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Eight Speyside projects latest to benefit from Dorenell Wind Farm community benefit grants


By Lorna Thompson

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DUFFTOWN Highland Games is among eight Speyside projects to receive a share of more than £158,000 in windfarm community benefit funding.

Dufftown Community Centre, the Cabrach Trust and Bike Glenlivet will also benefit from the third round of payouts linked to EDF Renewables' Dorenell Wind Farm.

The awards support initiatives to create and improve community facilities in Dufftown, Auchindoun, Glenrinnes, Glenlivet, Inveravon and the Cabrach.

The toilets and storage areas at Dufftown Community Centre will be upgraded thanks to an award of £27,506 in the latest round.

Meanwhile, new facilities will be created in Glenlivet with £1340 to refurbish and repurpose two telephone kiosks for community use.

An award of £18,917 has been granted to the Cabrach Trust to commission a feasibility study and some initial work to restore the Cabrach School Hall and House to create a local hub for training, events and activities.

And Glenrinnes Community Centre has been boosted by £6675 to purchase a ride-on mower and storage shed to help its volunteers maintain the grounds.

In the outdoors, an award of £3933 has gone towards the creation of a new all-abilities mountain bike trail at the Bike Glenlivet.

Cabrach Community Association has received £26,900 to fund construction of a drystane dyke as well as planting and landscaping to enhance the Cairn Memorial Garden. The project will also deliver hands-on drystane dyke building training for 30 people.

The chieftain of Dufftown Highland Games was delighted with a windfall of £23,350 to build a steel-frame shed to store equipment.

Dufftown Highland Games chieftain Alex Grant. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Dufftown Highland Games chieftain Alex Grant. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Alex Grant said: "The funding will make a real difference.

"It will enable us to install weatherproof storage.

"That means we can now purchase equipment we need for the games like chairs and tables, rather than hiring every year.

"We can then make the equipment available to other groups in the community for a whole range of events."

The fund panel has also supported a new full-time development role in Dufftown.

An award of £47,444, over the next two years, will help fund a community development leader who will work to improve the financial sustainability of Dufftown and District Community Association and support the group to increase its capacity for projects which benefit the wider community. The role will support the association to investigate and develop a range of projects including affordable housing, community woodlands and developing camping facilities.

Dorenell Wind Farm, six miles south of Dufftown.
Dorenell Wind Farm, six miles south of Dufftown.

The total awarded in this round was £158,066.

Projects in the area can apply for up to £30,000. Grants are available for projects and activities that are charitable in nature, community led and will benefit local residents. Projects should meet the themes highlighted in the Dorenell Community Development Plan such as environment, heritage, recreation, tourism, housing and transport.

The next deadline for applications is November 30 and then March 31, 2022. Visit www.foundationscotland.org.uk/apply-for-funding/funding-available/dorenell.

For advice on completing applications contact fund co-ordinator Marion McDonald on 07912 759524.

Dorenell Wind Farm, six miles south of Dufftown, was fully commissioned in April 2019.


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