What do you do?

I work alongside communities to make sure they make the most of the benefits they get from hosting an onshore wind farm in their community.

How does community benefit work?

Community benefit is a statutory payment made by onshore wind farms to their local communities at a basic level. It’s paid annually for as long as the wind farm is in operation (up to 25 years), and the communities decide how to spend it.

Community benefit has the potential to be so much more than just a cash reward. When done well, it’s about building a reciprocal relationship between the wind farm and the community that benefits both parties and helps to deliver positive long-term change within that community.

How can organisations build relationships with their local community?

Community engagement is crucial. An open, honest, ongoing dialogue that reaches as many people as possible is required - talking to and listening to residents, businesses, charities, social enterprises, farmers, schools, local industry, and anyone else living and working in the area. It is key to discover what they think will enhance their community, what changes they want to see, and what their priorities are. Many communities already have plans in place, so it’s about helping to review and prioritise these ideas. This is where the real value of community benefit starts to come into play.

What do companies get from improving how they deliver community benefit?

Many companies' current mindset is that community benefit is a mitigation exercise. Cash payment was made to build a wind farm on the community’s doorstep. This is why there is often a disconnect between a wind farm and its residents. The downside is that residents might not realise where the funding has come from.

I find it more beneficial to think of community benefit as less about the cash payment and more about companies investing in becoming a community partner. Companies must realise they will be operating in these areas for a long time, often decades, so there is huge value to be had from building a good relationship with local residents and businesses. By putting their best foot forward and being more proactive about community engagement from the beginning, companies are more likely to be met with acceptance and, in some cases, even welcomed. It’s only by working in partnership that companies can demonstrate social value.

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted your community benefit work at Vattenfall?

We felt the effects of the pandemic instantly, and many of the community projects we were funding had to be put on hold. Thankfully, because community benefit funding is very flexible, our community partners quickly identified areas where vital funds were urgently needed and to plug the gaps. This included supporting services that started up during the pandemic, such as meal delivery services for those who were shielding.

How will social-distancing measures impact community benefit in the long-term?

Community engagement and dialogue are still essential to our work, but we must adapt how we do that to ensure it is safe for everyone. Previously we would be talking to people at town halls, community centres and summer fayres and that’s just not possible at the moment. Very early on, we looked at how we could reach our audience most effectively, and we found that a mix of tech and paper-based channels work best. It’s enabled us to reach people we wouldn’t usually see at events, such as younger people or those less mobile. We’re always asking the community for feedback to ensure we communicate in a way that works for them and reaches as many people as possible.

What challenges and opportunities are there for the future of community benefit?

The conversation is widening, but I think the industry still has a long way to go to realise the full potential of community benefit. We are responsible for moving away from this cash payment, tick-box exercise and looking at what creates the most value for communities. What we’re doing at Vattenfall and through our work with Samtaler in Scotland is still seen as a new and unusual approach, but we’re proud to be exploring the parameters of what community benefit can achieve.

Community benefit is unique because it provides long-term, sustainable local funding that can address long-term problems that communities might have struggled with for years, such as annual flooding or other climate adaptation issues. That’s what’s special about it; I think if organisations and communities can work together to unlock that potential, that’s when we’re going to see community benefit make a real difference and have a lasting impact. That’s when organisations will see the value of investing in something that can deliver measurable social and environmental change.

How we can help

At Samtaler, we understand the importance of your social value commitment. You’re here because you care about the impact your business has on society and want to be better. We want you to succeed, and we know from experience that achieving social value requires skill, strategy, and support.

To find out how we can help send an email to hello@samtaler.co.uk

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