Applications open in January 2026
Supporting our communities to unlock lasting benefits
We’re proud to announce the launch of our new Community Benefit Funding Programme. This initiative is designed to support communities that host our electricity transmission infrastructure, delivering long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits.
In March 2025, the UK government published the guidance on community funding for transmission infrastructure, setting out eligible infrastructure and key principles underpinning this new form of funding.
The initiative is a new model of community benefit funding, which differs from the voluntary contributions traditionally provided by renewable energy developers. As a regulated electricity transmission business, SP Energy Networks' activities are overseen by Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, to ensure all spending is fair, efficient, and delivers measurable value for electricity consumers and local communities.
What are Community Benefits?
Community benefits in the context of network infrastructure mean extra ways for local communities to benefit from having a new electricity infrastructure project in their area. These benefits are an additional mechanism that is separate from the usual planning process. They help enhance the local economy, society, and environment to leave a positive legacy.
What's Available
From January, community organisations based near eligible electricity transmission infrastructure projects will be able to apply for local and grassroots grants to deliver initiatives supporting local communities.
- Grassroots grants will support projects of up to £10k
- Local grants will offer funding for projects above £10k
Need some extra support to turn your ideas into action?
If your community is based within one of the eligible areas, you will be able to apply for upskilling events and tailored workshops that can help your community build capacity and explore bespoke solutions to local challenges.
Who will be eligible?
Location
Areas listed below host eligible infrastructure projects and will be able to apply for the first round of funding in January 2026. More areas will be added to this list in summer 2026 when future funding rounds are announced.
- Royal Burgh Of Sanquhar And District (Dumfries and Galloway)
- New Luce Community Council (Dumfries and Galloway)
- Kirkconnel and Kelloholm (Dumfries and Galloway)
- Barhill Community Council (South Ayrshire)
- Girvan Community Council (South Ayrshire)
- Pinmore and Pinwherry Community Council (South Ayrshire)
- Lesmahagow Community Council (South Lanarkshire)
- Coalburn Community Council (South Lanarkshire)
- Crawford and Elvanfoot Community Council (South Lanarkshire)
- Tweedsmuir Community Council (Scottish Borders)
To check which community council your organisation is based in, please use Community Council Finder.
Type of organisation
Eligible organisations include:
- Registered charities
- Community Interest Companies and other non-profit companies limited by guarantee.
- Schedule 2 CICs (Limited by Shares), Community Benefit Societies, Co-operatives, and other Mutuals – with defined public benefit and not-for-profit aims and restrictive stance on shareholders and dividend payments.
- Other constituted not-for-profit organisations, which might include Community Transport Organisations, Development Trusts, CASCs, PTA/”Friends of” associations, and other small community groups.
Local authorities can apply as project partners, provided that the project does not cover statutory responsibilities and cannot be funded as such.
Project Themes
We’ve worked closely with communities to understand what matters most. Applicants will be asked to align their projects with at least one of the following themes:
- Strengthening financial resilience and educational inclusion
- Supporting employability and skills development
- Promoting wellbeing, active lifestyles, social and digital inclusion
- Improving community spaces and buildings
- Enhancing green spaces and access to nature
- Sustainable and inclusive transport
These themes have been identified through extensive engagement to ensure the funding reflects local needs and aspirations.
How You Can Get Involved
Are you based within one of the areas listed above? We want to hear from you!
We have conducted comprehensive research and review of existing community plans to identify local community priorities and ensure that our funds are fit for purpose.
Check out the list of local priorities we identified for your area and complete our questionnaire to share your feedback with us.
How We Engage With Communities
Our Community Benefit Funding team will contact eligible communities directly once a project qualifies, focusing on funding opportunities, eligibility, and next steps. Community Benefit engagement is separate from project engagement, which is managed by other SPEN teams. We reach out after all consents are approved and a confirmed asset construction date is set, ensuring communities in qualifying areas are informed about available funding and how to apply.
Read our Community Benefit Fund Engagement Delivery Plan
Delivering transparent, community-focused
funding, benefits and legacies across Central
and Southern Scotland.
Read our Delivery PlanTo stay up to date with the development of our Community Benefit Funding, please Register as a Stakeholder (select 'Community Funding' as one of your interests).