• 15 projects were awarded £161,000 by Vattenfall as part of its Unlock the Future Fund
• The fund is celebrating its fifth anniversary and is administered by Foundation Scotland
• The fund supports climate-smart community projects in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Vattenfall’s Unlock our Future Fund has celebrated a landmark five years of community grant making, with a special event in Inverurie last week. The event celebrated, not only the fifth year anniversary, but also the awarding this year of £161,000 to 15 local projects.

The twenty five year fund has already made a total of 67 awards, allocating nearly £645,000 to climate-smart community projects in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

The fund is provided by Vattenfall’s Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, and supports projects helping groups to keep doing what they do best: linking people, enhancing community spirit and resilience and delivering services in their local area by helping with energy-saving, reducing carbon emissions, and reducing utility and transport bills. The fund is administered by Foundation Scotland.

A key aspect of the event in Inverurie was to give groups time to speak with other volunteers, and to share their learning and experience with others embarking on similar projects.

Unlock our Future Fund award decisions are made by a panel of volunteers who live and work in the fund area and have a range of skills and experience in the climate and community sector.

Several projects related to energy efficiency improvements for community buildings were given awards. Energy efficiency improvements include insulation, LED lighting, solar panels and glazing improvements. Projects winning awards include:

• Camphill School’s zero waste shop retrofitting project,
• Crathes Public Hall, Glass Community Hall
• Tillydrone Community Centre (now run by Granite City Taekwondo)
• Culter & District Men’s Shed
• The Boddam Hub

Further awards related to food and growing projects, including funds for a compost toilet, shed with solar panels and a battery for Grey Street Aberdeen Allotment Association, and support for Aberdeen University Students’ Association for a number of sustainable food and active travel initiatives.

There were also awards that contributed to electric vehicles, mowers, cargo bikes and LED floodlights for a local football club.

Steven Wares, Operations & Maintenance Manager at Vattenfall's Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, said:
“This is the best way to celebrate five years of generating fossil free energy at Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm, which powers around 80,000 homes. Along with innovative environmental and biodiversity protecting projects we are involved in, our community engagement is very important to us.

"We want to empower our neighbours in the community to deliver their own climate smarter initiatives, and this evening I can see that local people have no shortage of fantastic ideas and plans to make a difference in their localities.

"Community Foundation Scotland are also able to support groups with administrative, evaluation and reporting aspects too, which means everyone gains from collaborating and sharing experience. 

"Thank you to everyone involved. Together we are able to accelerate the clean energy transition, and deliver inspiring and lasting local benefits. 

Panel chair, Morag McCorkindale, who hosted the event, said:
“The quality of applications for the fund continues to impress.  It is inspiring to see the range and creativity of projects proposed by so many people dedicated to bettering the quality of life and sustainability of their communities.”

Marion McDonald, Community Funds Adviser for Foundation Scotland said:
“It was great to be able to bring the groups together, acknowledge all their hard work and give them the chance to make contact with other people working on similar projects.”

The fund will open again in 2024 and groups with project ideas are encouraged to contact Foundation Scotland who administer the fund for advice and support with their application.

About Foundation Scotland

Foundation Scotland is Scotland’s community foundation, helping communities create positive change and deliver lasting impact through transformative funding. Foundation Scotland’s developmental approach and in-depth knowledge of charitable and community sectors ensure that funds entrusted to the Foundation make a real difference to people’s lives nationwide.

More than £170 million has been distributed to charitable organisations, social enterprises, and community groups across Scotland through innovative funding programmes and social investment since the Foundation launched in 1996.

KeyFacts Energy: Vattenfall UK country profile