Ten Community Projects share £330,000 from Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Transformation of clock tower, running costs for a car sharing scheme, improvements to four community halls, including solar panels and grants to support young musicians in the area

Ten community projects across Moray have been awarded a share of over £330,000 to deliver long term benefits for local residents and safeguarding Dufftown’s heritage.

One of the largest awards in the 10-year history of the Dorenell Wind Farm Commnity Benefit Fund has been made to help deliver local priorities through the Dufftown and District Community Association (DDCA). 

A grant of £125,677 will see a full-time community development officer now employed for three years by the association. A second award of £90,000 has contributed towards the refurbishment and transformation of the community-owned Dufftown Clock Tower.  Once restored, the ground floor will serve as a flexible hub for pop-up shops, art exhibitions, and local events, while the upper floors will offer unique, income-generating visitor accommodation. Construction is set to begin later this year and the funding marks a critical step towards providing a sustainable revenue stream for long-term community benefit. 

Celebrating the awards, DDCA Trustee Carey Leslie said: “This investment will accelerate the delivery of DDCA’s community plan, including the restoration of the historic Dufftown Clock Tower, the development of community housing, and the expansion of initiatives like the bike hire scheme, food larder, and community growing projects. 

“By securing additional funding and coordinating income-generating activities, this new development officer role is expected to become more self-sustaining in the future, reducing reliance on grants while creating long-term benefits for the area.

Other awards in this round included:

• £30,000 to Speyside Community Car Sharing Scheme towards running costs for three years, helping vulnerable residents across health and social activities
• £40,952 across three awards for Glenrinnes Community Centre to install solar panels, new doors and upgrading the kitchen
• Glenlivet Community Hall received £5,000 for new doors
• Aberlour Scout Hall received £3,432 for building improvements.
• £5,500 was agreed for the four Dorenell communities to deliver a second ‘cross-area event’ later in the year, bringing community groups together to share good practice, and develop ideas for collaborative projects on a heritage theme.
• £29,743 was awarded to M:ADE (Moray: Arts Development Engagement) to support young musicians in the area. The M:ADE project will recruit up to four emerging musicians or bands from the local area who will be supported to develop professional recording, production and music industry skills at a studio in Marypark, culminating in a live performance. 

Piero Maggio, Director of Asset Operations for EDF power solutions on behalf of Dorenell Windfarm Limited commented: “The positive impact locally from this round of funding from Dorenell is wide ranging and will benefit a number of demographics across the local community.

“From improvements to improve the energy efficiency of a number of community halls, grants for young musicians to money to allow communities to come together, the difference it will make is substantial. The local development officer post will enable the communities to maximise even more so on this funding while focussing on the priorities for the area.

“Add to this the fact that the Dorenell wind farm fund has given more than £2.1million to these local communities over the last 10 years is fantastic to see real tangible benefits being brought for the benefit of local people.”

Groups can apply for funding of up to £30,000 for projects and activities that will benefit local residents in Dufftown, Auchindoun, Glenrinnes, Glenlivet, Inveravon, and the Cabrach. The deadlines for application in the year ahead are 31t July and 30 November.

Full details on the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Fund are available on the Foundation Scotland website: https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/apply-for-funding/funding-available/dorenell