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Community benefit and grants

We are committed to being a good neighbour to the local communities in which we work and operate.

We want to deliver fair and enduring benefits for the communities that are hosting new electricity transmission infrastructure. Our EGL2 community benefit funding will deliver lasting local economic, societal, and environmental benefits.
 

In Scotland

EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund

Our Peterhead Local Fund is aimed specifically at communities who are situated close to the EGL2 infrastructure in Peterhead and the surrounding area. We have designed the fund in partnership with the relevant Community Councils and key representatives of the local community.

The Fund has been separated into two parts – a Large Project Fund and a Micro-grant Fund - with decisions made by a local independent panel.

The EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund can support projects based in the following Community Council areas: 

  • Boddam
  • Buchan East
  • Cruden
  • Longside & District
  • Peterhead

The fund value has a total lifetime value of £2,159,444, which will be delivered over a period of 5 years across both the large project fund and micro-grant fund.
 

Large Project Fund

Our Large Project Fund will be used to support strategic development across Peterhead and the surrounding area. It will be used to invest in projects that fall within the following themes:

  • Education, employment and skills
  • Protection and enhancement of the natural environment (including land and sea, natural habitats, and, biodiversity)
  • Transport and connectivity (including path / cycle networks and community transport)
  • Community infrastructure and regeneration
  • Heritage and culture
  • Community action planning and capacity building

Any organisations interested in applying for the Large Project Fund should initially complete an expression of interest form. Additional information on the application process for our EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund, including the expression of interest form, is available here. These forms will be reviewed by an independent decision-making panel, and the projects which most closely align with the fund themes and strategic aims of the local area will be invited to complete a full application.
 

Micro-grant Fund

Our Micro-grant Fund is available to individuals and local groups who need small amounts of money to cover a wide range of uses that deliver benefit to their community. 

This part of the fund is managed independently by each of the Community Councils within the areas listed above. Community Councils can award up to £4,319 per year, which they can then use to fund any projects that bring value to the local community. Funding is currently up to a maximum value of £500 per project. 

If you are interested in applying for a micro-grant, please contact the relevant Community Council directly for more information.

Further information on the EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund, including how to apply for funding, is available.
 

SSEN Transmission Regional Fund

SSEN Transmission has created the Regional Fund as part of its community benefit commitment from its investment in transmission infrastructure across the network area in the north of Scotland. This substantial financial commitment is largely sourced from our EGL2 project, with the remainder directly funded by SSEN Transmission. The aim of this funding is to bring positive benefits and a long-lasting legacy to communities across the north of Scotland.

The Regional Fund is to be used to provide support for strategic projects in the region and any successful application must meet one or more of the following themes:  

  • People: Focusing on skills, training and employability.
  • Place: Emphasising the community and culture of the north of Scotland.
  • Alleviating fuel poverty: Looking at strategic ways to help people across the region.

These themes should be reviewed in the context of a strategic fund, with the view of maximising impact to the north of Scotland. For example, 'Place’ can refer to the physical environment or the wider cultural identity of a community, which may include arts and language.

Due to the strategic nature of this fund, additional consideration will be given to projects that demonstrate:

  • Value for money: Evidence that the project has a high impact for the amount invested.
  • Community involvement: Evidence that the community is engaged in the development and implementation of the project. This may be in the form of surveys, service user involvement, community consultations, open days, letters of support or volunteering opportunities.
  • Partnership working: Projects that involve strategic partnerships working together to achieve more.
  • Financial viability: Evidence that the project will be maintained beyond the period of grant funding.
  • Evidence of need: Demonstration of a real financial need for the application and evidence that the applicant has leveraged other sources of external funding.
  • UN Sustainable Development Goals: Alignment with a minimum of one of the UN Sustainability Goals and the ability to assess the project against these goals.

Further information on the SSEN Transmission Regional Fund, including how to apply for funding, is available here.
 

In England

We are currently developing our EGL2 local community benefit funding plans for the Yorkshire region.

In line with the recently published Government guidance, our approach much respond to the needs and aspirations of the community. We have undertaken detailed needs analysis to understand local challenges and opportunities and are engaging with key local and regional stakeholders to inform these plans.

Our finalised funding plans will consist of:

  • A local grant fund which will open in the coming months to support local community projects and initiatives
  • Building strategic partnerships and programmes that deliver long lasting socioeconomic benefits across the region. Covering the themes of nature positive, next generation (STEM), socioeconomic growth and, community support.

We know that our responsibility goes beyond safely building new energy infrastructure to enable a cleaner, fairer and affordable future. We want to leave a lasting positive impact where we build EGL2 to help those areas and communities thrive and to support a sustainable future.