Galloper Wind Farm Community Fund Surpasses £100,000 in Grantmaking 

26th May 2026

The Galloper Wind Farm Community Fund has reached a major milestone after awarding more than £100,000 in grants to charitable, educational and environmental projects supporting communities across Tendring. 

Managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF), the Galloper Wind Farm Community Fund was established in 2018 to support communities connected to Galloper Wind Farm’s Operations and Maintenance Facility at Harwich International Port. As part of Galloper Wind Farm’s long-term commitment to the area, the Community Fund invests in projects that strengthen communities, improve wellbeing, and create opportunities for local people. 

Since launching, the Community Fund has supported organisations across Tendring responding to some of the biggest challenges facing local communities. During the Covid-19 pandemic, grants helped groups continue delivering vital support for vulnerable residents and families, while more recent funding has supported a wide range of projects focused on improving mental wellbeing, tackling isolation and creating opportunities for children and young people through community activities, outdoor education and the arts. 

Amongst the organisations awarded funding through the Community Fund is Teen Talk Harwich, which has received support for its work with vulnerable young people and families across Tendring. 

Hayley Lovett, CEO of Teen Talk Harwich, said: 

“Funding like this allows small charities like Teen Talk Harwich to support young people before they reach crisis point. It enables us to provide bespoke support and activities that build resilience, confidence and hope, while adapting to each young person’s individual needs and mental health to prevent crisis and create lasting positive change.” 

At Birch Hall Adventures, funding from the Community Fund helped complete a new dining space at the outdoor education centre, creating more opportunities for young people to come together during residential stays and activities. 

Centre Director Alex Phillips reflected on the impact of the funding: 

“Galloper Wind Farm Community Fund provided Birch Hall Adventures with a grant last spring to help complete our dining room. 

“The dining room enables up to 64 young people to eat together whilst enjoying their residential stay at the Centre… This facility allows us to offer a shared dining experience with their school friends, teachers and instructors, creating opportunities to talk about the day and reflect on the fun activities they’ve enjoyed. 

The funding has also helped us improve the way we support visiting schools and groups, while creating more opportunities for activities including cooking and baking sessions… Many thanks to the Galloper Wind Farm Community Fund for supporting this project and helping us continue to support the local schools that visit the Centre.” 

The Community Fund has also supported projects helping families manage increasing financial pressures across Tendring, including Clacton School Uniform Bank, which received funding to help secure its first dedicated shop space. 

Carolyn Doyle, Project Lead at Clacton School Uniform Bank, explained how the funding helped secure the charity’s first dedicated shop space: 

“The funding secured the first years rent on a shop. This meant we became accessible to all, as we were working from an upstairs room in a community hall which was inaccessible to many in our community. 

The impact on families has been vast and includes access to free pre-loved uniform, meaning money can be spent on food, bills and other essentials… This service relieves some of that pressure. 

Families have said they enjoy donating as much as they value receiving uniform so it’s win win… Since August 2025 we have saved over 15,000 items of uniform from landfill.” 

These projects are just some of the many initiatives supported through the Community Fund over recent years, reflecting the wide-ranging impact the funding continues to have across communities in Tendring. 

Conor Nicholson, Business and Stakeholder Co-ordinator at RWE, said: 

“We are incredibly proud to see the Community Fund surpass £100,000 in grants supporting organisations and projects across Tendring. The Community Fund was created to ensure our presence in the area delivers a positive and lasting impact for local communities, and it has been fantastic to see the difference these projects are making to people’s lives. From supporting young people and families to helping community organisations respond to local challenges, the funding continues to make a real difference across the area.” 

The Galloper Wind Farm Community Fund continues to support projects making a positive and lasting difference for communities across Tendring. 

Get Involved

To apply for a grant or to find out more:

Call our Grants Team: 01245 355947

Visit: Apply for Support page

To find out more about how to set up a charitable fund contact Perry Norton, Head of Development at Essex Community Foundation:

Tel: 01245 355947 
Email: perry@essexcf.org.uk