Clyde Wind Farm Ltd opens £250,000 funding boost for Scottish Borders communities

A fund totalling £250,000 to help communities across the Scottish Borders realise their ambitions for a low carbon future has been opened by SSE Renewables and Clyde Wind Farm Ltd for application.

Clyde Wind Farm Ltd is a partnership between SSE Renewables (50.1%), Greencoat UK Wind Holdco Limited (28.2%) and GLIL Corporate Holdings Ltd (21.7%).

The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF), which donates part of the profits from wind farms is open to non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities across the Scottish Borders region.

The £250,000 fund aims to help drive net zero ambitions of local communities and successful projects will have the potential to deliver transformational social, economic and environmental changes in the local area and to support long-term community development.

The fund has previously invested £750,000 in Scottish Borders to support transformational projects, including an award of £80,000 to Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company to develop a low carbon community owned housing project.

Vicky Davidson, Project Manager of Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company, said:

“The £80,000 we received from this fund was vital to delivering the project.  As a small community group, the flexibility of the funding smoothed our cashflow at crucial times and took us through the unexpected bumps and hurdles of a building project of this size.”

The Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell, Chair of the Sustainable Development Fund Panel, said:

“The Sustainable Development Fund Panel has previously backed high quality applications across the Scottish Borders and we hope there will be more quality in this funding round. We will prioritise those applications that make a sustainable difference in local communities while supporting our environment. I would encourage groups to think big and make a real difference.”

Morven Smith, Head of Community Investment for SSE, said:

“We know from our work in the areas in which we operate across the Scottish Borders that local community groups are at the heart of all the good work being done to support people and improve their lives so we’re proud to open this funding once again.

“The panel will select the best proposals that will create the biggest impacts and will result in sustainable change locally. We know the funding from Clyde Wind Farm Ltd is vital to many so we’re looking forward to receiving applications from organisations that will help deliver transformational social, economic and environmental changes in the local area.”

The deadline for applications to the Sustainable Development Fund is Noon on 15 June 2023.

 The application form and further information can be found on www.sserenewables.com