Two hundred local projects from every part of the islands were assisted by the Viking Community Fund’s grant scheme that operated during construction of the windfarm.
The Advanced Grant Scheme (AGS), which devolved decision-making to each community council, helped fund a total of 201 projects from Unst to Fair Isle and Skerries to Foula. Some were small local projects, for a few hundred pounds, while others were five-figure grants, to local or Shetland-wide organisations.
In total over a million pounds was awarded and this helped fund projects with a total value of over £4.5m.
With the Viking windfarm now operational, the advanced grant scheme has been replaced with the Community Grant Scheme, financed by the main Viking Community Fund. It operates in much the same way, with community councils deciding on which local projects to support. Any approved funding, or unspent funds from the AGS will be carried over to the new scheme.
SCBF chair, Chris Bunyan, said the scheme had operated successfully. He thanked community councillors for their contribution in making the scheme a success and SCBF looked forward to working with them on the new scheme. Full details of the new grant scheme and other SCBF funding is available at www.scbf.org.uk
