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The broad aim of the Heart of the Community Grant Trust is to provide financial grants for community projects that deliver lasting change within the regions in which the Company operates. Those regions are: Shetland, Orkney, Highland and Argyll. Key areas for support include:- Creating affordable, family-oriented activities- Giving younger generations the same opportunities as those in more central areas- Safeguarding mental wellbeing- Combating isolation- Providing lifeline servicesIf you are interested in applying for support but for a project that doesn’t fall into one of their core areas of support?They will consider good causes of all kinds, if they’ll benefit the communities close to their farms and facilities.Please note that given the ongoing rise in the cost of living and, in turn, increased demand for support, they prioritise applications from groups and causes close to their farms and facilities.

The Fund is provided by Lairg Wind Farm Ltd, the operator of the Lairg Wind Farm - the three turbine site at Cnoc Na Inghinnin to benefit the Lairg Community Council area. The Fund will provide grants to support charitable activities that:- Enhance quality of life for local residents- Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities, and- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity. Grants may be requested to support a wide range of costs and activities, such as equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional workers costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities.Awards will be prioritised that can demonstrate significant added value through, by example:- Levering in additional funding from other sources. - Working in partnership with other groups and organisations to scale up projects and increase opportunities.- Projects that have reach beyond one particular group or demographic that have potential to benefit the whole community.

Scottish Hydro operates a 19 turbine wind farm at Achany in the Highland region. The Scottish Hydro Achany Community Investment Fund contributes to the communities located around the wind farm. The Achany community fund can support projects which:- Strengthen and diversify the local economy through support for social enterprises, especially those that explore, test and develop activity that sensitively exploits the area’s tourist potential or niche business areas- Stimulate new ideas and innovative approaches to generate growth and development and new employment- Support the acquisition, development and use of new community assets and maintain and enhance existing ones- Ensure adequate provision and/or services are available for the community that improve their life chances and/or quality of life- Support efforts that co-ordinate community activity and optimise local resources and assets- Respond to unforeseen circumstances or opportunities that are in keeping with the broad Fund aims identified above

The Renewable Energy Fund is a fund set up and administered by East Ayrshire Council to distribute developer contributions from Wind Farm developments within East Ayrshire.There are currently four operational wind farms making a contribution to the Renewable Energy Fund:- Afton wind farm- Galawhistle wind farm- Hare Hill wind farm extensions- Whitelee wind farmThe grants are intended to offer support to provide or maintain cultural, social, welfare, recreational or sporting facilities or to promote these activities. The grants are also provided to assist community-based projects that are in the interests of the community or the environment.

This small trust supports conservation and community projects throughout Arran including wildlife, paths and trails, marine, conservation, and sustainability. The applicants must demonstrate a clear and positive contribution to the environment, and projects should be accessible to members of the public, and benefit the local community.

South Ayrshire’s Coastal Community Fund has been established to invest funds from the region’s allocation of net revenue from Scottish Crown Estate marine assets out to 12 nautical miles across South Ayrshire.Applications should: - demonstrate tangible benefits to the economy and/or safety, health and wellbeing of coastal communities. - demonstrate their contribution to the Council Priorities and Commitments Fund priorities are:For small grant only:- To assist with barriers to sustain the group- To develop new projects/ideas For development grant only:- deliver improvements to public places that will increase the number of visitors - make coastal communities more attractive places to live and work - demonstrate a strong link to local strategies and local place plans

Grants will support any aspect of sustainable development within communities in the Marr area. If they are related to larger schemes the grant can be used for project start-up costs or to help groups develop a project idea. The grant scheme also provides support, advice and help with the development of project aims and/or management. They have funded a wide range of projects including: transport initiatives, information directories, local communications networks, environmental improvement schemes, cultural and historical projects, and projects related to tourism.

SSE operates a wind farm at Spurness on the Orkney Isles. The SSE Spurness Community Investment Fund contributes to the communities located around the wind farm. The community fund can support projects which:- develop skills and abilities to implement projects that are important to the island’s future- support the acquisition, development and use of community assets- increase the involvement with local organisations and community activity- overcome the barriers that can prevent disadvantaged or excluded members of the community from enjoying a high quality of life, particularly young people and the elderly- involve them in caring for the environment and ensuring it is protected for future generations- strengthens the local economy through community-led entrepreneurial activity

The Blackridge Community Fund is a charitable fund to benefit those living in the Blackridge community council area. It supports community groups and charities working in the Blackridge area that:- Enhance the quality of life for local residents.- Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities.- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.Grants may support a wide range of costs, such as equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities, and so on.

The Private Lane Improvement Fund's purpose is to:- create opportunities for groups and organisations to carry out initiatives which improve the environmental quality of residential lanes throughout the city.- enhance the local environment through short, medium or long term sustainable initiatives to their lane.- have a positive impact on the appearance of the area, reduce/improve associated issues (D3) to increase positive usage by residents.- engage and involve local people in making a difference in their neighbourhood.The Private Lane Improvement Fund has key priority areas it will focus on, these are:- Environmental Improvements to residential lanes- Initiatives to reduce associated issues or make improvements within residential lanes such as:- Fly Tipping - Trees/Vegetation- Lane Surface Water/Drainage Issues - Antisocial Behaviour - Food growing - Enhanced biodiversity All awards must be spent within 6 months of award.