Community Benefit Funding

The Council Boundary Area of Kirkcowan is in receipt of Benefit Community Funding due to its proximity to several large wind turbines in the local area.

Renewable Energy suppliers are encouraged to give long-term Benefit Community Funding to communities which are in close proximity to Wind Turbines to allow for a positive relationship between suppliers and the Community.

The Trust has its own governance and Articles of Association but are also bound by the expectations and guidance from the various windfarm developments. You can read more about this below. You can read more about the Scottish Governments Good Practice for Community Benefits here

What can we fund?

• Equipment for Community Groups
• Minor repairs and improvements to buildings/land used for community purposes, however, if the building/land is not owned by your group you will need to provide us with a copy of the lease agreement
• Community events, festivals & trips
• Small scale practical activities
• Activity based environmental schemes
• Training and education courses
• Bursaries for individual members of community groups to participate in training courses
• Cost to community groups of participating in networks and visiting other community projects.

What We Cannot Fund

• Projects that involve improvement works to a building, if your group do not own the building or have a lease on the property
• Applications for unspecified items for example contingency money
• Retrospective applications, for example for an event that has already taken place
• Applications made on behalf of another group

Further Restrictions

We are unfortunately unable to provide funding to the following groups/projects

• Political groups
• Religious groups
• National organisations, unless there is a local group with local management
• Individuals, unless the bursary is for the individual to attend training courses that will benefit the Community
• Companies who aim to distribute a profit
• Projects which are already started

Who Funds Us?

Kirkcowan Community Development Trust currently receives Community Benefit Funding from three different Wind Farm Development Companies. Scottish Power Renewables Kilgallioch Windfarm (Main funder), RES Glenchamber and Velocita Airies .

How much money is available?

There is approximately £200,000 available each year. This will vary from year to year as the funding is index linked.

The Trust has spent the Community Benefit Funding on a range of various projects. A full breakdown of costs is available here

For more information about the individual grants, please visit the Projects page.