Funds blow in from Perthshire windfarm

Dec 17 2010 by Iain Howie, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A WINDFARM is helping to bring music and youth advice to east Perthshire.

A public pot linked to the Drumderg windfarm has paid out nearly £12,000 to community groups in Alyth to help them improve their work.

Three groups – Alyth Musical Society, Alyth Youth Partnership and Strathmore Centre for Youth Development – have been successful with applications to the Drumderg Community Benefit Fund set up by the windfarm’s developers Scottish and Southern Energy, to give out £64,000 of annual handouts.

Receiving the biggest handout of £9471, Alyth Youth Partnership is set to use the cash to support the running costs of ‘The Hub’, a one-stop information point for young people aged 15 and over.

Alyth Musical Society has received £1000 to help it buy a new digital piano for rehearsals for its annual show.

And £900 has been given to SCYD to its Core Spirits group which will deliver information and advice sessions in primary schools and youth groups in the Alyth and Mount Blair communities.

Councillor Bob Ellis said: “It is fantastic that the three groups have been awarded these grants. The youth partnership and SCYD are an integral and worthwhile part of the area, and are involved in a number of important community activities which make them an asset.”