The UK’s leading power generator, RWE, has presented Camster Wind Farm Community Fund Panel with the company’s third UK-wide 'Future Bright' award, marking excellence in the delivery of community benefits locally. This recognition was marked at an event at RWE’s Camster Wind Farm and honours the panel’s unwavering commitment to empowering individuals across Caithness by investing in education and training opportunities that pave the way for brighter futures.
The RWE 'Future Bright' award is the company’s nationwide initiative to recognise and share best practise and innovation in the delivery of community benefit funding. It especially highlights the best practise approach of putting local people in control when it comes to sharing community benefits from onshore wind farms over a wider area.
The event at the 50MW wind farm involved the Camster Wind Farm Panel, staff from Foundation Scotland, who support the local community to administer the fund, and the RWE team that leads onshore operations in Scotland. It included a chance for the panel to see the turbines and meet the operations team, while formally receiving the award.
Kathryn Harries, RWE Community Investment, "The Camster Panel’s vision is a shining example of community spirit in action. By choosing to kick start a fund that share the funding from the local wind farm across the wider Caithness area, they have opened doors for local people to access training and education that would otherwise be out of reach. This initiative not only empowers individuals but strengthens the local economy by helping grow a skilled workforce."
The Camster Wind Farm Community Fund Panel is comprised of local residents and made a transformative decision to channel funding from the neighbouring wind farm into the creation of the Caithness Wind Farm Education and Training Fund. Since its inception in 2022, the fund has distributed a total of £75,000 to support individuals in pursuing educational opportunities, enhancing employability prospects, and exploring new career paths. The panel wanted to make sure that everyone across Caithness could have the opportunity to access funding for education and training.
Eilidh Coll Foundation Scotland,”The Education and Training Fund is a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives and the lasting impact of partnerships like the one with RWE. Inspired by the success of the Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Community Fund, this programme has grown into a vital resource, offering residents across Caithness the chance to develop skills and pursue new opportunities. The Camster Panel’s commitment, alongside RWE’s support, has created a sustainable fund that continues to empower individuals and strengthen our local workforce. To date the panel have secured £75,000 in funding since 2022 creating what will hopefully become a sustainable resource for skill development and career growth.”
Linda Malik Bremner, Camster Wind Farm Panel Member, “ I, along with others on the panel, felt it was important to contribute to the Caithness Education and Training Fund because supporting opportunities across the whole county helps break down the geographical divides often associated with community benefit funds. This fund also helps bring our communities closer together. While community funds in the past have traditionally focused on the areas closest to the turbines, we believe adapting to the wider needs of the Caithness community reflects a more united, adaptable and forward-thinking approach.”
The impact has been profound. The fund has enabled individuals to take courses, start new businesses, and embark on career paths previously unattainable due to the prohibitive costs of training. Given the remote nature of Caithness, with the nearest city over 100 miles away, this initiative has broken down significant barriers, offering new opportunities for personal and professional growth.
To see the Camster community funding in action we have launched a video, available here.
Community benefit funds are established alongside RWE's renewable energy projects and empower local communities to implement life-changing initiatives that promote social inclusion and economic prosperity. The Camster Panel hopes its contributions will inspire further support from other wind farms and local funders to expand the reach of this vital resource. For more information or to learn about future funding opportunities go to the Caithness Wind Farm Education and Training Fund.
To learn more about RWE's community fund programmes and the impactful projects supported by Future Bright, visit here.
Pictures for media use (credit: RWE) are available at the RWE Media Centre.
