Member Article

Windfall for community groups in Northumberland

**The Ventient Sisters North Steads Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund has made its first round of awards in 2018. Four grants totalling £37,485 have been awarded to projects within a five kilometer radius of the wind farm. **

Ellington Juniors Football Club, which is in the process of developing a large-scale facility including four football pitches, a clubhouse and a 3G multi-use games area, received an award of £16,704 to pay for the connection and installation of water, electric and waste drainage to the clubhouse.

Trevor Dunn, the coach at Ellington Juniors Football Club said: “Ellington Juniors was formed back in 1988, and 30 years on we are now in a fantastic position where we can create a new and significantly enhanced facility that gives young people the best possible resources to develop their football skills. “We are very grateful to support from Ventient Energy and the Community Foundation who are enabling us to undertake the necessary works required to ensure that our clubhouse has running water, electricity and waste drainage.”

The Ventient Sisters North Steads Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund at the Community Foundation makes grants between £500 and £10,000 a year to support capital or revenue funding for voluntary and community groups. A panel made up of members of the local community recommend the grant awards.

During the first round of funding, grants were awarded to Ellington Juniors FC, Coquet Shorebase Trust in Amble, St John the Baptist Church in Ulgham and Ulgham Parish Council. The Fund will reopen for a second round of awards from 3 July 2018.

Ricardo Rocha, Asset Manager at Ventient Energy added: “Ventient Energy is passionate about empowering communities in the area that we operate. After listening to local interests, we set up a grants programme with the Community Foundation and it’s great to make our first set of awards. We want groups to use it and make a difference to a lot of local people and projects such as Ellington Juniors, which is doing fantastic work and has a brilliant opportunity to develop land in Ellington.”

Pete Barrett, Senior Programme Advisor at the Community Foundation added: “The Ventient Sisters North Steads Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund is a wonderful opportunity for groups and charities within a 5km radius of the windfarm to receive funding. This could include maintaining and upgrading Village Halls, help with access to community facilities, providing vital funds to cover running costs for community groups, or supporting projects that add value to the public.

The Fund will reopen for application from 3 July until 20 August 2018, for consideration at a panel meeting in September.

For more information visit www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply or contact Pete Barrett, Senior Programme Advisor on 0191 222 0945 or email pb@communityfoundation.org.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Adam Lopardo .