SSE Renewables awards £1.5m to Highland projects including Haven Centre and Ledge Climbing Centre in Inverness and Loch Ness Hub to support net zero future
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A specialist centre for children and young people with learning disabilities and complex needs is to receive a share in a £1.5million windfall to help Highland communities respond to the climate emergency.
The Haven Centre, being developed at a site in Inverness will receive £150,000 from SSE Renewables with the funding focussed on net zero elements.
The £4.1 million multi-purpose centre, being developed by the Elsie Normington Foundation, will be the first of its type in Scotland.
SSE Renewable's Sustainable Development Fund is supporting local communities to take action after COP26 in Glasgow last November highlighted the growing climate emergency.
A new climbing centre in Inverness is also among the 20 Highland projects to be awarded funding.
The Ledge, being developed at a former furniture store in Telford Street, has received £46,351 to make the venue environmentally friendly.
The fund has also allocated £85,035 to provide electric vehicles and bicycles for use by Sunflower Home Care workers in the three Glens area of Fort Augustus, Glenmoriston and Glengarry. The money has been awarded to the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company.
Another recipient is Loch Ness Hub which has been awarded £30,000 to buy an electric vehicle for community use, and to support local families to access wraparound childcare.
Watch: Progress on construction of pioneering £4.1m Haven Centre
The projects show the breadth of activity being taken by Highland communities to tackle climate change.
Finlay McCutcheon, SSE Renewables director of onshore renewables (Europe), said: "We are currently facing a significant climate emergency and communities in the Highlands have shown they are taking serious action to support net zero.
"Net zero is incredibly close to the heart of what we do.
"We have ensured the funding will help the local community to respond to these unprecedent challenges and help the region deliver on its low carbon ambitions – making a real and lasting difference for many years to come."
Councillor Raymond Bremner, Leader of Highland Council, welcomed SSE Renewables' commitment to establishing the Highland Sustainable Fund.
"Highland communities have been at the forefront in their drive to address the climate emergency," he said.
"The funding provides significant opportunities for community development of projects across the region.
"As a region, we face a challenging transition towards net zero. It is heartening to have companies like SSE Renewables take a socially responsible role in the Highlands.
"Our region provides an abundance of natural resources. I hope this forms the catalyst for future commercial and public sector collaboration in delivering a just transition for all Highland residents."
The Highland Sustainable Development Fund is in addition to the local community funds from onshore wind farms owned and operated by SSE Renewables, Stronelairg Wind Farm Ltd, and Dunmaglass Wind Farm Ltd.
The aim of the Sustainable Development Fund in Highland is to support strategic projects in regions where SSE Renewables operates.
The fund brings the benefits of onshore wind energy developments to a wider area and is directed at projects that can achieve significant impacts in local communities.
