From Gaelic Choir to School Minibus: Carraig Gheal Fund Supports North Argyll
Three out of the four main grants submitted in the most recent funding round to the Carraig Gheal Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund were approved, benefiting some great projects in the local communities surrounding the wind farm:
- Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt (Taynuilt Gaelic Choir) received £3,360 towards accommodation for attending the Royal National Mod in Glasgow in October
- Hebridean Pursuits Outdoor Learning received £8,360.00 towards providing outdoor activities for all pupils at Kilninver, Dalmally and Taynuilt Primary Schools
- Oban High School received £10,000 towards the purchase of a new mini-bus (many children in the community council areas covered by the fund go to Oban High School and so will benefit from this)
The President and Gaelic tutor of Còisir Ghàidhlig Thaigh an Uillt, Andreas Wolff, said: ‘We are delighted to receive this generous funding which will allow us to attend the Royal National Mòd in Glasgow. Being the only mixed-voice rural choir in present-day mainland Argyll to take part in the Mòd this year, we take pride in singing in the Lorn dialect of Gaelic, which is now seldom heard. This gives us the opportunity to showcase it to a national audience’.
Rob Forrest, CEO of GreenPower said, “It’s great to see these local projects benefiting from the Fund and especially in supporting young people within the communities in which we work. We wish them all every success with their projects and are delighted that the Community Benefit Fund can play a part in supporting the important work being carried out by local organisations.”
For the five community council areas surrounding Carraig Gheal Wind Farm (Avich & Kilchrenan, Taynuilt, Glenorchy & Innishail, Kilinver & Kilmelford and Kilmore) there are two grants schemes available. The main grant scheme is for £501 up to £10,000 and is available to constituted groups only. The next round of funding for the main grants opens on 1st November 2026 with the closing date being 31st January 2027. The Steering Group who decide on these applications will then meet in March 2027 to decide which grants to approve and by how much. They do an important and fantastic job in ensuring funds are invested to the benefit of the local community, deciding on funding criteria and making decisions on individual funding applications. Micro grants of up to £500 are also available to small groups in this communities at anytime.
More information can be found on the GreenPower website (https://greenpowerinternational.com/our-projects/carraig-gheal-wind-farm/) or contact directly via [email protected]
