New fund opens to provide a boost to local projects

Community landowner The Stornoway Trust and community wind farm charity Point and Sandwick Trust have come together to form an Interim Joint Committee to make grant awards to projects using money generated by Beinn Ghrideag Wind Farm.

The fund, which is derived from the wind farm’s Community Benefit Agreement with the Stornoway Trust, will be administered by a Joint Committee with representatives from both community trusts and will focus on creating and supporting projects across the Stornoway Trust Estate.

The new Projects Fund has been opened with a transfer of £82,000 to Stornoway Trust from Point and Sandwick and this will be supplemented in the future by annual payments of around £40,000 from the profits of the wind farm which began generating in 2015.

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Stornoway Trust Chairman Norman A Maciver said: “By working together we hope that future recipients of the fund will realise and value the benefits partnership working can bring to our community.”

Point and Sandwick Trust General Manager Donald John MacSween said: “We are delighted to be working with Stornoway Trust in setting up this new Joint Projects Fund which can benefit the whole of the Stornoway Trust area.

“We feel very positive about this new partnership and would like to thank the Factor and Trustees of Stornoway Trust for working with us to get the fund to the stage where it can now be launched.”

Point and Sandwick Trust Chairman Norman Mackenzie said: “The creation of this Joint Projects Fund is a very positive development and shows how community organisations can work together to make a difference for their communities, particularly in these times of restricted public funding.

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“As one of the PST representatives on the board, I look forward to working with Stornoway Trust colleagues and delivering exciting new projects in the future.”

Factor of The Stornoway Trust, Iain Maciver, added: “It is hoped those applying for financial assistance will explore other funding avenues to help maximise the leverage this new fund can bring to their projects.”

The fund is launched with immediate effect. For further information and how to apply for funding, interested parties should contact Stornoway Trust at: [email protected]

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