Our East Coast Local Community Benefit Fund

This fund is now closed, and the total fund value has been awarded.

What is the East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade Local Fund?

The East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade is a project we are delivering to upgrade the electricity transmission cables on the east coast of Scotland. This upgrade will play a key role in reinforcing the network in the region, supporting the connection of renewable energy projects and the journey to net zero.

The Community Benefit Fund associated with this project was aimed specifically at communities close to the infrastructure, developed in partnership with key people within these communities.

This was a one-off fund, aimed at supporting projects across Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross, and Clackmannanshire, that were focused on improving health and wellbeing within the community. Applications were prioritised based on how close they were to the project infrastructure.

This fund is now closed, and the total fund value has been awarded to projects across this area.

How were funding decisions made?

The decisions on who should receive funding were made by an independent panel made up of community representatives from across the beneficiary area.

Which projects received funding?

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to apply to the fund. We received a large volume of applications, showcasing a huge variety of worthwhile projects.

We are delighted to announce the successful projects:

Organisation

Summary

Award

Stonehaven Sea Cadets
The Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets are water born, activity led, children’s social groups. These funds are being used to provide safety head gear when participating in activities.
£769
Perth Floral Arts Club
Delivery of a Creative Flower Arranging event within the Perth Festival of Arts Programme 2026.
£1,000
Perthshire Welfare Society
15 weeks of lunch sessions with the aim of reducing social isolation. The aim of this project is to provide a welcoming space for social connection, with an enjoyable atmosphere that promotes laughter, music, and community spirit while addressing the emotional and social needs of participants.
£1,500
Adoption and Fostering Group Angus
Arranging Summer Activity sessions for adopted and fostered children and their families and carers. This provides an opportunity for children to develop greater bonds with their families and carers as well as exposing them to new experiences.
£1,616
Blairgowrie, Alyth and Rattray Triathlon Club
A new triathlon club that helps to improve both social and physical wellbeing to the community through sport and being part of a club.
£1,974
Crook of Devon Village Hall
This project will improve indoor sports facilities in our village, by purchasing equipment and providing free taster sessions to improve our community’s health and wellbeing.
£2,000
International Café Perth
International Café regularly welcomes newcomers, also refugees, asylum seekers and long-term residents, encouraging cultural exchange, reducing isolation, supporting mental wellbeing and connection, building familiarity locally.
£2,000
Kinross & District Junior Agriculture Club
Funding for First Aid Courses.
£2,500
Midmill Velohut
Regular bicycle maintenance workshops to help the community of Kintore learn about bicycle maintenance and provide kids with bicycles where families are struggling.
£2,925
Kinross-shire Youth Enterprise SCIO
Provision of a Friday ‘Drop-in’ support service for young people (aged 11-19). This improves the health and wellbeing of young people by providing somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to. The drop-in is led by a youth work team and committed volunteers.
£3,000

Doric Books CIC

‘ABC Doric Blethers’ involves a mix of gentle exercise, reminiscence activities and community signing for elderly care home residents.

£3,360

Blairgowrie Tennis Club
Tennis coaching for 7-8-year-olds in the Blairgowrie High School cluster.
£3,500
Movement Evolution Scotland CIC
An upgrade of parkour equipment at The Movement Bothy at Woodend, Banchory, helping to enhance accessibility, engagement, and diversity in the classes and activities provided.
£3,642
Mackie Rugby Club
Providing weekly wellbeing meditation and yoga sessions for Stonehaven-based Mackie Rugby Club’s Mammoth section in support of the physical and mental wellbeing of men aged 35 - 54
£3,642
Grampian Opportunities
‘Our Journey, Our Way’ – Promoting people’s mental wellbeing, establishing healthy connections and habits, and building skills and confidence through therapeutic and learning activities.
£3,642
Forget-Me-Not Club, Dementia Support
Based in Banchory, the organisation provides chair yoga exercise sessions for those attending respite dementia support sessions – providing gentle physical activity and mental stimulation in a safe, secure environment.
£3,642
Glenfarg Community Transport Group
Developing walking opportunities within the Glenfarg & Fossoway and surrounding areas as a collaborative project to encourage active leisure and promote the area for visitors.
£3,642
Kinross Rugby Football Club
Replacement of two storm-damaged rugby posts to restore training and match play for 180 players, promoting health, wellbeing, and community engagement through sport.
£3,642
Perth & Kinross Foodbank
The Egg-stra Project – making 3-day emergency food parcels stretch further by supplying eggs, bread and spread to Perth and Kinross foodbank clients.
£3,642
Perth Minorities Association
“Safe Space” provides 2.5 hour wellbeing sessions with meals, networking, and workshops addressing social isolation, poverty, unemployment, and legal issues for vulnerable individuals, including ethnic minorities.
£3,642
Fair City Juniors FC
Based in Perth, and providing opportunities for 3–5-year-olds and adults 16 + to access football, food, support and learning opportunities. 
£3,642
Perthshire Rugby
Perthshire Rugby are organising five days of community rugby events, including mini rugby, 7’s competitions, and a Veterans Day, fostering inclusivity and engagement across all ages in Perth & Kinross.
£3,642
Deaf Links
Peer support mental wellbeing workshops for Deaf women in Perthshire and Angus who have suffered gender-based violence and abuse.
£3,642
Perth & Kinross Society for the Blind (VisionPK)
To deliver a series of health and wellbeing workshops to benefit service users, which will include drumming, low intensity strength and balance sessions.
£3,871
Salle Ossian Fencing Club
A pilot 6-week project, based around fencing and fitness, in local primary schools, promoting physical activity, improving mental focus, developing co-ordination, and boosting self-confidence in children.
 £3,900
Angus Young Engineers
Angus Young Engineers’ kit car project brings disadvantaged young people from the local community together to design, build, test and race an electric powered kit car. 
£3,930
Westmuir Community Development Fund
Upgrades to a long-established Community Woodland, including improvement to signage and seating, to offer the community more opportunities to enjoy the woods and its path network, wildlife and peace and tranquillity.
£3,940
LGBT Youth Scotland
A programme of activities for LGBTQ+ young people in Perth aged 13-15, supporting them to build wellbeing through exploring their identities and connecting with community.
 £4,000
Perth Autism Support SCIO
Our Sibling Project aims to support children with an autistic sibling by offering a safe place to engage with peers and understand autism.
£4,091
Strathmore Community Rugby Trust
Enabling walking rugby sessions, a slower, non-contact version of rugby for adults who are looking to increase their levels of physical activity. 
 £4,142
MANTALK
Based in Blairgowrie, improving men’s mental health through yoga, fitness classes and personal training – removing costs and barriers preventing men from helping themselves.
£4,147
Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Football Trust
Community development programme promoting health and wellbeing, including community activities and provision of a warm space. 
£4,147
Sustainable Kirriemuir
Enabling active travel in Kirriemuir, through an e-bike and shipping container for e-bike storage.
£4,308
PLUS Perth & Kinross
A nature restoration project for people with mental health issues who are keen to increase their knowledge and skills in biodiversity and use them to make a part of the city centre of Perth greener and more pleasant for all of us.
£4,326
Perth Archery Club
Acquire new equipment to support a greater number of new and developing members in the sport.
£4,395
Alyth Bowling & Tennis Club
To purchase a range of new and adapted equipment to benefit existing members and encourage all abilities to join and enjoy the facilities.
£4,395
West Perth Explorer Scout Unit
Provision of a wider range of outdoor activities, such as camping, for 14 – 18-year-olds to develop skills, confidence and self-esteem.
 £4,427
Deeside Bike Collective
Installation of wheelchair accessible multi-use ‘boundary trail’ core path on the Banchory woodland trails.
£4,440
Kanzen for Life
Kanzen for Life will provide accessible free to access Karate to 15 people (5 years & above) in Kirriemuir in classes for 6 months, as well as over 100 hours of free activity to primary schools within the Kirriemuir cluster.
 £4,500
Garioch Community Kitchen
Based in Inverurie, and providing cookery classes to children and adults across Aberdeenshire, focussing on making affordable healthy meals whilst learning transferable skills and meeting new people.
£4,600
Kintore and District Community Council
Inverurie First Responders are a voluntary group who are called upon by the Scottish Ambulance Service to provide quick and local response to medical emergencies. The funding will provide essential PPE and a manikin for CPR and first aid training to groups across the area.
£4,703
Drumoak Durris Warm Space
A weekly Warm Space event throughout the winter months which offers food, refreshments, entertainment and wellbeing support.
£4,722
The Alba Explorers Centre for Outdoor Innovation CIC
The project is focused on boosting the health and wellbeing of pupils at Edzell and Stracathro Primary Schools through Outdoor and Environmental Education.
£4,792
Live Active Leisure Ltd. Active Schools
An intervention-like judo programme at two schools in Perth, for pupils who are hard to reach across the academic year.
 £4,800

Arts Included CIC

Based in Menstrie, the project offers a series of free creative workshop activities to help increase wellbeing and to develop an ongoing service for engagement within communities.
£4,940
Woodend Arts Limited
Based near Banchory, The Barn’s Third Stage Art Programme addresses loneliness and enhances wellbeing for rural individuals aged 55+ through inclusive, co-designed art activities, led by a professional artist.
£5,000
The Haven
Funding for a New Mum Wellbeing Group, inspired and created for New Mums in the Stonehaven community who would like to connect, support and prioritise some time for their wellbeing.
£5,000
Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Pool (SOAP)
Purchase of a sauna to maximise health and wellbeing benefits and attractiveness of cold-water swimming sessions.
£5,000
ADHD Adventures Ltd

We are looking to expand our ADHD support service across Aberdeenshire, through the setting up of additional support groups across rural areas.

£5,000
Broke Not Broken
Local excursions for low-income families referred to the project. Includes travel, two meals and entry tickets.
£5,000
Kirrie Connections
Kirriemuir-based Kirrie Connections is a dementia support hub, home to the first meeting centre in Scotland, delivers person-centred evidence-based support to people living with dementia and their families.
£5,000
Alyth Junior Youth Football Club
The purchase of floodlights for the boy’s football team to allow them to train at their home park.
£5,000
Kirriemuir Youth Project
Summer School Holiday activity club targeted at 11–15-year-olds. Aims to provide a diverse range of activities that inspire curiosity, encourage social interaction and introduce the young people to new hobbies and skills.
£5,000
Coupar Angus Youth Activities Group (CAYAG)
Wellbeing workshops that run fortnightly for 12 months, offering opportunities such as creative arts, yoga, music, cookery and outdoor activities for children and their families.
£5,000
Growspace Creations CIC
Transforming one acre of neglected land into a beautiful vegetable and flower garden, connecting people though the joint venture of growing together.
£5,000
Meigle Cricket Club

Create a state School of Cricket programme at Blairgowrie High School and feeder primaries to level up opportunities for our rural East Perthshire young cricketers.

£5,000
Stanley Development Trust
Continuation of the Care and Wellbeing Project over 2025, providing socialisation and befriending opportunities for all age groups in our community. This includes a weekly Soup Club and monthly Family, Food and Fun events.
£5,000
Kirriemuir Thistle Community Football Club
Installation of flood lighting at outdoor pitches, enabling the outdoor training facilities to be used during the winter months.
£5,000
Music Broth
Musical Connections is a year of monthly inclusive, welcoming, diverse, supportive community-led music making workshops for creativity, positive mental health, wellbeing and togetherness, and culminating showcase.
£5,000
All Strong Scotland
This project will directly support the mental and physical health of both unpaid carers, as well as those with common mental health conditions, in Perth & Kinross.
£5,000
Perth & Kinross Disability Sport SCIO
This project will provide meaningful wheelchair sport and physical activity opportunities for people of all ages with a disability, at no cost to the participants.
£5,000
Ochils Mountain Rescue Team
The purchase of essential rescue equipment, ensuring OMRT can continue to support the community, delivering life-saving services effectively and safely in challenging conditions.
£5,000
Alyth Hill Users Group
Maintenance and improvement to Alyth Bike Park – a mountain bike trail under the care of a small charity, Alyth Hill Users Group.
£5,000

Spotlighting East Coast Projects and Initiatives

The East Coast Local Community Benefit Fund, provided funding to projects that strengthen and support communities along the East Coast of the North of Scotland.

From vital equipment for emergency responders to community-led initiatives improving local wellbeing, these grants are helping deliver meaningful change in local communities.

Hear directly from some of the funding recipients, in their own words, about what the fund means to them and how the support has helped them serve their communities.

Ochils Mountatin Rescue Team

East Coast Local Fund FAQs

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