Highland and Moray communities can tap into £600,000 Beatrice fund to fight coronavirus
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Communities are being urged to apply for funding from the Beatrice offshore wind farm to help them cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
Groups in Highland and Moray can apply to the Beatrice Partnership Fund which is offering a total of £600,000 in this funding round.
The 588MW offshore farm came into operation last summer and through the fund has provided more than £1.8 million to communities in Highland and Moray over the past three years.
This is the fourth and penultimate funding round, with £400,000 on offer to communities in Highland and £200,000 across Moray.
The grants will go towards supporting projects that create opportunities, empower communities and stimulate sustainable places, and the funders hope it will help communities during the coronavirus outbreak.
Fraser Grieve, chairman of the Beatrice Partnership panel, said: “It’s an unprecedented time we have found ourselves in as communities across the country are tackling the outbreak of coronavirus.
“During the outbreak we are, and will continue to be, dedicated to bringing Beatrice community funds to rural communities and helping support them to get through this.
“We have already seen that our funds can help support transformational projects and we hope that this year our funds will be able to go even further in helping to support and develop these amazing communities.”
Over the past three years a number of project have been supported, including Homestart Caithness which received £23,357 to deliver parenting courses and Dornoch Area Community Interest Company (DACIC) which received £50,000 for its work to create the Dornoch Hub.
Marianne Townsley, community investment manager for the fund, said: “There’s under three weeks left to apply to the Beatrice fund and we would encourage any potential projects in the area to look to see if a grant from us could help get their transformational projects off the ground.
“If you would like to speak to us about projects that can be supported or for help in applying please give us a ring or drop us an email.”
The funding round is open until April 22. For details and to apply, visit sse.com/communities/fundlocations/beatricepartnership
The DACIC plans involve redeveloping the police station on Argyle Street in Dornoch into a multi-purpose community building incorporating a business hub with offices and a conference room, a creative hub with artists’ studios, workshops and storage space, a gym and a childcare centre.
The £50,000 grant is being used towards phase one of the development to purchase the site and do initial renovations so that part of the building can operate and generate income.
Joan Bishop, chairperson of DACIC, said: “The support from the Beatrice Partnership Fund has enabled the DACIC to accelerate the development of the Dornoch Hub and its development as a social enterprise with staff members delivering outcomes directed by the volunteer board."
