KPT Development Trust

In 2016 the three communities of Keir, Penpont and Tynron in Mid Nithsdale, Dumfries and Galloway came together to find a way to make best use of the small amount of windfarm money that comes into the area annually.

Firstly the community councils set up the Keir, Penpont and Tynron Joint Community Benefit Fund  (JCBF) whose only task was to distribute these windfarm funds.

In 2017 the JCBF, funded by CARES, the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme, conducted a full-scale study of the three communities – the overwhelming result of this consultation was that a separate organisation be set up to investigate further and then take forward the ideas identified.

KPT Development Trust was duly set up and became incorporated at Companies House, Edinburgh, on 28^th March 2018.

The original consultation identified four themes – the natural environment, infrastructure, economy and community.  From these a  long term vision for the local community was set out (see ‘About Us’).

Funding to employ a part-time development officer came from  the KPT JCBF, ANCBC (Annandale and Nithsdale Community Benefit Fund) and LEADER in the first instance with further funding from the National Lottery in due course. 

The JCBF was disbanded in 2022 and the Trust now applies to the individual Community Councils on an annual basis for some core funding, supplemented by other sources – our  current core funding is from Keir Community Council, Penpont Community Council, ANCBC and Paths for All.