9CCG Group Conference: Creating a positive legacy for Cumnock & Doon Valley
Creating a positive legacy for Cumnock & Doon Valley
A major conference is being held this month to explore strategies on how best to invest £150m of windfarm community benefit earmarked for Cumnock and Doon Valley.
It aims to provide a platform for key stakeholders to help shape the future of the former coal-mining communities as a place of choice to live, work, play and visit.
The conference in Cumnock on Tuesday 20 January 2026 is being staged by The 9CC Group with a keynote from UK Minister for Energy Michael Shanks MP and panel sessions involving major windfarm developers. It has also been given a Royal message of support from the King.
Chair of The 9CC Group Alex Baird said: “Addressing the economic and social challenges facing Cumnock and Doon Valley has never been more important and we need a collective will, creative thinking and mutual partnerships to effect meaningful and lasting change.
“The conference brings together local community champions, groups and individuals and aims to inspire, excite and demonstrate ambition for the future of all our communities.
“With around £150m expected to be generated for community benefit in the coming years it’s vital we learn the lessons of the past regarding isolated delivery of community benefit funds and instead come together to create a united and shared vision.”
The 9CC Group, a charitable trust unifying nine independent communities to democratically manage the fair share distribution of funds, is hosting the free conference at the Dumfries Arms Hotel.
Speakers include the Professor of Sustainable Energy Business and Policy at Strathclyde University, Matthew Hannon, and windfarm developers Iain Cockburn, Stuart Winter, Laura-Jane Cameron and Robin Winstanley from Brockwell Energy, Invenergy, Red Rock Renewables and On-Path Energy respectively.
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire, William Stafford, will read a message from King Charles.
Stephen McCarron, Chief Operating Officer of The 9CC will launch their Strategic Area Priority Projects Action plan and a panel session will discuss Strategic Project delivery, including what is critical to delivering impactful outcomes for the area.
The day also includes optional site visits to local employers, projects and organisations that have benefited from community funding: Emergency One, who make Fire Engines; wood-based manufacturer EGGER Plant; Dumfries House educational facility; and Cumnock Men Shed and Cumnock Heritage Centre.
For more information contact:
Chloe Findlay Donald Martin
The 9CC Group DM Media Consultancy
chloe9ccg@outlook.com info@dmmediaconsultancy.co.uk
Information
The 9CC Group unites Auchinleck; Cumnock; Ochiltree and Skares; Drongan, Rankinson and Stair; New Cumnock; Cronberry, Lugar and Logan; Dalmellington; Patna; and Netherthird to manage the fair distribution of community benefit funds from multiple Wind Farm Developments to improve their local area and invest in their future.
Each community is impacted by developments either under construction or planned to be sited nearby and our role is to ensure they benefit individually and collectively by aligning funding to meet the needs of each locality and the wider area strategic plan.
The 9CC Group has four key objectives:
• To ensure all communities across our area benefit from the funds allocated in line with the principles of local democracy and community wealth building.
• To create strong governance, efficiency, transparency and accountability for the funds including the value collected, how they are distributed and what they support.
• To ensure that our communities are fully engaged in the funding decisions and empowered through the management of the funds.
• To enable collaborative and high value projects which lead to long-term socio-economic impacts.
