Future Bright award recognises ‘shining example’ shown by Camster panel
A Caithness wind farm funding panel has been praised for setting “a shining example of community spirit in action”.
The plaudits came as RWE handed its third UK-wide Future Bright award to the group of residents who make recommendations on grant awards from Camster Wind Farm Community Fund.
During an event at RWE’s Camster Wind Farm, the panel members were recognised for their commitment to investing in education and training opportunities.
The Future Bright award is the energy company’s initiative to recognise and share best practice and innovation in the delivery of community benefit funding.
The gathering at the 50MW wind farm involved the Camster panel, staff from Foundation Scotland, who help the community to administer the fund, and the RWE team that leads the company’s onshore operations in Scotland.
RWE community investment manager Kathryn Harries said: “The Camster panel’s vision is a shining example of community spirit in action.
“By choosing to kick-start a fund that shares 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 made a decision to channel funding from the neighbouring wind farm into the Caithness Wind Farms Education and Training Fund. Since its inception in 2022, that fund has distributed £75,000 to support individuals in pursuing educational opportunities, enhancing employability prospects and exploring new career paths.
Eilidh Coll, of Foundation Scotland, said: “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 has secured £75,000 in funding since 2022, creating what will hopefully become a sustainable resource for skill development and career growth.”
Camster Wind Farm panel member Linda Malik Bremner said: “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.”