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May 2014 - Local groups and projects receive funding Hill of Towie Wind Farm Community Fund

Eleven local groups and projects have been awarded grants in the recent funding round for Hill of Towie Wind Farm located between Drummuir and Mulben in Moray. The fund was set up by RES, the operator of the 21-turbine Hill of Towie Wind Farm, following its completion in June 2012.

Since the fund started over £200,000 has been distributed to 48 projects and groups to provide much needed assistance. The Community Benefit Fund is open to applications from groups and projects which benefit the communities in Mulben, Drummuir, and Keith. Acting as the Fund’s administrator, local charity REAP supports a panel of local community representatives and residents who make the decisions on funding applications.

The following grants were awarded:

  • Keith Country Show £15,000 – for the installation of electricity at the show ground.

  • Keith and Dufftown Railway Association £2,350 – to repaint the exterior of Keith Town Railway Station.

  • Keith Grammar School Parent Council £776.40 – to provide a summer day trip programme for vulnerable young people.

  • The Royal Northern Countryside Initiative £2,750– to set up a farmer’s market with the Keith Associated School Group.

  • Mulben Picnic Committee £25,000 – to fund a children’s play park in Mulben Playing Field. Botriphnie WRI £200 – running costs.

  • Keith Sports Trust £1,500 – funding for field improvements.

  • Drummuir 21 £10,000 – for the Isla Way feasibility study.

  • Drummuir Community Trust £2,319.90 – for the development of a hall storage unit.

  • Loch Park £1,000 – an award in recognition of the organisation’s services to the local community.

  • Keith Scout Group £12,000 – to install a new kitchen in the scout hall.

Stephen Rhodes, Keith & Dufftown Railway Association, commented on its recent award of £2,350“This grant is great news for Keith & Dufftown Railway Association. I am delighted that we can now repaint Keith Town Station and improve the facilities for our passengers. We’d like to thank RES and the local decision making panel for their generosity and goodwill to the railway.”

Rachel Heydon, Royal Northern Countryside Initiative, commented on its award of £2,750: "RNCI are delighted to have been awarded the grant. Our aim is to develop a greater understanding of farming and the working countryside by children and their teachers in the North East of Scotland and hosting a Farmers’ Market is a perfect opportunity to achieve this. We hope to introduce pupils to some of the farming methods in their local area so they can learn how food is produced and processed and the benefits of local food produce, giving them information that will help them to make informed choices when buying food. It will also serve to introduce pupils to members of the local community, forging relationships with local organisations and businesses and providing an opportunity for information exchange regarding local food, farming and business ventures."

Keith Grammar School Parent Council, commented on its award of £776.40: “The school parent council is delighted to receive this award. The grant will help run our Summer Club, a scheme to help students due to attend their first year of Keith Grammar School this year. The Summer Club activities support the sometimes difficult transition to secondary school for students with additional needs, giving them a positive start. A lot of volunteer and staff time goes into the project and this funding helps make it happen. The aim is for students to gain self-confidence, independence and resilience by participating in a range of sporting activities and whole day excursions to places of interest around the north east of Scotland. Proposed destinations this year include Glenglasshaugh Distilley, Huntly Castle, Lochpark Adventure Centre, The Willows Animal Sanctuary, Sunnyside beach – for coastal bushcraft, The Dolphin Centre , and The Turriff Show.”

Rachel Anderson, RES, commented: “We believe that communities who host our wind farms should receive tangible benefits and the community fund is one way through which we can deliver them. The fund at Hill of Towie has supported a range of different projects over the last couple of years. It is great to see so many local groups benefiting from the fund.”

The next application deadline is 10th September 2014 and applications can be downloaded from the REAP website: www.reapscotland.org.uk