The Hill of Towie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has awarded almost £50,000 of funding for local projects and groups in the Keith area. The latest round of funding saw 10 local organisations boosted by grant awards totalling £44,585.02
Applications must benefit community/social life or the natural environment of Boharm, Botriphnie, or Keith and as usual, applications covered diverse projects and plans. This round featured funding for a defibrillator, health & wellbeing sessions, Christmas lights and summer flowers, as well as other improvements to community spaces.
One of the beneficiaries of this funding round is the Loft Youth Project in Keith, who received money for sessional youth worker time. Their application made a strong case for the social benefit of investing in young people
Project Manager Sharon Duncan said, “We are over the moon to receive this much needed additional funding. The services we provide are in greater demand than ever. They range from running small groups for young people who need some intensive support, to transition groups that have proved to be very effective in helping primary seven pupils with the move to secondary school. Being able to fund extra staff hours will help us meet all these needs and continue to invest in our local young people.”
Beneficiaries for this round of funding were:
Mulben Picnic Committee – £7,920 to remove a derelict building from the playpark site
Keith 50+ Group – £500 for health and wellbeing outings and activities
Drummuir & Botriphnie Community Trust – £17,428.38 to level and resurface the hall car park and £900 towards plants and additional planters for ‘Drummuir in Bloom’
Rrrrallye Team – £344.00 towards venue hire for their annual Fun Day and Car Show
Keith in Flower – £3,700.00 for additional planters for ‘Keeping Keith in Flower’
Boharm Public Hall – £1,866.99 for a 24/7 public access defibrillator at the hall
Keith Golf Club – £3,750.00 for a rough cutting roller mower
The Loft Youth Project – £6,012.51 for additional sessional staff
Keith Community Council Christmas Lights Committee – £2,163.14 to refurbish lights
The Hill of Towie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund was set up by RES, operator of the 21-turbine site near Drummuir, to support groups and projects that benefit Boharm, Botriphnie and Keith. Since it was established in 2012, the fund has awarded 148 grants totalling £ 637,395.
The deadline for the next round of funding is Thursday 12th March. The Decision Making Panel is always keen to hear from new applicants. You can talk through ideas and check eligibility, with the friendly staff at REAP. Get in touch by calling 01542 888 070 or emailing info@reapscotland.org.uk. Fund application forms and guidance notes are available for download on the REAP website and paper copies are available on request.