Community projects across South Lanarkshire are set to benefit from more than £722,000 in renewable energy funding, as councillors have approved six major grants.
Members of the Community and Enterprise Resources Committee today (June 2), gave the go-ahead for the funding, which is drawn from the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) and comes from community benefit contributions made by wind farm developers operating across the region.
The proposed investment will support a wide range of projects, from playpark improvements and village hall refurbishment to employability support and tourism development.
The largest award is £320,000 for Routes to Work South to deliver its ‘What I need (in Life) Rural’ programme. The initiative aims to support people living in rural communities who are economically inactive, socially isolated or facing significant barriers such as poor mental health, long-term health conditions, financial hardship and limited access to services.
A further £127,151 has been recommended for Douglas Valley Men’s Shed to construct a new fully accessible facility in Douglas. The project is designed to tackle loneliness and social isolation while creating a welcoming space where local residents can meet, learn new skills and improve their wellbeing.
Councillor Ross Gowland (Clydesdale South ) praised the investment and said: “I’d like to say how happy I am with the investment, over £127,000 in Douglas from the Renewable Energy Fund. It’s like the sort of project that the REF should be supporting because we do need the investment in the wider area.”
In Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill, a grant of £65,588 would help fund the refurbishment of the Kirkmuirhill playpark. The project, developed following extensive community consultation and engagement with local school children, will include new play equipment, improved access paths and landscaping works.
East Kilbride United is in line for £33,000 to improve accessibility at its sports facility through the creation of safer parking and dedicated disabled parking spaces. The improvements are intended to remove barriers to participation and ensure the facility is accessible to all users.
Winston Village Hall Association received £109,000 towards the refurbishment of Winston Village Hall. The project will modernise and revitalise a key community asset, helping to secure its future as a hub for local activities, events and community gatherings.
The final recommendation is for a £67,650 grant to South Lanarkshire Council, working in partnership with Douglas Valley Advisory Group, to develop the first phase of the Douglas Valley Community-Led Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism project. The funding will support the creation of a destination brand, website and wayfinding strategy, as well as the installation of initial visitor signage in Coalburn.
The tourism project forms part of a wider long-term vision for the Douglas Valley area, with projections suggesting the completed programme could attract around 100,000 visitors annually and generate significant economic benefits for local communities.
Council officers say the Renewable Energy Fund continues to play a key role in ensuring communities directly benefit from renewable energy developments. Since 2004, South Lanarkshire Council has administered community benefit funding from wind farm operators, supporting projects that strengthen communities, improve wellbeing and promote local economic development.
Now approved, the six projects will receive a combined total of £722,389.75 from the Renewable Energy Fund, with several also securing additional support from external funding partners.
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