Crystal Rig Wind Farm has provided over £3m in community benefit funding to the local area.
We believe that there is the opportunity to explore how we establish a community benefit fund that will deliver for the local and regional communities across East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. We will be consulting communities to understand how they would like the funding to be delivered and to explore how we can strategically support local and regional initiatives – helping to address challenges such as:
Fuel Poverty
Housing Stock
Connectivity
Our Experience
The community councils that currently receive community benefit funding are:
East Lammermuir Community Council
Garvald and Morhan Community Council
Cranshaws, Ellemford & Longformacus Community Association
Abbey St Bathans, Bonkyl and Preston Community Council
Cockburnspath and Cove Community Council
This funding has helped to support the local community deliver a number of initiatives, including Duns Swimming Pool.
The community benefit funds from Crystal Rig Wind Farm have helped many local children master the important life skill of swimming. The funding provides children with access to free swimming lessons from birth. In addition, all local residents benefit from subsidised pool membership. Helping to build confidence in the water, provide a social outlet and keep kids active.
This initiative has also helped to sustain Duns Swimming Pool, a local charity, allowing it to reinvest in the facilities and provide a valuable service.
Kirsty Inkpen, Manager at Duns Swimming Pool, commented:
“Learning to swim is an essential lifeskill. There are many rivers in and around Duns, and by learning to swim in the pool it will help children, youngsters and adults to be safe in and around our many waterways.
“The Crystal Rig Community Benefit fund has helped to support many youngsters. Even taking them to competition level adults. In turn it has helped to keep Duns Swimming Pool afloat and allow us to reinvest in the facilities.”