Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group (DECBG)

Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group (DECBG) is a local charity (SCIO) which distributes Community Benefit Funds from Ewe Hill and Solwaybank Windfarms to projects in communities across Eskdale and south east Annandale. The Southern Uplands Partnership is contracted to administer the funds on behalf of DECBG.

The Ewe Hill 16 Community Benefit Fund (provided by ScottishPower Renewables) covers 13 Community Council areas and, between 2017-2024, has supported 131 applications, totalling £1,413,308. The five community areas benefitting from Ewe Hill 6 funds received £697,375.

Solwaybank Community Benefit Fund (provided by Solwaybank Energy Ltd, operated by RES) has awarded £317,330 to 31 projects across five Community Council areas and £42,000 in Small Grants and Education and Training Grants within these communities, between 2021 – 2024.

During 2025, SUP undertook a review of the funds, on behalf of DECBG, to inform the way forward. A questionnaire was sent to a range of stakeholders, including previous applicants, desk-top research was undertaken and key stakeholders were interviewed to find out what is working, what could be done differently, what is missing and what processes could be improved.

More information and the results of the review, can be found here.

More information on DECBG and applying for Community Benefit Funds, can be found here or by emailing the DECBG Secretariat at decbgscio@gmail.com or Community Officer, Jamie Dent at jamie@sup.org.uk.