Sixty students from Argyll will be supported in the 2017 – 18 academic year, up from the thirty-nine young people funded in 2016-17, through £63k of support grants from the Educational Trust established by the landowning partners in the Allt Dearg and Sròndoire Community Wind Farms .
The Trust started in 2013 with 17 local young people receiving grants, the Trust has added new students every year, while continuing to support everyone throughout their course
The Trust was set up by the Broadfoot and Lithgow families, who developed both Community Wind Farms. The Trust shares the economic benefit across the wider community to the best long term socio-economic advantage of Argyll, encouraging local youngsters into further education, who might otherwise be deterred by the cost of living away from home. The Trust is funded by all the owners of the Allt Dearg and Sròndoire Community Wind Farms, including the Community Trust owners. The Allt Dearg Educational Trust supports those students living away from their family home, and priority is given to those from areas closest to the wind farms. The Trust presently supports students studying a wide range of Degree courses, including Masters in Engineering, Medicine, Teaching and Nursing, and various HNC and HND students.
One of last year’s students said: "I have finally finished my years at City of Glasgow College, doing my HNC Care and Administrative Practice and I loved every minute of it. A few months ago I received an offer from my first choice University which is Glasgow Caledonian University to do Adult Nursing. I am so happy and proud of myself to get this far as I never thought I would when I left Lochgilphead Joint Campus to move to Glasgow to do my NC Health and Social Care. Thank you again for your support in giving me this grant as I am extremely grateful for all the help I get and it only helps me get closer to fulfilling my dream career as being a nurse”.
James Lithgow of Ormsary said: "As always we are very grateful for the hard work of the Trustees, who have taken our original idea and turned it into a practical reality, encouraging and supporting local young people in their ambitions and studies at University and College. Allt Dearg and Sròndoire remain uniquely successful collaborations between the landowners and neighbouring communities, and we hope the seeds of education sown by the Trust will flourish in the ambitions of these students for the benefit of all.”