Tailored community-led approach to Fund’s distribution allows local people to gain maximum benefit
Local communities in North Lanarkshire are already seeing the benefits from the West Benhar Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund thanks to a bespoke approach taken by EDF Renewables UK.
West Benhar, a seven turbine, 30.1MW onshore wind farm near Shotts, became operational at the end of February. Three local groups will manage a share of £150,000 of funding per annum, for the 30-year operational life of the project.
The way the Community Benefit Fund will be distributed has been decided by the communities, led by EDF Renewables UK, to create a tailored plan for the money that best suits the needs of the local area.
Working in partnership with national grant-making charity Foundation Scotland, the Harthill, Eastfield and Greenrigg (HEG) communities will be distributing the funding through the Hartfield Eastfield and Greenrigg Group. This is an established charity which already manages funding from other renewable energy projects in the area. It will be making its first awards from the West Benhar Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund in November this year.
For the areas of Shotts and Fauldhouse, two local groups – Getting Better Together Limited and the Fauldhouse and Breich Valley Community Development Trust – will manage their respective share of the funds. Each organisation currently provides a mix of immediate assistance, such as food and housing advice, as well as longer term preventative work, such as youth initiatives and health and wellbeing activities.
In Fauldhouse, the money is already helping local people to learn new skills. A £1,000 grant from the West Benhar Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has been supporting the finishing stages of a barista training partnership for three young people from Burnhouse School, a local skills centre in Fauldhouse, through the Trust. The funding has also ensured the Trust’s community café is adequately stocked, providing greater reassurance to the trainees to complete the programme.
Another grant of £5,000 is giving a helping hand to parents, carers and children in Fauldhouse through a diverse summer programme for children up to 11 years of age. This grant has also funded free lunches to children from across the local area during the summer holidays.
Piero Maggio, Director of Asset Operations at EDF Renewables UK, said: “It is fantastic to see that already, within a few months of becoming operational, the West Benhar Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund is having such a positive impact in the local area.
“We have been working closely throughout the development of the wind farm with local community groups to listen to them and shape the Fund to suit the needs of local people.
“We pride ourselves on working closely with communities around our sites, and those around our West Benhar site are no different.
“EDF Renewables UK understands that every community is different, and this bespoke and tailored approach is testament to this. We look forward to hearing more about how the money continues to be used by the community throughout the wind farm’s lifespan.”
Julie Smith, Fauldhouse and Breich Valley Community Development Trust, said: “The West Benhar Community Benefit Fund has already made such a positive impact within the community.
“Going forward some of the West Benhar funding will also contribute to activities run by other groups in the community through the Trust’s small grants fund, benefiting those most in need.”
In Shotts, Getting Better Together Ltd is allocating some of its funding towards sustaining its community programmes, including Early Years and Youth, Get Active Get Going, and adult support services.
Mark Slorance, Getting Better Together Ltd’s Executive Manager, said: “We have seen immediate impact from this funding. With the support of EDF Renewables UK, we have been able to continue the delivery of a summer project to help alleviate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on families by providing access to free social activities and food provision during school holidays.
“This funding is vital for us to continue our work and make a positive impact on the lives of many individuals in our community. In these challenging times, the importance of community support cannot be overstated, and EDF Renewables UK’s commitment to helping us sustain our services is deeply appreciated.”
Rachel Searle of Foundation Scotland added: “There never has been a one size fits all approach to community benefit and the West Benhar Community Benefit Fund arrangement is testament to EDF Renewables UK taking stock of the landscape of community activity and, in consultation with local community representatives, build on what is already there rather than setting up something new.”
