Galloper Wind Farm empowers local communities
21st September 2021
An allotment club for disabled people, financial support for families in crisis and a lunch club for older people are among five charitable projects in Harwich to receive support from the Galloper Wind Farm Community Fund.
The Fund, which was set up by RWE Renewables UK on behalf of the Galloper Wind Farm project, with the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF) in 2018, has to date distributed grants totalling over £39,000 to voluntary and community organisations working in Harwich and the surrounding areas.
Sean Chenery, Galloper General Manager, said: “As a business, it is important that we support the communities where we work. We employ around 60 people at our base in Harwich, and many of them live locally so it is important to us that we give something back.
“Awarding grants to support charities and voluntary groups is just one way for us to show our commitment to the area and recognition of the valuable contribution that these organisations provide.
“We are pleased to be working with ECF who are helping us to direct our funds to where it will make a difference and where we can see that the money we give is contributing positively to the lives of local people.”
“The latest grants awarded are contributing to a wide range of support and activities that we hope will benefit all ages.”
The voluntary and community organisations benefiting from support this year are:
- Clacton Salvation Army receive £1,500 to employ a cook for their lunch club which runs three times a week and feeds over 100 older people.
- Market Field Farm, which provides training opportunities for young people with learning disabilities, Autism and mental health issues, receive £1,710 for a new gardening project to help their members gain employment skills.
- Salvation Army Harwich receive £2,000 for their work providing financial support to families who are experiencing food and fuel poverty.
- Teen Talk (Harwich) receive £1,000 to help them with the cost of providing free, confidential information and support to local people aged 11-25.
Parkeston Residents and Welfare Park Association are also receiving £1,000 to start a new gardening and allotment club, which will be accessible to those with disabilities.
Bill Davidson, chairman of the group, said: “Being outdoors and growing flowers or vegetables is a great way to improve and support positive mental health and wellbeing, especially after so many months of coping with the pandemic.
“We are so pleased to receive this funding. It will help us to create a wonderful space that will be accessible for everyone, including those in wheelchairs. Hopefully, it will encourage people to get up and out of the house, meet friends and socialise, which is so important.
“We want the allotment to be somewhere that people can get away from the stresses of life and work together with a shared sense of pride and achievement. Members can use the produce we grow and hopefully there will also be enough for us to use at our very successful dining club.”
If you or your company would like to support local charities, please get in touch with ECF to discuss the different ways they can help you.
ECF is also running a matched challenge for donations to its Acorn Fund which supports local charities in Essex. For every £2 donated, £1 will be added. Give online.
For more information about how to apply a grant, click here or call 01245 356018.