Funding Opportunity - SSE Sustainable Development Fund Launched

23rd November 2013

This week saw the launch of a new charitable fund in Bonar Bridge available to Highland groups. SSE launched the Sustainable Development Fund that will draw income from the wind farms in the area.

The fund will be worth £1 million in its first round and is expected to open every 18 months.

Applications for the first round are open until 15 February 2014.

The fund will be available to non-profitmaking organisations, community groups and charities based within the Highland Council boundary. You can apply for funding from £10,000 up to a maximum of the fund’s total value.

In exceptional circumstances, SSE will consider applications up to 100% of total costs but would generally encourage groups to leverage other external funding towards the project. This will strengthen your chance of an award from the fund. The Fund will support strategic projects which take a longer term view by delivering transformational social, economic and/or environmental changes in the community and developing sustainable ventures for the future.

Although priority will be given to locations near our renewable developments, the fund allows support for broader projects which also benefit surrounding areas, including pan-Highland initiatives.

Thereis also the possibbility to get enablement funds up to £5000 to help develop your bid for funding.

Only groups with constitution can apply and it is not open to individuals.

Sustainable Development Fund criteria
Following consultation with regional stakeholders, the following ‘priority areas’ have been established and any successful application must fit in to at least one of these areas:

1. Increase job opportunities and employment in Scotland – through activities focused on increasing an individual’s chances of entering employment and/or progressing further in employment through apprenticeship schemes, training programmes or similar.

2. Enable communities to develop renewable energy schemes – which are of benefit to the local community and could generate social, environmental or economic benefit

3. Enhance Scotland’s natural and built environment – for the benefit of local people and the attraction of visitors; activities that retain, enhance or build upon natural and/or local heritage.

Additional consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate:

• Value for money – evidence that the project has a high local impact for the amount invested
• Community involvement – evidence that the community has been engaged in developing the project. This may be in the form of surveys, community consultations, open days or letters of support.
• Sustainability – evidence that the project will be maintained beyond the period of grant funding
• Contribution to local economy – evidence that the project will have a positive impact on the local economy in the long term

To find out more about the fund and how to apply go to
http://www.sse.com/sustainablefund/

SSE is also opening more community funds connected to their various wind farm projects and more information about this can bee found at
http://www.sse.com/Community/Funds/