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SSE's network in the north of Scotland will play a leading role in the clean energy transition, connecting and transporting renewable electricity from wind, hydro and marine generation. SSE's Community Benefit Fund will allow a share of the benefits to go directly to those communities hosting this new infrastructure. It aims to kickstart impactful projects or initiatives that will bring meaningful benefits to communities.The fund has two streams:Regional: for projects benefiting communities located within the SSEN Transmission network area. Any successful application must meet one or more of the following themes:- People: Focusing on skills, training and employability; - Place: Emphasising the community and culture of the north of Scotland;- Alleviating fuel poverty: Looking at strategic ways to help people across the region.Local: for projects benefiting communities situated close to SSE infrastructure.

The Inch Cape Construction Fund supports community projects that help tackle the effects of poverty and inequality while improving the environment and supporting sustainability for residents of the Prestonpans or Cockenzie & Port Seton community council areas.The Fund will support charitable activities that contribute to at least one of the following outcomes:- Improving physical and/or mental health and wellbeing.- Reducing isolation or loneliness within the community.- Increasing access to education, learning and employment.- Improving to the local environment.- Reducing food or fuel povertyGrants 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.

Grants are available for community and environmental projects which address carbon reduction and help progress towards “net zero”. All projects must be located in or be delivered to benefit communities within Keith and the wider Strathisla boundary. Examples of projects that could, therefore, be considered for grants include:- Energy efficiency audits of community buildings and facilities to identify and prioritise important capital improvement works- Costs associated with the above findings. This might include thermal insulation, solar panels and battery storage, ground source heating, double / triple glazing improvements, more efficient heating, micro wind turbines etc…- Educational activities that promote the net zero movement, i.e. costs of school trips to renewable facilities, school or community educational sessions / workshops / events- Training for voluntary / community groups to help reduce their own carbon footprint- Environmental and habitat species conservation which protects and / or enhances a public space (may include tree planting for example).- Electrical vehicle charging point installations, in public locations- Other projects that deliver energy efficiency upgrades such as lighting improvements (i.e. not necessarily in public / community buildings)

From January, community organisations based near eligible electricity transmission infrastructure projects will be able to apply for local and grassroots grants to deliver initiatives supporting local communities. If your community is based within one of the eligible areas, you will be able to apply for upskilling events and tailored sorkshops that can help your community build capacity and explore bespoke solutions to local challenges.Applicants will be asked to align their projects with at least one of the following themes:- Strengthening financial resilience and educational inclusion- Supporting employability and skills development- Promoting wellbeing, active lifestyles, social and digital inclusion- Improving community spaces and buildings- Enhancing green spaces and access to nature- Sustainable and inclusive transport

The fund provides grants to support charitable activities in Moorfoot that:- Enhance 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 Greencoat Kildrummy, Lumsden & Towie Community Fund is a charitable Fund set up to benefit residents of these communities within the area covered by Donside Community Council. The Fund is owned by Greencoat UK Wind and managed by Foundation Scotland.The Fund will provide grants to support charitable activities that reflect the ambitions and activity of the Kildrummy, Lumsden and Towie Community Action Plan. The aim of the Action Plan is to encourage and enable the economic, social and environmental development to support sustainability and help the area to continue to develop.Grant requests are expected to support one or more of the themes of the Action Plan. These themes are: 1. Supporting Community Services & Facilities2 Enhancing Adult Learning, Employment & Training3. Developing Tourism4. Improving Access & Environment5. Supporting Children & Young People 6. Improving Community Communication7. Improving Local Transport8. Housing

The Charitable Foundation supports registered charities based in the UK where there is clear benefit to the recipients, particularly in areas near the Society's Principal Office or one of its branches. They prefer to support specific tangible items or activities rather than donating to general funds.Consideration will be given to charities whose objectives are to help people experiencing hardship and/or underserved groups to access a place to call home and/or improve financial wellbeing.If your charity's mission meets one or more of the target outcomes, the Foundation will consider funding core costs, project costs and small capital contributions, for example:- Staff salaries or hiring additional team members.- Overhead expenses such as rent or utilities.- Scaling up successful programmes or developing new ones.- Investing in infrastructure or technology to improve operations.- Daily essentials such as pots, pans and white goods for people who have secured a permanent place to call home.- Aids such as a ramp/stairlift in a community centre removing any barriers for local people.- Books or resources which support financial education.- Laptops or online systems used to deliver digital competence sessions.

The Auchrobert Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill and Boghead. The fund is provided by Renantis, the owners of Auchrobert Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire. The fund provides grants to support a wide range of community activity and development that are broadly charitable. All projects must clearly be benefitting those who live within the area of benefit.Grants may support a wide range of costs, for example, the costs of equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and more.

ArtRoots allows communities to make aesthetic improvements to the National Cycle Network (NCN). Sustrans provides grants towards projects that will enhance spaces, aiming to encourage active travel. ArtRoots empowers communities to plan and deliver what they want and how to make it happen. Sustrans Scotland provides funding for projects, and the ArtRoots officer will support them with advice and help where required. The key point to ArtRoots is that the community manages the project and shapes the outcome. Engaging and delivering locally is essential to a successful project. Communities play a crucial role in encouraging active travel and by making areas more enjoyable or interesting to travel through. The grant can cover services provided by external contractors such as, but not limited to artists, designers, construction workers and engineers. Funding project management fees is possible but assessed on a case-by-case basis by Sustrans Scotland. All projects must be delivered, and grants claimed by 15 March 2026.

The Fund is provided by Barrhill Community Interest Company using funds from the Kilgallioch Community Benefit Company and ScottishPower Renewables Mark Hill wind farm. The fund will support positive change by investing in a wide range of inspirational, community-led activity that is strategic, positive and creative and helps create a legacy of lasting impact. The fund will do this by making grants to support the costs of relevant projects, services and facilities.The Fund also makes bursaries to individuals for education and training.