A BUSTLING community hub is blown away after receiving nearly £8,000 in much-needed funding from a nearby wind farm.
The Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill Hope Hub in South Lanarkshire has been able to provide major upgrades to its indoor and outdoor facilities thanks to a £7,894 grant from OnPath Energy, formerly known as Banks Renewables.
The funding was granted through the Kype Muir Community Panel (KMCP) and allowed the community group to enhance the well-used hub, adding benches and other seating to its café and garden spaces while renovating and soundproofing its multi-purpose theatre and meeting room.
The Kype Muir Community Panel has always had a close affinity with the vital community hub, supporting its sensory garden with a £12,500 grant in 2021.
Willie Moyes, funding organiser at the Hope Hub said: “The wind farm funding has helped us significantly enhance our offering to the local community.
“So many important local groups use our space, so the funding has been able to make it that bit more functional and comfortable for everyone benefiting it – whether they are attending dance classes, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and after-school clubs and youth groups.
“We are incredibly appreciative of the funding provided by OnPath Energy. Over the years, we have built a valuable relationship with their team who have been fantastic and given us financial support to improve opportunities and activities for local people.”
The Hope Hub aims to provide sustainable services and activities for the rural communities in the Clydesdale district.
It offers a diverse array of activities and support services for the community, such as offering warm spaces for those who can’t heat their homes, along with a whole host of sociable activities like art and dance classes.
The Kype Muir Community Panel (KMCP) was set up to provide financial assistance to community groups, voluntary organisations and communities local to the areas surrounding its Kype Muir Wind Farm.
Robin Winstanley, sustainability, and external affairs manager at OnPath Energy said: “The Hope Hub has become an integral part of the local community, offering vital services to support people from all walks of life.
“We have built a strong relationship over the years, and it has been a pleasure to see the great work being done first-hand. It’s clear that community hubs like this are of vital importance in enhancing the community in different ways and we’re very proud that renewable energy has been able to play a part in that.”
South Lanarkshire Councillor, Ross Lambie, said: “When working with local communities the personal touch is key as it helps the needs of the community be understood.
“OnPath Energy despite their size and strength as a company has always maintained a down-to-earth and face-to-face approach which results in great projects like the Hope Hub going from strength to strength.”
OnPath Energy focuses on maximising the benefits of renewable energy for local communities and the local economy close to their projects and has a track record for doing so.
When building Kype Muir Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire for example, development and construction contracts to the value of £38.9M were awarded to local businesses within 30km.
The Kype Muir and Kype Muir Extension wind farms will bring significant community benefits, with an annual contribution of over £770,000.
These wind farms, consisting of 41 turbines, will generate over 150MW of electricity each year, enough to supply electricity to more than 120,000 homes, equivalent to a city larger than Aberdeen.
OnPath Energy is the new name for Banks Renewables. OnPath Energy is currently building a new website as part of the re-brand process. Until the new website is ready all project information and news will remain at www.banksgroup.co.uk/renewables.
To find out more about the Kype Muir Wind Farm Community Fund visit: https://www.banksgroup.co.uk/kype-muir-wind-farm-community-fund/
For additional information about Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill Hope Hub, please visit: https://www.hope-hub.org/
