What is the 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 its network area in the north of Scotland. The aim of this funding is to bring positive benefits and a long-lasting legacy to communities across the north of Scotland. The fund reflects SSEN Transmission’s planned £20bn investment in the transmission network by 2030.

Who can apply to the fund? 

If your project benefits communities located within the SSEN Transmission network area, you may be eligible to apply for our Regional Fund. Our network area covers the same parts of Scotland as our sister-business, SSEN Distribution. You can provide your post code on the Energy Networks Association website to check which network area you reside in.

You don’t have to be a registered charity to apply, but your organisation must have a constitution and not be set up for individual profit. We anticipate that the regional projects will be of higher value and have a greater transformational impact which may cover several regions within our network area.

Separate local funds will be established solely for communities who are situated close to new infrastructure and more information on these funds will be provided soon

What is the fund value and timescale? 

In this round the fund is worth a total of £2,000,000. You can apply for funding from £40,000 up to £500,000. 

First round opens: Sunday 1 September 2024
Deadline for applications: Friday 22 November 2024
Awards made: January 2025                                           

What are the aims of the fund? 

Based on the feedback from the consultation held in 2023, the 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; and  

• 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. 

Assessment

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.

Successful applicants will be asked to measure the impact of the project against these goals and provide reporting on this on an annual basis. 

The Transmission Regional Fund aims to support strategic projects across the north of Scotland. These projects are expected to have a significant and transformational impact beyond more than one community. The panel will also be interested in seeing innovative projects which could be replicated in the future, maximising the overall impact of the scheme. 

Local Funds will be available solely to communities who are situated close to new infrastructure. These funds will support projects that aim to positively impact local communities. The focus for these funds will be developed through discussions with communities, ensuring that local priorities are supported.