A Lanarkshire resident has benefited greatly from council backed wind farm funding.
Connect2 Renewables is a wind farm benefit fund which is operated in partnership with Banks Renewables and South Lanarkshire Council (SLC), Rory MacDonald from Coalburn was able to complete a Masters degree thanks to funding from the programme.
The Coalburn resident decided to pursue a Masters degree in Human Rights and International Politics at the University of Glasgow, he received £3000 from the wind farm fund towards the cost of the degree.
He passed the course at the end of last year and has now secured a position as an account manager with Newsdirect, a political monitoring company based in Edinburgh.
Rory has said he is grateful for the help given by Connect2 Renewables as it has enabled him to complete his degree and find a job suited to his interests.
He said: “My family really appreciate the support I have received from the fund – it took a lot of financial pressure off us during a difficult time and has helped me to continue pursuing my passions.”
Chairwoman of the council’s finance and corporate resources committee, Councillor Lesley McDonald, said: “The wind farm benefit fund was also able to provide Rory with a £200 pre-employment support grant following his acceptance of a job offer.
“This is awarded to anyone unemployed and moving into employment. It is designed to help with job start-up expenses, such as clothes and travel, and is paid within four weeks of starting employment.
“We wish Rory the best of luck in his new role, and we encourage anyone in a similar position to get in touch about potential funding opportunities.”
External affairs and sustainability manager at Banks Renewables, Robin Winstanley, said: “We are thrilled to hear of Rory’s success and that we were able to play a small role in enabling him to get there through the wind farm community funds.
“We can only have this level of impact when working closely together with communities and our partners at SLC.
"Well done Rory.”
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