Discover Funding Opportunities

Baillie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Baillie Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has been established to disburse funds from Baillie Wind Farm Ltd, which contributes £100,000 per annum for the 25 year life of the wind farm for the benefit of West Caithness. The Fund welcomes applications from societies, clubs, groups, residents or small businesses who reside in the West Caithness Community Council area. Though priority is given to those in the West Caithness area, it also considers applications from educational and sporting organisations from other community council areas in Caithness and North Sutherland. The fund supports a wide range of community projects and initiatives throughout the region.

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 South Kyle Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The South Kyle Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund provides assured income to the communities of Dalmellington, Patna, New Cumnock in East Ayrshire and Carsphairn in Dumfries & Galloway. Foundation Scotland administers the fund in partnership with four local organisations. The fund operates on an initial four-year cycle (2023-2027) and distributes funding through four different strands: Paid/Contracted Support, Local Community Funds, Education and Training Schemes, and Flagship Change Projects. The fund's purpose is to enhance the lives of people living in these four communities by contributing to their wellbeing and sustainability. Common themes include improved built and natural environment, increased leisure and tourism opportunities, improved infrastructure and connectivity, an improving economy with training and employment opportunities, and improved opportunities for children and young people. The fund is designed to be purposeful, context-specific, collaborative, and accountable, with decision-making processes that are community-led.

Stroupster Wind Farm Education and Training Fund (Dunnet & Canisbay)

This fund provides bursaries to residents of the Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council area of Caithness to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment in key sectors of the local economy. The fund is provided from Stroupster Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and aims to improve opportunities and livelihoods of people living in Dunnet & Canisbay. Awards are made to those seeking to undertake training or education in key sectors including Health and Social Care, Teaching and Education, Food and Drink, Tourism and Customer Services, Culture, Heritage and the Natural Environment, Communications and Information Technology, Renewables, Energy and Climate Change, Engineering, Science, Maths and Technology, Construction and the Trades, and Sea based industries. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications are favoured, however other courses will also be considered where the applicant can demonstrate how the skills and knowledge gained will realistically support them in securing or retaining work. Supported courses can include apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, undergraduate degrees, post-graduate qualifications (though not PhDs), short vocational courses, and other courses that meet the fund purpose.

Stroupster Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

This fund supports a wide range of charitable activity and development that principally benefit the residents of the Dunnet & Canisbay Community Council area in Caithness, Scotland. The fund is provided by Schroders Greencoat, owner of Stroupster Wind Farm, with a donation of £149,500 per year (index-linked) being made to the fund for the wind farm's operational lifetime. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities focused on seven key areas: improving or giving better access to communications and transport; improving community assets and facilities; providing opportunities for young people; providing support and opportunities for older people; promoting enterprise and tourism; improving the natural environment and access to it; and improving or giving better access to culture and heritage. Approximately 20% of the fund is available for projects or services located outside the Dunnet & Canisbay area, provided there is clear and evidenced benefit to residents of that community. Grants are awarded up to £25,000 per project, with larger amounts considered on a case-by-case basis for transformational projects.

RWE Lochelbank Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The RWE Lochelbank Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund supports community projects benefiting those living in the Glenfarg or Earn Community Council areas in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. This Fund is provided by RWE, the owner of Lochelbank Wind Farm in Perthshire. The Fund opened in 2011, with an annual contribution of £20,000 rising with inflation, expected to be approximately £33,000 in 2026. The Fund provides 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 support a wide range of costs including equipment, staff or sessional workers, consultations, running costs for local groups, maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities and more. Grants in excess of the maximum and multi-year requests (up to 3 years) can be considered in exceptional circumstances with strong community support and significant impact potential.

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.

Langhope Rig Wind Farm Education & Training Fund (Sub Fund A)

This Fund provides bursaries to residents of Ettrick & Yarrow, Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk & Midlem and Upper Teviotdale & Borthwick Water Community Council areas to help them access training and education opportunities that better equip them with the range of skills needed to enter or retain employment. The purpose of the fund is to improve the opportunities and livelihoods of people living in these Scottish Borders communities. Courses leading to formal or recognised qualifications are favored, including apprenticeships, Modern Apprenticeships, Foundation Apprenticeships, SVQs, NCs, HNCs, HNDs, short vocational courses, and many other courses. Awards can cover costs directly related to attending courses or apprenticeships, including course fees, study aids and equipment, technical aids/equipment, travel and subsistence costs, accommodation costs, childcare costs, and driving lessons and tests. The fund is provided from Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and operates on a rolling basis.

Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Langhope Rig Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund is provided by Greencoat UK Wind, the owners of the Langhope Rig Wind Farm located near Hawick in the Scottish Borders. An annual amount of £80,000, rising in line with inflation, is paid into the fund for the operating life of the wind farm. In 2025, the annual contribution to the fund was just over £118,000. The fund comprises two sub-funds, with Sub-fund A being a single joint fund that supports groups and organisations delivering projects and services across three community council areas. The fund provides grants to support charitable activities that encourage community activity and promote community spirit, ensure adequate access to services for all community members, improve local transport infrastructure, build the local economy, build community capacity and cohesion between groups, and develop or maintain community assets. Grant requests to support a wide range of costs and activities will be considered, including equipment costs, running costs for local groups, staff or sessional worker costs, consultations, and maintenance or refurbishment of community facilities.