Education Trust celebrates 10 years of opportunities with fresh cash pot

Allt Dearg Educational Trust is inviting grant bids for 2024 as it marks 10 years of helping young people fund the cost of living away from home to study.

Annual donations from Allt Dearg Community Wind Farm and Srondoire Community Wind Farm fund the annual grants currently helping 60 people.

The wind farms are owned and operated by the neighbouring Ormsary and Stronachullin estates, with shares in Allt Dearg Community Windfarm owned by Ardrishaig Community Trust, and shares in Srondoire Community Windfarm owned by both Tarbert and Skipness Community Trust, and Tighnabruaich District Development Trust.

Over the decade, the trust has received £510,000 in donations from the two wind farms and 201 young people have been supported by it, most of them coming from Mid Argyll.

Priority is given to young people whose family home is close to the wind farms.

Thanks to the generosity of the grants, courses studied have ranged from HND beauty therapy to a degree in biological sciences and masters degrees including veterinary medicine.

Mary Broadfoot from the Allt Dearg Educational Trust said: “The idea for the trust was sparked by seeing young people basing decisions about their futures not on what was best for their education or future careers, but what they could afford. Sometimes that meant postponing starting university, sometimes it meant giving up on ambitions.

“Choices were limited by the expense of having to live away from home in order to attend college or university.

“It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to run the trust, and see so many young people benefit.

“Ten years on, it’s lovely to reflect on how much money has been given in grants and how many young people have benefited from that initial idea.

“The application form is easy to complete, and I encourage any young person planning to move away from home to go to college or university to apply.”

Email info@alltdeargeducationaltrust.org.uk for an application form. Deadline for applications is Friday May 31.