Discover Funding Opportunities

Watten Wind Farm Trust

The Watten Wind Farm Trust, established through a partnership between Watten Community Council and Foundation Scotland, manages funds from multiple wind farm donors for the benefit of the Watten community in Highland, Scotland. The Trust provides grants to support charitable activities that encourage community activity and promote community spirit, improve the ability of groups to meet local priorities, enhance telecommunications infrastructure, provide access to the local environment, support individual development and life chances, improve sports and recreational facilities, and encourage economic activity within the fund area. In 2025, the Watten Panel made a series of multi-year funding awards to support local community groups, allocating £550,000 over five years to eight groups in recognition of the incredible work happening within Watten. This approach reflects a commitment to open and trusting grantmaking. The fund receives annual indexed-linked contributions from five wind farms including Wathegar, Wathegar 2, Bad a Cheo, Bilbster, and Halsary Wind Farms.

The West Benhar Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The West Benhar Community Benefit Fund provides an index linked fund of £150,000 per year for the communities of Greenrigg and Fauldhouse in West Lothian and Harthill, Eastfield and Shotts in North Lanarkshire. The fund is a devolved fund with each community managing its funding in line with community priorities and in response to community need. Tailored arrangements are in place with lead organisations in Shotts, Fauldhouse and Harthill, Eastfield and Greenrigg to support the distribution of the Fund. Community groups and organisations working to benefit people in each community within the area of benefit can apply to each of the local funds. Some of the funding for Shotts and Fauldhouse directly supports programmes of activity run by the local anchor organisations. Decisions are made by designated groups within each community, including the Board of Getting Better Together (serving Shotts), the Board of the Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Community Development Trust, and the Board of the Harthill, Eastfield and Greenrigg Group.

The Cour Community Benefit Fund

The Cour Community Benefit Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in the three community council areas of East Kintyre, West Kintyre and Tarbert and Skipness. The fund is provided by Cour Wind Farm Ltd, the company which owns and operates the Cour wind farm on the Kintyre peninsula. An annual payment of £102,500 is available for the operational life of the wind farm which is currently expected to be up to 25 years from when it started operating in 2019. The Fund provides grants to support activities that benefit the communities of East Kintyre, West Kintyre and Tarbert and Skipness. 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 so on. The Fund is devolved to three community Trusts each of which serves one of the three areas noted above. Community groups and organisations working to benefit people in the area served by each Trust are eligible to apply. They do not need to be a registered charity but the activity or project they are requesting funding for must be for community benefit. Applications from groups or organisations located outside the area of each Trust may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they demonstrate clear benefit and demand from residents within the community.

Plains Community Fund

The Plains Community Fund is a long-term funding initiative for the Plains community in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, established through the Greengairs East wind farm. The fund is expected to operate for approximately 30 years, with over £30,000 available for distribution each year. Grants of between £500 and £1,500 are available to support charitable activities that contribute to improved physical and mental health, reduced isolation or loneliness, increased access to education and employment, improvements to the local environment, or reduced food or fuel poverty. The fund supports community groups and organizations working to benefit people in Plains, with grants available for a wide range of costs including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities. Decisions are made by a Community Panel of local residents twice per year.

Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Fund

The Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Fund is funded by SSE community benefit funding from the Hadyard Hill wind farm in South Ayrshire and Nadara from its Assel Valley wind farm also in South Ayrshire. The fund supports projects located within or directly benefiting the community area of Pinwherry and Pinmore. The fund supports a wide range of costs and activities including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities, and other community benefit projects. Funds are available on a rolling basis throughout the year, with applications accepted at any time. The usual timescale for award decisions is 6-8 weeks, though groups must apply a minimum of 4 weeks before their proposed project start date. The fund offers standard grants between £500 and £10,000, and large grants over £10,000 and up to £25,000, though grants of over £25,000 may be considered. Decisions are made by the Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Fund Advisory Panel, which comprises people who live in the area and includes members appointed by Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Council.

Pines Burn Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Pines Burn Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund supports seven communities in the Scottish Borders: Hobkirk, Denholm & District, Hawick & District, Newcastleton & District, Southdean, Upper Liddesdale & Hermitage, Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water. Each community receives a share of the annual payment which comprises 64% of the total fund, with tailored arrangements in place with each community through a Memorandum of Understanding between each community council and Foundation Scotland. The overall purpose of the Fund is to contribute to the wellbeing and sustainability of the benefitting communities by supporting charitable activities that make a positive difference to people's lives and economic, social or environmental sustainability of the local area. The Fund can also be used to support activity in line with this overall purpose and in keeping with the community's priorities and needs, which may be described in a Community Action Plan, Local Place Plan or similar document. This is a devolved fund, meaning different arrangements are in place for the different communities that benefit from the fund based on the preference of the communities involved. Community groups and organisations working to benefit people in each community within the area of benefit can apply to their respective local funds. Decisions are made by designated groups within each community, and applicants should contact their respective Community Council for specific information about how the fund operates in their area. The fund is managed by Foundation Scotland on behalf of the seven community councils, with the host community of Hobkirk receiving two shares and the other six communities receiving one share each of the distributed funds.

Nadara A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund

The A'Chruach Wind Farm Community Fund supports community projects benefitting those living in the West Loch Fyne, Dunadd and Lochgilphead community council areas in Argyll & Bute, Scotland. The fund is provided by Nadara, the developer and owner of the A'Chruach Wind Farm. An annual amount of £149,000, inflation-adjusted, is paid into the fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm, expected to be 25 years. The fund began in 2016 and supports positive change by investing in community-led activity that is strategic, positive and creative, helping create a legacy of lasting impact. The fund makes grants to support the costs of relevant projects, services and facilities across a wide range of community priorities. The fund offers two types of grants: a Main grants programme (small grants £500-£5,000; medium grants £5,001-£25,000; large grants over £25,000) and a Multi-year Flexible Funding programme (£2,000-£10,000 per year for up to three years). The fund's priorities were informed by community action planning and include advancing rural regeneration, enhancing infrastructure, establishing and improving community services, developing community facilities, enhancing leisure and tourism opportunities, and capacity building for community organisations. Applications are assessed by a Community Panel made up of local residents, community councillors and people who work or volunteer in the communities. The fund particularly encourages projects that demonstrate additional funding from other sources, use local procurement, build capacity through skills development, and involve partnership working. Multi-year flexible funding is available for organizations that demonstrate reach across multiple community groups, commitment to continuous improvement, and potential for long-term sustainability. Micro grants of £250-£500 are also available through local community councils for smaller community initiatives.