Funds

FUNDS AVAILABLE

Skirling is close to two windfarms – Clyde Wind Farm with 206 turbines,  located south of Biggar in the Southern Uplands, and Glenkerie with 11 turbines, located 5km north-west of Tweedsmuir.  Both offer Skirling a share of their community funds, available for individual and group applications.

We also have our local SCDT Community Fund (formerly The Pauline Fund), and Scottish Borders Council offers access to many community funds via their website.

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Clyde Wind Farm Borders Community Fund

  • Grants of up to £25,000 are available to community groups
  • Micro-grants are available via Skirling Community Council, up to £250 per individual and £500 per group
  • The Youth Bursary Fund is also available via the community council, and offers up to £200 per child aged 4-18
Clyde Border Community Fund

This fund supports the community council areas of Skirling, Upper Tweed and Tweedsmuir.  The funding decisions are made by a local advisory panel, made up of local residents and representatives from the community councils, and the fund is administered by SSE Renewables.

Grants of up to £25,000 are available to constituted not-for-profit groups and the funding must be of benefit to the residents of Skirling.

To find out more and apply to the fund, please follow this link:

www.sserenewables.com/communities/community-fund-locations/great-britain/clyde-borders/

If you would like to have a chat with the fund manager to help with your application, please email Colin McMillan at SSE:  Colin.McMillan@sse.com.

Micro Grants

Micro grants are intended to make the Clyde (Borders) Community Fund available to individuals and small local groups who need small amounts to pursue their objectives. The process of applying for and receiving a micro grant is relatively quick and light touch, and is managed by Skirling Community Council.

You can apply for up to £500 – click on these links for more information and to apply:  Guidelines |  Application Form.

Youth Bursary Fund

The youth bursary is intended to assist children aged between 4 and 18 to access courses and participate in sport and artistic endeavours. The process of applying for and receiving a grant is via the Community Council as per the micro-grant.

You can apply for up to £200 per child per annum – click on these links for more information and to apply:  Guidelines | Application Form.

Scholarship Fund

Clyde Wind Farm is providing scholarships of £5,000 to students undertaking STEM degrees.  The scholarship is to be used towards the scholar’s student loan, thereby reducing the amount for repayment at time of graduation. The deadline for applying is Thursday 13th of September.

Six awards will be made to different students every year for the duration of the fund programme.

Click on these links for more information and to apply:  Guidelines | Application Form.

Nadara Glenkerie Wind Farm Community Fund

  • Small grants between £250-£2,000 | medium grants between £2,001 and £10,000 | large grants over £10,001 to £15,000
  • Micro-grants are available via Skirling Community Council, up to £250 per individual and £500 per group
Nadara Glenkerie Community Fund

The overall aims of the fund are to support activity which will sustain and develop the life of the community and ensure that the area is an attractive and vibrant place to live, work and visit.  To achieve this the fund supports activity that leads to the following outcomes:

  •  Adequate access to services for all community members
  •  Improved local transport
  •  Opportunities to grow the local economy
  •  Developed or maintained community assets

Groups and organisations working to benefit people in any of the eligible communities can apply.  A Community Panel, made up of people who live, work or actively volunteer within the fund benefit area (comprised a mixture of community councillors and other members of the community), makes recommendations on grant awards from the fund.  

For more information, application dates and to apply online, please visit their website:  click here.

If you would like to contact the Community Funds Adviser to help with your application, please email Niome Lucjan at Foundation Scotland: niome@foundationscotland.org.uk.

Micro Grants

Micro grants from the Glenkerie Fund are available to individuals and small local groups who need small amounts to pursue their objectives. The process of applying for and receiving a micro grant is relatively quick and light touch, and is managed by Skirling Community Council.

You can apply for up to £500 via our Application Form.

SCDT Community Fund

Applications to the Community Fund (formerly the Pauline Fund), are open to residents of the Parish of Skirling or those with strong connections to the parish of Skirling, who are in need of financial support.  It is administered by Skirling Community Development Trust.  In line with the purposes of the Trust, the Community Fund exists to relieve poverty through the provision of financial assistance.

Applications are assessed by trustees of SCDT whose decision on the matter is final.  Awards are capped at £500 unless exceptional circumstances apply.

The fund has previously been used to:

  • Assist with travel costs to and from hospital
  • Pay for heating bills for someone with COPD
  • Give financial help at Christmas to a widow after a father’s death
  • Pay the cost of travel for a visit from a close friend for someone terminally ill

To apply to the Community Fund, or for more information and assistance, please complete this application form and return together with any supporting documents to skirlingtrustcoordinator@gmail.com

Scottish Borders Council Funds

Community Grants and Funding

Scottish Borders Council offers a variety of grants via their website, including:

  • Grant funding for community projects
  • Neighbourhood support fund
  • Community enhancement trust
  • Community welfare trust
  • Cost of living support fund
These funds are regularly updated and often include grants for national celebrations, e.g. the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee party in Skirling in 2022 was funded by SBC.