Half a million pound landmark for Argyll & Bute community fund
The An Suidhe Wind Farm Community Fund has marked a funding milestone with more than £500,000 distributed in grants to local projects in Argyll and Bute.
Since its launch in 2011, the fund has awarded grants to over 140 diverse community projects across the region, including support for childcare, heritage, education, and community facilities. In the latest funding round, £27,830 was awarded to six community projects across the Glenorchy and Innishail, Inveraray, Furnace, and Dalavich areas.
- Cairndow Community Childcare Limited received £6,790 to purchase new sensory and outdoor resources, enhancing the learning environment for children with Additional Support Needs while improving safety and motor skills through updated play structures.
- A grant of £6,000 was awarded to Inveraray Primary School Parent Council to support their Primary 6/7 residential trip to Benmore Outdoor Centre in Dunoon, providing valuable outdoor education experiences for local pupils.
- Urras Achadh an Droighinn (The Auchindrain Trust) was awarded £7,500 to insulate and heat their visitor centre, creating a suitable year-round space for educational visits, events, and activities supporting socially excluded and marginalised communities, particularly during winter months.
- Portsonachan Village Hall received £3,000 toward detailed designs, engineering studies and planning authority fees required for submitting a building warrant application for the hall's extension and renovation.
- £2,500 was awarded to Friends of Argyll Estates Archives to support the development of an online community heritage archive for Inveraray, helping preserve local history for future generations.
- And finally, The Avant Gardeners (TAG) were granted £2,040 to employ a grounds person for garden maintenance and volunteer coordination, ensuring the community garden remains an attractive and welcoming space for residents and visitors.
The An Suidhe Wind Farm Community Fund is provided by RWE Renewables and Green Gecco, and is administered by independent charity Foundation Scotland. The fund continues its commitment of supporting projects that enhance the quality of local life and that promote sustainable communities within a 10-kilometre radius of the An Suidhe Wind Farm near Loch Awe.
Katy Woodington, Community Investment Lead at RWE said:
“I'm really excited to see the An Suidhe Wind Farm Community Fund reach this significant milestone, with over £500,000 of flexible invested community projects. It’s inspiring to witness the breadth of initiatives supported in the communities living closest to the wind farm. At RWE, we are committed to helping communities thrive and are proud that our funding empowers local people to make the decisions about funding that matters most for their area. Projects like Cairndow Community Childcare Limited really bring to life the impact wind farm community funding can have on rural life, help to provide vital services for families, enabling them to work and build a sustainable future for their young people”
Debbie Herron Community Funds Adviser at Foundation Scotland, said:
"These awards demonstrate the breadth of community activity supported by the An Suidhe Wind Farm Community Fund. From early years provision to heritage preservation and community facilities, these projects will make a tangible difference to the lives of local residents across these rural Argyll communities."
The grants were approved by a local community panel made up of residents and representatives from the four community council areas. The panel's local knowledge and insight ensure that funding decisions remain community-focused, meeting the real needs of the area. The next closing date is the 30th March 2026.
Read more about the An Suidhe Wind Farm Community Fund