Windfarm sees £34,000 invested in local causes
NATURAL energy has generated another £34,170 for local groups.
The sum, the fifth released by the Berry Burn Community Fund, is part of an index-linked annual budget of £166,750 from international renewables company Statkraft, whose 29-turbine Berry Burn wind farm lies between Forres and Grantown-on-Spey.
Nine offers of funding were announced, totalling £54,170, most of which is going to community projects in the Forres area.
And with Christmas coming up, the fund members were pleased to announce they chose to support some of the things that make Christmas in the town so special.
“The Fund has already made a visible difference to Forres this Christmas by contributing £8,000 towards improving the town’s Christmas lights,” said fund chairman Eddie Tomkinson.
“Now, in this latest round, it’s helping Santa keep his sleigh on the road. The Berry Burn Community Fund has offered £2,500 to the local Rotary Club to help Santa refurbish his sleigh and buy all-important safety equipment, allowing him to keep to his hectic schedule around Forres, announced in the ‘Gazette’.
“The Fund’s contribution will meant Santa could get out-and-about and do his own fundraising for charitable causes, as he always does so well in Forres.”
Funding in this round has been offered to a variety of other local causes. The Community Fund plans to contribute towards a new project in Forres which will support adults with learning disabilities; it has agreed to fund the purchase of a new cycle for spin classes at Forres House Community Centre; it will continue to help the Forres and District pipe band with the costs of their rehearsal space; and, on a smaller scale, will be helping with the costs of an exercise class in Findhorn for the next six months.
The fifth round awards in full were: £1,258 to Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council to pay for materials to improve the unadopted ‘Dunes Road’; £9,000 to Anderson’s Primary School Parent Council (subject to match funding) to purchase a climbing boulder; £3,062 to Forres and District Pipe Band to help pay for the rental of their rehearsal space; £500 to Findhorn Flyers to help pay for room rental and tuition; £1,500 to Findhorn Bowling Club to improve the state of their green; £15,000 to The Meeting Place (subject to match funding) to help establish a new project for adults with learning difficulties in Forres; £1,350 to Forres House Community Centre for the purchase of a new spin cycle; £2,500 to Forres Rotary Club to help refurbish Santa’s sleigh and purchase safety equipment; and £20,000 towards a new roof (subject to match funding) for Cromdale Hall.
Applicants are free to apply as often as they like but encouraged to read the application form carefully to get a clear understanding of what is required.
Moray Council-affiliated groups/projects are allowed to apply - all applications are considered on the basis of demonstrating a clear benefit to the community at large.
Berry Burn Community Fund still has a nominal £20,000 in reserves will be carried forward into next year, to be used for potential awards.
“Our next deadline for applications is January 18,” said fund administrator Moira Hickey.
“We would encourage anyone wanting to apply to take a look at our new website www.berryburncommunityfund.co.uk where they will find all the information they’ll need, along with an application form.
“And, of course, they can always get in touch with me by email, via that site, for any more advice. We aim to make the application process as straightforward and painless for people as possible, so that funding finds its way to the right places in the community.”