Local COVID-19 response helped by EDF Renewables community fund

Four Hillfoots community councils in Clackmannanshire are supporting a plan to re-direct local community funding from EDF Renewables Burnfoot Hill Wind Farm to support community-led Covid-19 related responses, providing an immediate funding boost of £12,000 to the local area.

Each of the four communities - Alva, Dollar, Menstrie and Tillicoultry, Coalsnaughton and Devonside– receive funding annually from the wind farm. Part of that money, 
£3,000, was set aside for community events in each area. Now the money will be used to help local people during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Alva

Alva Community Council will use their grant to support work in partnership with community groups including the Alva Development Trust (ADT), Alva Baptist Church, Alva Co-op, Cochrane Foundation, Alva Parish Church, St John Vianney Catholic Church, Alva Community Council and Girl Guiding Scotland. The group is called the Alva Coronavirus Response Group.
 
The funding will go towards supporting ADT’s existing food bank and extend its services to all vulnerable. ADT will also provide a shopping service with delivery and a telephone befriending service to reduce the impact of social isolation and support mental health.

Anne Spruce, of Alva Community Council, said: “The Development Trust have applied for funding from a large number of sources but as of Friday had not heard from any. They have given out over 100 food parcels in the last week and received generous food donations from many sources. Knowing that the £3,000 is available when it’s needed is a great relief.”

Dollar

Dollar’s grant will support the established community food larder to issue food parcels. The community is also providing a shopping and pharmacy collection service, overseen by Dollar Community Development Trust in partnership with the Community Council. 

The Community Council has already made some Covid-19 grants from their own micro-grant scheme, including purchasing additional software for remote meetings. The added funding will also support increased overhead costs for the Hive while it is open for longer hours to support the community.

Menstrie

Menstrie Community have printed and delivered flyers to every household in the village with details of chemist opening hours, Scotmid delivery and the Community Council’s emergency contact number for any help or assistance required. The community are also working with their Third Sector Interface to organise an essentials bag to hand deliver to all elderly, vulnerable and self-isolating residents within the village.

Dave Sharp of Menstrie Community Council said, “With help from EDF funding, we can carry on supplying and delivering to the most needy in our village. We have 1,300 homes, not all will require assistance, but with some planning and volunteering we can make the difference during this testing time.”

Tillicoultry

Tillicoultry Community has started a phone line people can call to request support. Forty local volunteers are now able to get expenses for the direct and immediate support they are giving and new leaflets are being printed to let people know about services like these on offer.

Damian Sherwood-Johnson Chair of Tillicoultry, Coalsnaughton and Devonside Community Council said. “We want the benefits and improvements possible through this funding to be highly visible and to be clearly felt, so local people know that their sacrifices created some lasting good.

“We are looking to the future and the funding helps us to be ready for it.  We will hold a Community Come-Together at which we will ask for the views of the community on how best any funding may be used to mitigate against any negative effects of the pandemic.”
 
EDF Renewables CEO Matthieu Hue said, “During these unsettling times it is clear communities working together is essential and it is great to see people are pulling together to help those who are most in need.  It is heart-warming to see the Hillfoots communities use the wind farm fund in this way. I wish them the very best of success in their community endeavours and I hope everyone stays safe throughout this difficult time.”

The Burnfoot Hill Fund is managed by Foundation Scotland on behalf of EDF Renewables. Eimear Cassidy, Community Fund Coordinator said “The quick and coordinated response of the Burnfoot Hill Communities to the current pandemic has been inspiring in these challenging times. It’s genuinely uplifting to see people coming together so quickly to support and look out for those most vulnerable in their communities”.

For more information on the EDF Burnfoot Hill Fund, click here.

For further information please contact:

Lindsey Southworth, Senior Communications Manager, EDF Renewables
Email: lindsey.southworth@edf-re.uk
Phone: 07813 230 379
or
Eimear Cassidy, Community Fund Co-ordinator
Email: eimear@foundationscotland.org.uk
Phone: 0141 341 4968

About The EDF Burnfoot Hill Community Fund

The EDF-ER Burnfoot Hill Community Fund provides at least £60,000 per year to community organisations providing activities that:

• Enhance quality of life for local residents;
• Contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities;
• Promote community spirit and encourage community activity.

The fund is provided by EDF-ER Energy and supports community projects benefitting those living in one or more of the following community council areas – Dollar, Menstrie, Alva, Tillicoultry Coalsnaughton & Devonside.

Funding is usually distributed through open, competitive funding rounds that are advertised locally with awards of £500 to £5,000.

A Community Panel makes recommendations on awards from the Fund and advises on overall Fund strategy. The Panel is made up of people who live, work or actively volunteer in the communities benefiting from the Fund and comprises a mixture of community councillors and other members of the community.

About EDF Renewables

EDF Renewables is part of one of the world’s largest electricity companies and our investment and innovation in the UK is bringing down costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits for communities. 

With our operating portfolio of 36 wind farms and battery storage unit (almost 1GW) we are providing some of the much needed new affordable, low carbon electricity to the UK. 

Work is well underway on the 450 MW Neart Na Gaoithe offshore wind farm project which is in the Firth of Forth and we’ve extended our Edinburgh office to accommodate around 60 new team members. 

We have more than 2 GW of renewables projects in planning and development and half of those are consented. We also have offices in Rainton Bridge near Durham and in London and Dublin.

About Foundation Scotland

Foundation Scotland distributes charitable funds on behalf of over 400 individuals, families, charitable trusts, companies and public bodies. As a registered charity, it provides cost effective and tax efficient giving and funding distribution services, distributing over £11 million each year. 

Its developmental approach, partnerships with communities of interest and place, and in-depth knowledge of the charitable and community sectors ensures that funds entrusted to Foundation Scotland for distribution make a real difference to people’s lives. The Foundation also holds around £60 million in charitable endowments. 

As part of this work, Foundation Scotland administers over £5 million in community benefit payments annually, linked primarily to renewable energy projects. The Foundation works with more than 300 communities across Scotland and a wide range of project owners, supporting the set-up and on-going activities of over 60 community benefit funds. 

The Foundation favours a long-term view, promotes and harnesses community strengths and supports decision-making processes that are inclusive, accountable and community led.

In 2019, Foundation Scotland was shortlisted in the ‘Best Engagement’ category in the Scottish Green Energy Awards. The awards provide recognition and celebration for professional excellence in the renewable energy industry.

For more information visit www.foundationscotland.org.uk.