APPLICATIONS are now being invited for the first two rounds of awards from the Gordonbush wind farm community benefit fund.
These small amounts – for between £500 and £5000 – are initial grants prior to the launch of the official funding in March next year. Any group applying for them are still eligible to apply for larger amounts at a later date.
About 90 people from Brora, Golspie, Helmsdale and Rogart, attended the recent meeting at the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora to hear about the benefit fund.
It was organised by Margaret Phelps (senior grants officer) and Rachel Searle-Mbullu (grants officer) of the Scottish Community Foundation (SCF), the charity chosen by Scottish Hydro to manage and support the dispersal of the fund, with help from members of the Brora, Golspie, Helmsdale and Rogart community councils.
Representatives from SSE were also present.
Margaret and Rachel explained the philosophy behind the work of SCF, the method in which it will work to make the best use of Scottish Hydro’s funding in this area and also how the communities will be involved. Scottish Hydro will pay for the work of SCF and the cost will not come out of the fund.
Scottish Hydro, an arm of Scottish and Southern Energy, will contribute £144,000 each year, rising in line with inflation for 25 years (the estimated average life of a wind farm).
There will also be an additional variable amount linked to the output of the wind farm.
Groups and organisations working in the area will be able to apply to the foundation for grants from the fund, the trustees of which will be from SCF. Such groups must have a constitution and a bank account to be eligible for a grant.
In general, grants will be awarded for projects that benefit local residents by strengthening the community and improving people’s quality of life.
Margaret and Rachel explained that SCF will handle applications but decisions about grants and how the money is used will be made by a local advisory panel, composed of three representatives from each of the four communities.
Representatives must live or work within the area and will include at least one member from the respective community council. Members of the advisory panel will hold office for one to four years. Nomination papers for panel members were available at the meeting.
SCF will work with the four community councils to consult with local people and groups in September and October about their specific needs and opportunities. This will be widely advertised. The advisory panel will then agree on priorities for grants.
Rachel asked those present to suggest projects that would be important for their areas. There were many ideas, including improvements, especially in kitchen areas, for village halls; setting up of sport facilities; Christmas lights; maintenance of paths and support for events.
Margaret said that before the official launch of the fund, in March 2012, there will be two rounds of relatively small awards, between £500 and £5000. Therefore, during this first year, there will be more awards available of a lesser amount, in comparison with what is expected to be applications for much larger amounts later.
Application forms for these initial awards are now available from Service Points in Brora, Golspie and Helmsdale and the Shop in Rogart. They are also available from SCF’s website (www.scottishcf.org/gordonbush).
Completed forms must be returned by 1 August 2011 to SCF and applicants will find out whether or not they have been successful by the beginning of October. There will be a further chance to apply in November for grant awards in February 2012.
Margaret and Rachel were very keen to encourage groups to apply for these first two rounds of funding.
