Langhope Rig/Scottish Borders Council Regional Fund

The Scottish Borders Sustainable Development Fund, part of the Langhope Rig wind farm community benefit package, has launched today. This fund, worth £125,000 in the first round, is available to non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities from across the Scottish Borders local authority area with applications over £5,000 being accepted, however extra weighting will be given to projects that are situated near the wind farm.  The fund is worth £40,000 per year but in order to fund a number of big, transformational projects the fund will open with three years worth of funding at £125,000. The fund is expected to open every three years, and will be worth at least £1million over the lifetime of the wind farm.

The fund will close for applications on 27 June - if you are interested in applying to the fund please fill out the attached notification of interest form with details of your project, and send back to ciara.wilson@sse.com before 30th May. Ciara will then get in touch to invite you to submit a full application. The fund's key priority in the Borders region is the enhancement of the built and natural environment through activities that build upon local heritage and support the visitor economy. Successful projects will have the potential to make a significant and sustainable difference to people within the region. Additional consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate value for money and show evidence of wide community support. An independent panel chaired by the former First Minister of Scotland Lord Jack McConnell will decide on grant awards. All funding decisions will be made public in September.

For more information on the fund, please visit: http://sse.com/community/sustainablefund/ I have also attached the guidelines document for the fund.
Should you have any questions regarding applications, please contact Ciara directly on
075843 13759.