Community groups in the vicinity of the Millennium windfarm will be able to apply for a boost to their funds next month as the developers behind the windfarm hand over their annual community benefit payment.

The wind farm, which is operated by Falck Renewables and has been operational since last summer, makes annual payments to both the Glengarry Trust and the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company to fund specific needs and projects within the community.

A number of organisations in the Glengarry area have already received a welcome boost to their funds over the last year with funding being awarded to the Glengarry Shinty Club and the Glengarry Highland Games committee amongst others.

Peter Walker, Chairman of the Glengarry Community Hall which received £5000 towards the upgrade of its car park, said “This has been a fantastic thing for the whole village. A lot of people come to the hall as there is a small coffee shop here as well as the public toilets, so it really has improved these facilities for residents and tourists.

“We applied to the trust for money to assist with this work and raised the rest of it through fundraising. The funding has been a great help and without it the car park work may not have gone ahead.”

Euan Fraser, asset manager for Falck Renewables based at their Inverness office, said, “Both trusts have had a very successful start and we are extremely pleased to make the second community benefit payment. A number of groups have already benefitted from the money available and we look forward to the funding from this initiative helping other worthwhile causes in the future.”

Meanwhile the Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company have issued grants totalling £4,982 to groups including the Senior Citizens Association and the Fort Augustus SWRI.  The company has also given £860 funding in the form of educational grants for student costs and equipment.

The trusts were set up specifically to manage the community benefit on behalf of the local area and are made up of members of the public. Applications are considered throughout the year and each