13 Local Projects Awarded Grants from Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund

The Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Steering Group met on Monday 27th March at Dalmally Village Hall with an excellent turnout. Of the 17 main grant applications on the agenda for review and determination, the Steering Group approved 13 totalling circa £70,000. These included a replacement boat shed for the Dalavich Improvement Group to provide dry storage for equipment as the existing 20 year old one was showing its age, the restoration of the beautiful Clan stalls in St Conan’s Kirk and the replacement of the outdated heating system at Taynuilt Village Hall.

Local communities within the Loch Awe area are continuing to benefit from other projects funded by the main grant scheme of Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund. Kilchrenan Village Hall now has a new defibrillator and box installed thanks to an award of just over £3,000. The defibrillator and box are located for easy access if required on the external wall of the village hall providing vital lifesaving equipment in this very isolated area. Locals were also shown how to use it by the local medical professional. The Village Hall was established in 1935, was granted charity status in 2005 and is run entirely by volunteers.

Kilchrenan Village Hall Defibrillator and Box

Work is also progressing well on the Bridge of Orchy Hall restoration which is within the Glenorchy and Innishail Community Council area. The works have been partly funded by the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm main grant scheme.

Bridge of Orchy Hall before restoration

Bridge of Orchy Hall during restoration

Further work on the hall is in progress with a main grant submitted by the Bridge of Orchy Community Association for the installation of a green heating system in the hall having recently been approved. This will continue to improve the service provision in the hall for many years to come, making it much more energy efficient to run and more sustainable. The Association will be a major user of the hall as a community centre.

Bridge of Orchy Village Trust’s application for a main grant has also been approved for flooring in the village hall due to recently discovered Cellar Rot which means the floor has to be replaced. The Trust maintains the village hall and strives to provide a Community Hub to combat rural isolation through engagement, education for all ages and create true community resilience.

The current round of funding will re-open later in the year with further details available on the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm website.