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SSE Renewables created the Sustainable Development Fund as part of its voluntary community benefit arrangements from its onshore renewable energy developments in Highland including the Stronelairg, Blaraidh, Strathy North and Dunmaglass wind farms.Successful projects will have the potential to deliver transformational social, economic and environmental changes in the local area, help the region prepare for a net zero future, and support long-term community development.The priority areas are:- Creating opportunities: increase opportunities for education and employment- Empowering communities: build resilience and protect vulnerable residents- Building sustainable places: stimulate meaningful community regeneration

This Fund supports charitable activities or services of benefit to those living in the following Community Council areas in Caithness: Latheron, Lybster and Clyth; Watten; and Tannach and District. The outcomes for this Fund are:1. There are more and better opportunities to take part in sports and recreational pursuits2. Access to and through settlements is safer3. People of all ages enjoy more, better and varied activities and services4. Community life is enhanced and maintained through a wide range of activities, events and improved amenity of settlements5. Economic activity is encouraged within the Fund area6. People have more vocational skills and experience7. The natural and cultural heritage is more valued, experienced and understood by both visitors and residents8. Energy use in homes and community buildings is more sustainable9. Tourism opportunities are promoted and created in the Fund area.

The fund aims to deliver inclusive community-based activity to meet one or more of the Scottish Government priorities of:- Tackling the climate emergency- Eradicating child poverty - Growing the economy - Ensuring high quality and sustainable public services Grants will be targeted towards activities or infrastructure that support one or more of the following priorities: - Build community capacity to facilitate and support local development - Help the economy of the Park to deliver Net Zero by supporting communities and existing businesses (priority theme) - Attract, support and retain young people in the National Park - Increase community service provision in the National Park (priority theme)- Cultural Heritage and Recreation - Creating a Well-Being economyCairngorms CLV encourages applications from businesses (micro & small enterprises) and groups for projects that will deliver for the communities of the Cairngorms National Park. Projects could be completely new capital activity or capital items; or can be additional capital within existing projects. Where possible projects will be encouraged to work in partnership with others to deliver their projects. They would like to see a variety of applications ranging from small actions to larger more strategic projects.

The Community Energy Generation Growth Fund will support community groups across Scotland to set up renewable energy generation projects.Applications must meet the following objectives:- Contribute to Scotland’s target of 2GW of community or locally owned renewable energy by 2030.- Support communities to develop and be engaged in energy projects and the energy transition.- Deliver concrete economic benefits to communities, while also supporting Scotland’s net zero ambitions.This funding call will target projects that can deliver a specific, significant milestone by 15th March 2027.Projects supported will need to:- Install over 100kW of renewable energy, either at a site or over multiple sites, for example multiple building roofs.- Install eligible technologies including onshore wind, solar PV, hydro. Battery storage, flexibility and local supply arrangements can be included if it complements renewable generation and improves the business model.- Generate and provide electricity through a connection to: Sell to the national grid; or Sell to a local energy user with enough demand; orPower your own building.Funding will also support projects that want to apply for support for repowering, as long as they can meet all the eligibility, and assessment and scoring criteria. Battery storage can be included if it complements renewable generation and improves the business model.Funding can be used to help projects meet a key and achievable project milestone by 15th March 2027. Examples of key milestones could include, but are not restricted to:- a site-specific feasibility study- a planning application submission- full technical design- grid connection agreements and payment - land agreements- procurement of contractors, services and equipmentinstallation of renewable technologies.

The Drone Hill & NnG East Berwickshire Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the seven Community Councils areas of Reston & Auchencrow, Grantshouse, Coldingham, Cockburnspath & Cove, St Abbs, Eyemouth and Burnmouth.This Fund integrates community benefit funding provided by Greencoat UK Wind (the owners of the Drone Hill Wind Farm in East Berwickshire), and Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG, a joint venture between EDF Power Solutions and ESB, which owns the NnG Wind Farm located in the Firth of Forth estuary).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- Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.A wide range of costs and activities will be considered for funding e.g. equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities.

This fund asks you to consider ways in which your pub could diversify and support your local community.- Would you like more information on developing your pub into a hub for your community?- Would access to experts in the licensing trade be something you would value before making any decisions on diversifying?- Would you like this support to be free of charge?- Would you welcome a grant contribution, subject to meeting our guidelines, to support any type of project you have identified that would support services or activities in your community?- Would you welcome PR and Media coverage free of charge?Your next steps:- Survey your customers and local residents to establish whether a service or activity would be welcomed by them.- Ask for suggestions for the type of service or activity the locals would like and support.- Get your Parish Council to engage with and support any project that has been identified.- Speak to the Local Council to see if any funding would be available to support your project.- Communication is vital and keeping the local community informed with help generate interest and support.- Isolation and loneliness are very prevalent in rural areas where transport and amenities are scarce and Pub is The Hub is making funding available to pubs prepared to support their local residents.To help you with this process complete an expression of interest form; please complete and submit the form to enable them to start the assessment process with you.

The fund provides support for strategic projects in Perthshire with the following outcomes: - Creating opportunities: Create opportunities for education and employment through activities that develop skills and improve an individual’s chance of entering the workplace.- Empowering communities: Empower communities to become more resilient through measures which demonstrate long-term social, environmental or economic improvements. - Sustainable places: Stimulate meaningful regeneration to improve or enhance local infrastructure, landscape, biodiversity or heritage and make a lasting difference to the places we live, work and visit. In addition, all applications are expected to consider and demonstrate how their project supports the following overarching ambitions of the Fund Panel: - How the project will help the region in its journey towards a net zero future. For example, by improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, or delivering services in a way that reduces or removes the use of fossil fuels. - How the project will build the knowledge, skills and experience that the third sector needs to support a sustainable region. For example, by developing and enhancing social enterprises, improving the sustainability of community assets, or increasing collaboration between community projects and services.

The Fund is provided by E.ON, the developer of the Rosehall Wind Farm. It aims to invest in activities and initiatives that help build a vibrant local economy, support and encourage thriving communities and make the area an attractive place to live, work and visit for people of all ages.The outcomes for the fund are to: 1. Strengthen, sustain and diversify the local economy through the development of established or emerging sectors.2. Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation in the local community with a view to stimulating economic and social growth.3. Increase community benefit by acquiring, developing, and using new community assets and maintaining and enhancing existing ones.4. Support measures designed to improve life chances and/or quality of life.5. Optimise local resources and assets through support for coordinated community activity.6. Support environmental improvements which give a physical, social or educational benefit.7. Support energy conservation and increased use of renewables through the promotion of energy efficiency and sustainability within the area. 8. Respond to unforeseen circumstances or opportunities that are in keeping with the broad fund outcomes identified above.