Students at Heart of New Community Wind Project

Students from rural Perthshire will reap the benefits of a special fund set up by a new community wind project in the region. Heartland Community Wind will establish an annual bursary fund of £5,000 for students travelling to Perth College UHI from the PH15 postcode (Aberfeldy and Kenmore), where the renewable energy project will be sited.

Five students will receive £1,000 a year from the Community Benefit Society’s funds to help them with the costs of further or higher education. The linkup between the project and the college will be formally announced and an outline agreement signed when the main share offer for the project is launched at the Birks Cinema, Aberfeldy, on Tuesday.

The launch of the Heartland share offer takes place in the Birks Cinema, Aberfeldy, on Tuesday at 7pm on Tuesday April 28th. There will be a short presentation explaining the project and how to join the Society, and a chance to meet people who have been working on the project. Light refreshments will be available.

Margaret Munckton, Principal of Perth College UHI, said: “This is an exciting project which is benefiting young people in a highly creative way and I am very pleased that the college can be part of it.”

John Swinney, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, whose Perthshire North constituency covers the PH15 postcode, said: “This is an impressive and innovative way to ensure local communities derive genuine benefits from wind turbine developments. Decisions will be made locally, not in some faraway corporation’s HQ. I am supportive of the sensitive development of clean and carboncutting energy in Scotland and this project is especially positive because young people from the area will benefit in furthering their studies."

For further information about the project visit: www.heartlandwind.org.uk