RWE recognises Camster Wind Farm Community Fund Panel with ‘Future Bright’ award
RWE has presented its prestigious ‘Future Bright’ award to the Camster Wind Farm Community Fund Panel, recognising the panel’s commitment to empowering individuals across Caithness.
The RWE ‘Future Bright’ award, presented at an event at RWE’s 50MW Camster Wind Farm, celebrates excellence and innovation in the delivery of community benefit funding. It highlights the panel’s approach of sharing the benefits of onshore wind across the wider Caithness area, with local people firmly in the driving seat when it comes to decision-making.
The Camster Wind Farm Community Fund is administered by Foundation Scotland and is one of a number of community funds established by RWE alongside the renewable energy projects it operates and builds. Together, these funds will invest more than £43.6 million into communities across Scotland.
The event brought together members of the Camster Wind Farm Community Fund Panel, staff from Foundation Scotland and RWE’s onshore operations team in Scotland. As part of the visit, panel members had the opportunity to see the turbines, meet the operations team and formally receive the award.
Kathryn Harries, Community Investment at RWE, said:
“The Camster Panel’s vision is a shining example of community spirit in action. By choosing to kick start a fund that shares the funding from the local wind farm across the wider Caithness area, they have opened doors for local people to access training and education that would otherwise be out of reach. This initiative not only empowers individuals but strengthens the local economy by helping grow a skilled workforce.”
The Camster Wind Farm Community Fund Panel, which is made up of local residents, made the decision to channel funding from the neighbouring wind farm into the creation of the Caithness Wind Farm Education and Training Fund. Since the fund was established in 2022, £75,000 has been awarded to individuals to support education and training, improve employability and help people explore new career paths. The panel’s aim was to ensure that people across Caithness could access support.
Eilidh Coll from Foundation Scotland said:
“The Education and Training Fund is a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives and the lasting impact of partnerships like the one with RWE. Inspired by the success of the Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Community Fund, this programme has grown into a vital resource, offering residents across Caithness the chance to develop skills and pursue new opportunities. The Camster Panel’s commitment, alongside RWE’s support, has created a sustainable fund that continues to empower individuals and strengthen our local workforce. To date, the panel has secured £75,000 in funding since 2022, creating what will hopefully become a sustainable resource for skill development and career growth.”
Panel member Linda Malik Bremner added:
“I, along with others on the panel, felt it was important to contribute to the Caithness Education and Training Fund because supporting opportunities across the whole county helps break down the geographical divides often associated with community benefit funds. This fund also helps bring our communities closer together. While community funds in the past have traditionally focused on the areas closest to the turbines, we believe adapting to the wider needs of the Caithness community reflects a more united, adaptable and forward-thinking approach.”
The fund has already had a significant impact, enabling people to take up courses, start new businesses and pursue career paths that were previously out of reach due to the cost of training. In a remote area such as Caithness, where the nearest city is more than 100 miles away, the fund has helped remove barriers to education and training and opened up new opportunities for personal and professional development.
Community benefit funds linked to RWE’s renewable energy projects support local communities to deliver initiatives that promote social inclusion and economic prosperity. The Camster Panel hopes its work will inspire further support from other wind farms and local funders, helping to expand the reach of this vital resource.
Find out more about the RWE Camster Wind Farm Community Fund.