Orkney Blide Trust have been awarded £39,659 to purchase a wheelchair-accessible electric minibus to allow them to support people to access the outdoors.

The funding comes through the Community Climate Asset Fund and is administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The Scottish Government fund has awarded 279 organisations throughout Scotland, totalling £3.2million.

Click on this link to the list of all those who have received funding: Organisations awarded CCAF grants

Several organisations in Orkney have been awarded funds:

Friends of St Ninian’s Ltd. For community building energy efficiency improvements. £2,641.20.

Glaitness Nursery. For food growing equipment. £7,990.34.

Orkney Blide Trust. For a wheelchair-accessible electric minibus to help the people of Orkney with experience of mental ill health to access the outdoors and receive support more sustainably. £39,659.20

Papay Community Co-operative Ltd. For a wheelchair-accessible electric minibus to help the Papa Westray island community and visitors to reduce local carbon emissions by travelling more sustainably. £60,000.00

Papa Westray Community School. For food growing equipment. £1,459.13.

Barry Fisher, Chief Executive Officer of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:

“Keep Scotland Beautiful are committed to making Scotland clean, green and sustainable, and through the Community Climate Asset Fund, we are delighted to support communities to tackle climate change and contribute to a green and just recovery from COVID-19.”

Climate Change Secretary, in the Scottish Government, Roseanna Cunningham said:

“In what remains an exceptionally difficult time for us all, this funding is providing fast, tangible support to deliver long-lasting benefits to community based organisations while also helping them tackle climate change as we accelerate our just transition to a net zero society.”