Banks Renewables donates to three local COVID-19 community support groups

A SOUTH LANARKSHIRE wind farm community fund is providing valuable additional funding for three community groups supporting their villages during the COVID-19 outbreak and its aftermath.

The Kype Muir Community Panel (KMCP) consists of community councillors local to the Kype Muir Wind Farm, and annually awards over £138,000 community funding to groups within 10 kilometres of the 26-turbine development.

Along with the family-owned business behind the wind farm, Banks Renewables, the KMCP has chosen to direct £1,000 to each community group assisting local groups to cope with Coronavirus and its effects.

This will see Stonehouse Coronavirus Community Support Group, the Strathaven Community Council and Lesmahagow Community Council each receive the funding to support their efforts in areas such as providing much needed supplies to local food banks – and linking volunteers with vulnerable residents in need of food and essential supplies, prescriptions and tackling social isolation.

George Smith, chair of the KMCP said: “We see people come together in times of crisis and the work the support groups are carrying out for vulnerable people across South Lanarkshire is commendable.

“Through the Kype Muir Community Fund we are able to provide support to our local communities, and in this time of uncertainty and crisis, it has never been more important that we offer this support to provide invaluable help for our local, vulnerable residents.”

The community fund is a direct result of the successful partnership between the local communities, Banks Renewables and South Lanarkshire Council in order to maximise the local investment from the Kype Muir wind farm.

Its annual community funding contributions started in April last year, when the wind farm started to generate clean electricity, with half of the fund ring fences for an employability initiative in the wind farm’s immediate surrounding area and the remaining quarter being distributed by South Lanarkshire Council’s Renewable Energy Fund.

Jeannie Raine, community relations manager at Banks Renewables, said: “These are unprecedented times – and we’re fortunate to be in a position to allocate serious funding to groups working to support the most vulnerable in their communities.

“This is about supporting our local projects and demonstrating the positive impact that Banks onshore wind farms can have in our local communities and I hope it will support many local residents during these difficult times.”

Banks Renewables is committed to clean energy and its promotion. It is committed to ensuring that their projects deliver tangible and lasting social, economic and environmental benefits to the communities in which they operate.

Further information about Banks Renewables’ Connect2Renewables initiative can be found at https://www.banksgroup.co.uk/renewables/connect2renewables/

Further general information about Banks Renewables’ Kype Muir Wind Farm can be found at https://www.banksgroup.co.uk/projects/renewables/kype-muir-extension/

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