£350,000 funding for Cumnock & Doon Valley projects
The 9CC Group has announced the launch of the next round of community funding, with more than £350,000 to be invested across Cumnock and Doon Valley.
Speaking at an inaugural community benefit conference in Cumnock, Alex Baird, chair of The 9CC Group, said the funds are being provided by developers in advance of their regulatory obligations and wind turbines being fully operational.
He told more than 100 delegates: “That’s a commitment to our communities based on the strength of the relationship with the 9CC and their trust and confidence in us to deliver fairly and equitably for ALL our communities.
“On behalf of those communities I offer my sincere thanks to Brockwell and Invenergy for those funds and for being an integral part of our inaugural conference.
“We can achieve so much by working together, collaborating and being united around a common goal – to make our communities, locally and collectively, a better place to live, work, play and visit.”
“With more than £350,000 to be invested across all our communities can I urge all of you to go back to your communities with a message to get those applications in.” Full details are on the website: www.9ccg.co.uk
The announcement marked the close of the event which focussed on Building Community Wealth through Strategic Collaboration. Mr Baird said: “It has been interesting and insightful with lots of debate, excellent presentations, fantastic keynote speeches and much to inspire us all. It underlines the importance of having ambition to match the scale of investment coming to Cumnock & Doon Valley.
“From the outset, the 9CC has had a powerful vision to unite our communities, invest in their future and create a lasting legacy. That has been recognised by politicians, regulators and developers across Scotland and beyond. Our model is widely seen as delivering best practice for the management and distribution of wind farm benefits for the collective and greater good of ALL our communities.
“It has been good to hear today that our collective vision, values, governance and collaborative approach has been a huge factor in the decisions taken by developers to trust us to administer and distribute community benefit.”
In the first funding round, the 9CC Group awarded £800,000 in grants and supported 52 community facilities, 77 jobs, 31 events and 79 projects. It also secured £1.9m in match funding. The second round saw a further £100,000 to fund more than 40 projects.
The conference was shown examples of how community benefit can make a positive difference with a selection of key project delivery footage captured by videographer Kenny Caldwell from Being There Media.
Robin Winstanley, the Sustainability & Community Director of On-Path Energy gave a special Community Impact award to Patna Action Group, one of the amazing projects supported by 9CC grants in the first round of funding.
He said: “It is a wonderful example of community benefit funds being available and accessible to local groups in order to make a positive difference within their own communities.”
Receiving the award, a delighted Fallon Heggie said: “It was an absolute honour to accept the 9CCG Community Impact Award on behalf of Patna Action Group. This recognition is well deserved and the group should be very proud of the fantastic work they are doing.”
The 9CC Group is a charitable organisation managing and distributing community benefit for all nine communities of Auchinleck; Cumnock; Netherthird; Cronberry, Logan & Lugar; New Cumnock; Dalmellington; Patna; Drongan, Rankinston & Stair; and Ochiltree & Skares.
Mr Baird said: “The latest funding can make such a positive difference to so many people and we urge organisations and projects, large and small, to apply for vital funding. The process is straightforward and funding decisions are managed locally.”
For more information
Please refer to the 9CCG website
Contact Chloe Findlay on
Or
Donald Martin at:
DM Media Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 07711 451330
