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Clyde Wind Farm powers the South Lanarkshire pandemic recovery

13 Jun 2021

SSE Renewables and Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd have awarded more than £638k to seven transformational projects across South Lanarkshire to help communities recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Rt. Hon Lord Jack McConnell, Chair of the Sustainable Development Fund visited South Lanarkshire College to highlight how the Fund is helping communities throughout South Lanarkshire.

Community projects that will help the region to grow the economy again with facilities and skills that are attractive to employers in the future have been supported along with projects which can help local responses to the climate emergency.

One recipient is South Lanarkshire College which has received £149k to help retrain and upskill people to access jobs in the growing insulation industry.

Money has gone towards the college’s purpose-built Insulation Training Centre and additional staff which will help South Lanarkshire residents get the qualifications and employment support they need to access jobs in insulation sector. The project also addresses the climate emergency by teaching the skills needed to halt the flow of carbon dioxide from homes into the atmosphere.

Lord McConnell, Chair of the Sustainable Development Fund, said: "These are difficult times for those who live and work in South Lanarkshire. The funding from Clyde Wind Farm will help the community to build back better. We have prioritised funding projects which help train people for growth employment sectors and provide solutions to the climate emergency."

Aileen McKechnie, Principal of South Lanarkshire College said: Tackling the climate emergency is more important now than ever, as we look to train our students in sustainable practices, particularly within the construction trades.

“This funding has helped support the specialist purpose-built training centre on our campus and it is with great pleasure that we welcome Lord McConnell to visit the site to talk with students and staff about the importance of projects.”

“I look forward to seeing many students benefit from this state-of-the-art facility and for the College’s contribution to the green economy to continue to grow.”

Other successful projects include £80k to Clydesdale Community Initiative who will grow their provision to include a tearoom and visitor destination. The new site will not only attract visitors to South Lanarkshire but will also create jobs and training for local people with additional support needs. LEAP Enterprise Scotland was awarded £67k to help the Cambuslang community recover from the pandemic by creating a new lifelong learning café and training facility.

The Sustainable Development Fund is in addition to SSE Renewables and Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd.’s local community funds and supports strategic projects in regions where SSE Renewables operates. The fund brings the benefits of SSE Renewables’ energy developments to a wider area and is directed at projects that can achieve significant impacts in local communities.

List of projects awarded:

Applicant

Project Description

Award

Clydesdale Community Initiatives

New tearoom and visitor destination in Lanark.

£80,000

Covey Befriending

A family befriending service for vulnerable children in Clydesdale.

£66,216

Douglas REAL Group

To support the community asset transfer of Douglas West Community Woodland.

£87,000

LEAP Enterprise Scotland CIC

To develop a lifelong learning café which offers intergenerational opportunities for local people of Cambuslang.

£67,000

Skills Exchange SCIO

To deliver a horticulture employability programme in South Lanarkshire.

£18,500

South Lanarkshire College

To employ a lecturer and employability officer for two years to deliver a Wall Insulation Training Programme.

£149,367

Clyde Gateway Developments

To support the pre-development stage of a district heating scheme in Shawfield, South Lanarkshire.

£170,000