A number of Lanarkshire groups are set to benefit from a huge funding boost thanks to the community investment funds associated with Clyde Wind Farm.
The money awarded in May from the wind farm – a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables, Greencoat UK Wind PLC and GLIL Corporate Holdings Ltd – totals £459,000.
Awards from Clyde Wind Farm’s Borders Fund include £100,000 invested into an endowment fund to make sure communities have an income beyond the lifetime of the wind farm fund which ends in 2041.
Many of the local organisations are located around the Biggar area of Lanarkshire.
Upper Tweed Community Enterprise has received £41,000 to allow the Broughton Village Store to temporarily relocate to the village hall whilst its building is renovated.
The award will provide lasting improvements to the hall itself, beyond the period of the shop being housed there.
Chairman of Upper Tweed Community Enterprise, Chris Lambton said: “This award will enable Broughton Village Store to make the first crucial steps in our long-term redevelopment plan.
"The shop has outgrown its current premises and needs to expand, but to do so it needs to relocate for some months while an extension is built.
“The award will cover the cost of alterations to part of the nearby Village Hall Cottage to create viable temporary premises for the shop, so that this crucial village facility remains open throughout the redevelopment period."
In South Lanarkshire, funds totalling more than £295,000 have been awarded to 10 projects.
Among the awardees is Libberton Primary Parent Council which has received £34,000 to upgrade their playpark for the whole community.
Sarah Alcock, chair of the Libberton Primary parent council said: "The extension fund has given us the opportunity to give our small community a boost of facilities for everyone to enjoy.
“We have had no funding available for such a long time, it is nice to be awarded the full amount and the children are very excited to see the end results."
Other notable awards include £117,500 for Biggar RFC to install solar PV, battery storage and improved water heating, in an effort to become carbon neutral. And £70,000 to the Corn Exchange in Biggar to carry out repairs to its roof and clock tower.
Angus Milner-Brown who represents Quothquan and Thankerton on the South Lanarkshire Funding Panel said: “It has been enormously encouraging to see such a variety of funding requests in our opening year.
“The panel has very much enjoyed the opportunity to help guide and pass so many good projects and we look forward to supporting other good causes soon.
“The huge advantage of this easy to access fund is clear, we can quickly support excellent local causes, which previously have perhaps found the path of funding blocked or difficult to navigate.”
Biggar Little Festival received £7121.36 to produce a 20th Anniversary program, while Biggar and District Men's Shed received £28,269 to upgrade windows and fire doors at their premises.
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