Alyth & Mount Blair, Perthshire
About
The developers of the Drumderg Wind Farm - Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) - have provided a fund for the benefit of residents in the geographic areas represented by the Community Councils of Alyth and Mount Blair in eastern Perthshire. SSE contribute £64,000/year, rising in line with inflation for 25 years, from January 2007 (plus an additional variable amount linked to the output of the wind farm once it starts generating electricity).
Scottish Community Foundation (SCF) have been commissioned by SSE - based on SCF’s experience of running 13 Fair Share Trust local panels - to support local communities to respond to the opportunity presented by this Fund and to assist local communities in developing a grantmaking programme and an Advisory Panel to disburse the funds across the benefit area.
The panel of 12 local residents from the two benefit communities has now been operational for two years and in that time they have set up the Drumderg Community Benefit Windfarm Fund which aims to promote community spirit and bring people together; enhance quality of life and promote people’s well-being; and foster vibrant sustainable communities. The Fund has been operational since January 2008 and has awarded £129,377.25 in grant awards to 41 community groups and organisations. The size of the grant award varies greatly from a small award of £230 to Alyth Gala day Committee to support the introduction of a hill race to the largest single award of £35,000 to Strathardle Trading Community Interest Company (CIC) to retain the shop/post office in the village of Kirkmichael.
The success of the Drumderg Community Benefit Fund Advisory Panel stems from the fact that panel members are all local residents who have responded to the opportunity to utilise the funds offered, to make a difference to their local communities. The panel are drawn from two different communities - one a small town and the other a series of small settlements and villages in a more remote rural area. From the outset both communities have worked together to ensure that the Fund worked to bring communities closer and did not divide or set communities in competition with each other.
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