In March, the Clyde Wind Farm (Dumfries and Galloway) Community Fund allocated part of its annual funding to support local community-led Covid-19 responses. This support, in the form of ‘micro’ grants of up to £250, has been distributed directly by Community Councils in the fund’s area of benefit to provide emergency funding for local charities, community groups and individuals. It has aided some of the most
vulnerable in the Annandale & Nithsdale communities.
The Royal Burgh of Sanquhar & District Community Council has used its
allocation to support Sanquhar Patchwork Group and Sanquhar Sewing Bee to
purchase materials for face mask production for use by community group volunteers
and carers; to provide funding for the Town of Sanquhar Facebook Group to keep
running the community social media page providing crucial up to date information for
the local community such as shop opening times; and to Crawick & Nithsdale
Wheelers to purchase cycle helmets for under 16’s in the area to help promote
exercise in the form of cycling during the lockdown.
Community Councillor, Nancy Kirkpatrick said, “These grants are vital to the
community, especially during the Coronavirus outbreak” and Iain Baker,
Community Councillor expressed his gratitude for the help that the fund was
providing to the community in this difficult time.
Closeburn Community Council is using its allocation to supply monthly isolation
packs of books, games & sweets to isolated children and to older people during the
lockdown.
Kirkpatrick Juxta Community Council has provided resilience parcels to isolated
and shielding community members. It has also supported Beattock Primary School
Nursery environmental project and has provided three Kindle tablets for Beattock
residents in Bankfoot Care Home as an entertainment resource whilst group activities
are restricted.
Moffat & District Community Council has supported the local nursery which is a
hub for local key workers; and has provided Kindle tablets to Bankfoot Care Home
residents from Moffat.
David Booth, Community Councillor said, “With these local grants we have
touched and enabled the diverse parts of our community, during these interesting
times when different methods and strategies need to be deployed, most of the grants
shall also have longevity into the future.”Gareth Shields, Community Investment Manager for SSE said “These awards
show how much can be achieved for a relatively small amount of money. The way the
communities that SSE work with across the country have responded to the Covid-19
emergency has been both inspirational and humbling in equal measure. We are
grateful to Foundation Scotland and the communities involved for they way that they
have administered this emergency funding.”The Clyde Wind Farm (Dumfries and Galloway) Community Fund is managed by
Foundation Scotland on behalf of SSE. Sam Bramwell, Community Fund Coordinator
said, “How people have come together so quickly to support those most vulnerable in
their communities has been uplifting. I am delighted that these micro grants have
proved to be so useful.”
For more information on the Clyde Wind Farm (Dumfries & Galloway)
Community Fund, go to: https://www.foundationscotlan
