Building community value
Delivering benefits to reflect local priorities
We work with local people to develop an approach to every project the is based upon local feedback, addressed community challenges and finds ways which we can support positive change through community benefit funds. Supporting and investing in eligible community groups and voluntary organisations through our wind farm community funds can deliver new and/or improved community amenities and environmental enhancements.
With our largest grant awarded to date through our Middle Muir Wind Farm, OnPath Energy has helped Abington Development Community Group (ADCG) transform a former school building from the 1800s into an impressive community hub encompassing offices, green space, gym and leisure centre areas.
Enabling communities to lead change at a local level
The project
The idea for the Abington Community Hub began with a simple walk. Katie Stuart-Cox, a local resident, came across the disused Abington Primary School building — a structure dating back to the 1800s — and saw an opportunity to repurpose it for the benefit of the wider community.
Recognising the lack of accessible facilities in rural areas like Abington, Katie began exploring how the site could be transformed into a space that supported health, wellbeing, and local enterprise. She founded the Abington Development Community Group (ADCG) to lead the initiative and began working with South Lanarkshire Council and other stakeholders to develop a viable plan.
The vision was straightforward: to create a multi-use community hub that would provide office space, a gym and leisure centre, and green outdoor areas — all within walking distance for local residents. The goal was to ensure that people in smaller towns had access to the same quality of amenities as those in urban centres.
Building community value
Mike’s story
The Abington Community Hub is already making a tangible difference in the lives of local residents. By repurposing a historic building into a modern, multi-use facility, the project has addressed several longstanding challenges faced by rural communities — particularly around access to health, wellbeing, and workspace opportunities.
One of the most immediate benefits has been the availability of high-quality leisure facilities within walking distance. For residents like Mike Davis, this has been life-changing. After an accident left him reliant on a walking stick at age 62, Mike struggled to stay active. The new gym and fitness centre at the hub has allowed him to exercise regularly and improve his mobility — something he says wouldn’t have been possible if he had to travel 25–30 miles to the nearest facility.
Funding & partnerships
The transformation of the Abington Primary School site into a modern community hub was made possible through a combination of strategic partnerships and financial support. Central to this was a £149,000 grant from the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) — the largest awarded by OnPath Energy to date. The REF is managed and distributed by South Lanarkshire Council, using funding generated by OnPath Energy’s nearby Middle Muir Wind Farm.
The Abington Development Community Group (ADCG) worked closely with the council’s external funding team to develop a comprehensive funding strategy. This collaboration ensured that the project could meet its ambitious goals while remaining financially viable. In addition to the REF grant, the project secured over £1 million in funding from the Scottish Government, along with further support from the Clyde Wind Farm.
“The support from OnPath Energy and South Lanarkshire Council’s skills and employment fund has been life-changing. It’s given me confidence, improved my health, and opened the door to helping others in my community.”
Tommy Hall, who received wind farm funding to support his journey from unemployment to a rewarding career. Tommy now works at Abington Old School House after finding out about funding at a jobs and skills workshop held at Abington Old School House.
“The initial grant was a huge help when I started at Stirling. It covered costs that made settling in much easier. When I was offered a spot on the High-Performance Swim Team, I knew it was an incredible opportunity — but the monthly fees were a challenge. The extra support from OnPath Energy has lifted that burden and means I can focus fully on my studies and training.”
18-year-old former Strathaven Academy pupil Scott Fleming Scott received funding from OnPath Energy’s Middle Muir Wind Farm.
“The visions I had are finally starting to come to fruition thanks to the generous funders who have been involved. Through funding routes like the REF grant, these worthwhile projects are allowed to happen and made so much easier. “
Katie Stuart-Cox Chair at ADCG
“If I was having to drive 25-30 miles to get to a gym I never would have stuck to it, and that really is where it’s vital. It’s that accessibility of where it is, being close. It’s been an enormous change in my life and I’m very grateful for them.”
Mike Davis Leadhills resident
Leaving a legacy
The Abington Community Hub is already making a real difference in the lives of local people. By re purposing a historic building into a modern, multi-use facility, the project has addressed several longstanding challenges faced by rural communities creating a facility that encourages walking, local employment, and community-led activities, the project reduces the need for travel and supports a more connected, resilient rural lifestyle.
The Abington Community Hub stands as a practical example of how renewable energy funding can be reinvested into local infrastructure to deliver lasting social and environmental benefits. Through the Renewable Energy Fund (REF) — supported by OnPath Energy’s Middle Muir Wind Farm — the project demonstrates how clean energy can directly support a just transition that is fair and inclusive for everyone.