makes securing other external funding less uncertain.

Flagship change projects funded to date

£65,000	To purchase Dunaskin Bowling Club, ensuring it is retained as a community asset, providing recreational and social opportunities.
£40,000	To develop the playpark in Patna, reviving a neglected facility for children and families.
£9,000	To contribute to the development of an All Ability Cycling facility in Dalmellington.
£120,000	To enable the purchase of the Kirk O’ the Covenant Church building in Dalmellington that will be transformed into a museum and observatory providing a new tourism destination and community venue.
£594,000	To support plans to redevelop the Castle Hotel and Trotters Building in New Cumnock, transforming them into sustainable community assets which will contribute to building a more vibrant local economy.

Purpose of this fund

The purpose of the South Kyle Fund is to enhance the lives of people living in Carsphairn, Dalmellington, New Cumnock and Patna now and in the future by contributing to the wellbeing and sustainability of each of the communities.

The benefitting communities are at different stages of developing and implementing their own community-led ambitions and plans. But common themes across the communities have shaped the Fund’s outcomes:  

• Improved and enhanced built and natural environment (housing, buildings, public spaces, the natural environment).
• Increased leisure and tourism opportunities. 
• Improved infrastructure and connectivity (digital, physical, social, getting around). 
• An improving economy with inclusive and accessible opportunities for training, employment and enterprise.
• Improved opportunities for children and young people living here

Underpinning these outcomes are four objectives that will can help maximise the social, economic and environmental benefit being achieved. 

• Promoting participation & equality
• Supporting the communities to become more climate smart
• Building community infrastructure
• Building community wealth

Who can apply?

Community groups and organisations working to benefit people in the four communities within the area of benefit can apply to each of the local funds. One community is piloting an award to a local business to enable it to provide an apprenticeship opportunity to a local young person.

What can’t be funded?

Each local administrative organisation will have their own specific criteria so please check their websites for further information.

How are decisions made?

Decisions about devolved spend are made by each of the local administrative organisations. Decisions on the flagship projects are made by the South Kyle Advisory Group which includes representatives from each of the communities.  The flagship projects in this first phase of funding (2023-2027) were identified during the set up of the Fund but are kept under constant review by the Advisory Group who are also in touch with other local groups and emerging opportunities and challenges in each of their respective communities.