Funding for communities near our work in Argyll and Kintyre
Value: £3,268,000 Status:Our large project fund is open now. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 4th August at 12 noon. Micro-grant applications are currently closed.
We recognise that major infrastructure projects have a direct impact on the communities they pass through. The Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Local Fund is designed to ensure communities share in the benefits of this investment.
This fund is split into a large fund, which supports community projects that deliver significant positive impacts, and micro-grants which will soon be available to support smaller, local projects with a value of under £500.
This fund supports local communities that live near a series of projects taking place in the region, which are collectivelly called the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Strategy.
Who the fund is for
The fund is open to projects providing significant benefits in the following communities:
The current total lifetime value of funding is £3,268,000. This is split between a large project fund and micro-grants, with funding released in phases over five years from 2026.
£593,600 will be released in each funding round of the large project fund.
£60,000 will be released in each funding round in the form of micro-grants.
The fund value is calculated in line withUK Government Guidance, and is made up of community benefit funding associated with the infrastructure of the following projects:
In addition to this local fund, communities can also apply to our Regional Fund, which supports larger scale, strategic community projects across the north of Scotland.
To be eligible for funding from the Large Project Fund, your project must support one or more of the following themes:
Addressing the root causes of depopulation (for instance, by enhancing infrastructure such as affordable housing, transport, broadband; providing education, skills and training opportunities; establishing or supporting community services and facilities).
Improving connectivity (for instance, by providing activities for groups experiencing social isolation including younger people, older people and marginalised groups; improving access to transport including community transport).
Tackling the climate and biodiversity crises (for instance, through sustainability initiatives; nature restoration projects; improving access to nature and active travel).
Revenue and capital funding are available.
Applications will not be considered if they fall under the following categories:
The advancement of religion or politics (including requests to support the core activities of religious or political groups)
Feasibility studies, unless part of a larger project. Feasibility studies on their own will not be funded
Projects where the main impact is outside the area of benefit
Direct costs of energy consumption
The repayment of loans or payment of debts
Trips abroad
Costs already incurred or activities which will take place before a funding decision has been made (retrospective funding)
Payments towards areas generally understood to be the primary responsibility of a statutory authority
To be eligible for this fund, your community group must have a constitution and not be set up for individual profit.
It is important for your organisation to have a written constitution as this outlines the purpose, rules and regulations of the organisation. If you need support in writing a constitution or setting up your group, there is advice available through the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and through your local Third Sector Interface.
For the Large Project Fund, funding is available from £1,000 up to a maximum grant value of £220,000 and we expect to see a range of grant amounts being awarded.
As a flexible funder, we are open to raising the upper limit of £220,000 for exceptional projects, at the discretion of the funding panel.
Applicants who wish to apply for more than £220,000 are encouraged to contact our dedicated Community Investment Manager Linsay Chalmers on community.benefit@sse.com at an early stage to discuss.
Multi-year funding is available, with a maximum term of three years. There is no minimum term.
Decisions on applications are made by the Argyll Local Fund independent panel based on the fund criteria. This panel is made up of people resident in Argyll, representing both the communities covered by this fund and the wider Argyll area.
This panel is in the process of being selected through a competitive recruitment process, to ensure that members have the relevant expertise and knowledge of the area. The membership of the panel will be published once the recruitment process is complete.
The fund is currently open for applications. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 4 August at 12 noon.
To apply for funding, read this guidance section in full, and make sure you meet the eligibility criteria, then submit your application via the online portal.
This fund will open for applications in phases over five years from 2026.
You can sign up to our mailing list to receive key updates about community benefit funding, including notification when this fund opens in future.
It’s important to us that this fund reflects what matters most to the people it will benefit.
This fund was shaped by feedback from local communities, shared with us at in-person and online events, and through survey responses.
Our commitment to communities
The Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Strategy is a long‑term investment in the region’s energy future. Alongside this, we’re committed to working with communities to ensure the benefits are shared fairly and deliver real, meaningful outcomes.
Through this fund, we want to support projects that strengthen communities now and leave a positive legacy for the future.
You can follow us on social media, and sign up to our mailing list to receive key updates on the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Local Fund and for other key funding updates.
Get ready to apply by reading the fund guidance, which includes an application template that sets out the questions that you will be asked during the application process, and provides guidance on how to answer each question properly.
Once you are ready to apply for funding, start your application over on our Community Benefit application portal. Make sure you meet the eligiblity criteria and have prepared your application before you start.
After starting your application, you can login here to manage your draft applications. You will need to have an existing user account to access this portal.
