Community groups and charities have benefited from almost £300,000 in the last year, thanks to payouts in wind farm cash from West Lothian Development Trust.
The newly formed Economy, Community Empowerment and Wealth Building policy Development and Scrutiny Panel heard that the Trust was formed in 2007 to administer payments made to community funds by wind farm companies.
The council adopted a policy which required that any community benefit received from wind farms should be distributed within six miles of the development (70% within three miles and the remaining 30% within six miles. It was agreed that a trust would distribute all community benefit payments.
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The Trust comprises a third of representatives from the council, a third from the local communities and up to a third from developers.
Clare Stewart, Community Wealth Building Manager, told the PDSP that in 2021/22 WLDT received £ 309,331.31 from five operational wind farms . A total of 14 organisations were awarded new grants by the trust in this period and the total value of these grants was £295,784.
Among the projects to benefit from the latest donations are Polbeth and West Calder Community Garden, a volunteer project covering 18 acres between Polbeth and West Calder which provides weekly Green Gyms covering food growing, flower growing, woodland management and regular community events. The organisation was awarded funding of £11,500 in March 2022 for their Managing a Sustainable Future project in partnership with West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust.
Others who benefited include the West Lothian School Bank which provides uniforms and clothing for schools It received £13,000 to cover accommodation costs as its workload grew by almost 5% in the year.
Signpost, a small charity working in West Lothian for the last 20 years, supports families of young people with additional needs . They deliver a service via a helpline and drop-in service offering 1:1 support, training courses, advocacy, access to financial support, information and outreach sessions, supporting those with and without a formal diagnosis. In May 2021 Signpost was awarded £24,186 to continue delivery of services, outlined above, through the Here to Help application.
The Rosebery Centre, established in 1985, is dedicated to supporting individuals in the local community with a diagnosis of dementia. Through day care centres, interactive activities and a dedicated volunteer support team, they support clients to improve their self-esteem and confidence, promote health and well-being. In September 2021 the Rosebery Centre was awarded £13,502 to support a Befriending service to combat the increasing deterioration in clients physical and mental health as a result of being unable to undertake a range of activities during the pandemic.
The Fauldhouse and Breich Valley Community Development Trust Timebank project works with people who are feeling isolated, lonely and people suffering with poor mental health including mild depression and anxiety. It’s all about encouraging people to be neighbourly, friendly and kind, to be a part of their community, supporting them toward positive mental health, well-being and being inclusive. In September 2021, the project was awarded a small grant of £2,000 to support the delivery of a day of fun for all generations through a trip to the local pantomime in Winter 2021.
In May 2021, Stewart Court Tenants Social Club in West Calder, were awarded a small grant of £2,000 to improve the outdoor space to allow residents to meet in a safe and comfortable environment. During the pandemic a number of the residents had been confined to their flats for shielding and self-isolating. Improvements to the space included putting a roof on an old pagoda, planting in the raised beds and new benches to sit on.
In total the Trust has been paid £2,367,874.13 since it was launched in 2007, and has paid out £2,300,879.61.
Ms Stewart said in her report: "The West Lothian Development Trust has the potential to make a substantial difference to communities in West Lothian, both now and over the remaining lifespan of the wind farms. The West Lothian Development Trust, supported by five council officers, will continue to ensure that the maximum benefit is obtained and distributed to support future regeneration opportunities in West Lothian.”
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