‘Transformative’ gift powers community centre set up after Dunblane tragedy

A community centre set up in the aftermath of the Dunblane tragedy has been gifted a solar power system that it said will be “truly transformative” for the charity.

A 50KW (kilowatt) system, comprising 96 rooftop panels, has been installed at the Dunblane Centre and it could save it up to £9,000 a year in energy costs.

The solar array was gifted to the community centre – which was built with funds donated in the wake of the 1996 shooting – by local renewable energy company GreenPower.

Company owners, long-term Dunblane residents Rob and Julie Forrest, had been approached by the centre for assistance and came up with the idea of gifting them a solar power system to make a practical and long-term contribution.

Dunblane Centre chairwoman Jenny Stirton said they are “deeply grateful”.

She added: “For a small charity with no government funding, the projected savings of up to £9,000 each year are truly transformative.

“Every pound saved on energy is a pound that can be reinvested into supporting our community – strengthening our programmes, maintaining our building, and ensuring we remain a warm, welcoming and safe space for all.

“The Dunblane Centre was built using funds given to the town in the aftermath of the tragedy at Dunblane Primary School in 1996.

“For more than two decades, we have worked to honour that legacy by providing young people, and the wider community, with a place to belong, connect and grow.

“As we approach the 30th anniversary, this investment in renewable energy feels especially meaningful. It represents not only sustainability in environmental terms, but sustainability of purpose – helping to ensure that the centre can continue to serve future generations with the same spirit of care, resilience and hope on which it was founded.”

GreenPower director Ms Forrest said: “Helping this important community facility to reduce energy bills by installing a solar array seemed like the best way we could help.

“We are delighted to see it all come to fruition. The panels will also help to reduce the environmental impact of the centre in a sustainable way.”

The system was installed by specialist solar power firm Lynx Sustainable Solutions from nearby Stirling.

Its managing director Matthew Shaw said: “The Dunblane Centre does extraordinary things on a tight budget, and thanks to the generosity of Rob and Julie at GreenPower, it now has a reliable source of clean energy to help make that budget go further.

“Dunblane is a place that means a great deal to me personally as it’s where I was born, and where my wife Jillian and I had our first home together. As a business rooted in this community, we’re proud to have played a small part in helping to secure its future.”