Wind farm funding crosses £1 million mark for local area

The fund which was launched in 2015 is now in its eighth year and has supported 131 projects across the local area with £1.2 million in funding to date.

Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund has also helped to generate a further £9 million into the local area since its launch, via match funding, which has supported local heritage and environmental projects such as the new hide at Inverharroch Farm for Cabrach Trust and Scott Hall, local facilities such as Gordon Rural Action Hub - which houses joined-up services to those people most vulnerable in the community, such as those hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis.

Huntly Development Trust (HDT), have benefitted from several funding awards, helping them to develop foot and cycle paths, establish a low carbon active travel hub in Huntly town centre, and redevelop a major former department store at No 30, The Square. On completion, the latter will include co-working space, a café and cinema for the community, with the building heated by air source heat pumps. HDT also secured a repayable grant from the fund at a crucial stage during its early days of existence.

Redevelopment of former department store at No 30, The Square.

Donald Boyd from Huntly Development Trust said:

The Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund has been hugely beneficial to the wider Huntly area. Being able to secure investment from a local fund controlled by local people helps draw in crucial support from funders further afield. Such investment is essential to deliver what our area needs to transition and prosper.”

Berry Jordan, Vattenfall’s Business and Community Investment Advisor said:

“Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund passing the £1 million mark is a great milestone, and the impact it is having locally is testament to the work of dedicated members of the local community who make the fund a success.

“The variety of projects that have been supported, ranges from small grants to transformative projects – all of which play an important part in supporting the local communities hosting the wind farm to thrive.”

Rachel Searle, Head of Communities and Impact from Foundation Scotland, said:

“We are really proud to work in partnership with the local communities around Clashindarroch to help support and distribute this fund. It is fantastic to see that it is having a positive impact that is being felt locally.”

Find out more about Clashindarroch Wind Farm here and Clashindarroch Wind Farm Community Fund here.