COMMUNITY BENEFITS
We seek to be a power for good in the communities that neighbour our projects, by working openly and constructively to ensure sensitive design and create tangible local benefits. Local communities benefit from having the Glenchamber Wind Farm in their area in a number of ways.
Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS)
The Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS) is an initiative which seeks to deliver direct and tangible benefits to people living and working closest to Glenchamber Wind Farm.
Under the scheme, LEDS offers a £200 (index linked) annual discount, to the electricity bills of those properties closest to Glenchamber Wind Farm. The scheme is open to all residential, business and community buildings (including schools, places of worship and village halls). Participation in the scheme is voluntary and does not require any change of electricity supplier or tariff. As a fixed amount (index linked), rather than a percentage of electricity bills, LEDS does not reward higher electricity users over lower users or encourage energy profligacy.
For more information please visit https://leds.res-group.com/
Investment in the Community
We believe that local communities should benefit directly from hosting wind farms in their area. A Community Benefit Fund of £55,000 (index linked) per year has been established. The community fund is designed to support social, environmental and educational projects for communities living within, but not limited, to the community council areas of Old Luce, New Luce and Kirkcowan.
Community fund administrators have been appointed for each community council area, for more information on the fund and for details of how to apply please see contact details below:
Old Luce community council area - Foundation Scotland
New Luce community council area - New Luce Community Trust
Kirkcowan community council area - Kirkcowan Community Development Trust
Community Fund Case Studies
Arts Inc CIC
Arts Inc is a charitable organisation that uses art to engage with Primary School pupils, and adults with dementia/learning needs. They were awarded a grant to deliver Phase 1 of the 'Roon the Toon' project to Kirkcowan pupils linking in to the Schools Wider Experiences Programme. The project will produce a bespoke board game highlighting historic sites and important buildings in and around Kirkcowan. Arts Inc have already produced eight versions of the game for communities including Wigtown.
New Luce Gardening Group
The New Luce Gardening Group is a band of enthusiastic volunteer gardeners who work to enhance the appearance of the village by planting & maintaining flowerbeds and planters in the village, weeding and clearing neglected areas, mowing and strimming grass areas and clearing rubbish. The Group encourages community involvement and there is participation from many members of the community from pre and school age children through to more senior community members. The hard work and commitment of the Group saw them awarded a Silver Gilt Award by the judges of Scotland in Bloom. A grant from the Glenchamber community fund enabled them to purchase a Drystone Dyking raised bed and other gardening equipment.
Furniture Project (Stranraer) Ltd
The Furniture Project in Stranraer collects unwanted furniture and electrical goods and repairs or restores items to sell or donate to individuals and groups. They also offer work experience placements to young people and adults facing long term unemployment, and have been awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. A grant from the community fund supported the delivery and collection of furniture and electrical items for members of the public in the Old Luce area. Between September 2017 to August 2018 there were 5130 purchases from the Furniture Project's 2 shops, 828 items delivered and 912 items collected. This equates to 118.8 tons diverted from landfill and 80.2 tons of carbon saved.