£18,000 funding award supports vital Glenkens community projects
Funding facilitates cross-community collaboration and digital connectivity in the Glenkens
The Glenkens & District Trust, working in partnership with Foundation Scotland, has announced an £18,000 award to Glenkens Community Arts Trust to continue supporting the Glenkens Community Spaces Network and the Glenkens Hub throughout 2026.
This significant investment is made possible through an agreement between Glenkens & District Trust (GDT) and Carsphairn Renewable Energy Fund Limited (CREFL). Since 2023, CREFL has given 25% of its Windy Rig Wind Farm community benefit funds to the Trust specifically to facilitate cross-area projects, support cross-community working, and assist groups planning collaborative initiatives. The intention is for funding to be made available annually.
The £18,000 award will be used to maintain two important roles in the area: the Glenkens Community Spaces Network Facilitator one day per week, and the Hub Digital Editor for 8 hours per week, ensuring continuity of services that have been pivotal to building more connected communities across the wider Glenkens area.
The Glenkens Community Spaces Network (GCSN) brings voluntary committees together for peer support and partnership working. The GCSN has been well received by the voluntary committees, as well as aligning with the Glenkens & District Community Action Plan priorities for a ‘Connected and Asset Rich Community.’
The Glenkens Hub serves as a free digital 'shop-front' for living and working in the Glenkens. The platform has achieved significant outcomes including:
Bringing communities together through shared calendar events and regular activities;
Enhancing community resilience through access to key information;
Strengthening sustainability of local groups and businesses with dedicated webpages and promotional support;
Providing permanent storage for community resources and the Galloway Glens archive;
Promoting community development initiatives such as Local Place Plans.
Fiona Smith, Chair of Glenkens & District Trust said:
“This innovative agreement with CREFL gave us more funds to support community-wide projects and we are very grateful to them for facilitating this. These two projects have rapidly become critical across the wider Glenkens, and we are delighted to give them some certainty in regard to ongoing funding.”
CREFL Directors said:
“We are thrilled to be able to support such valuable cross-community projects, enabling a joined-up vision for the Glenkens to continue to build, supporting each of our communities in working together going forward. This Glenkens-wide partnership working approach is an excellent demonstration of how our communities can work together to really maximise outcomes from community benefit monies.”