Ørsted, the global leaders in offshore wind, is delighted to announce the winners of the latest round of applications to the Walney Extension Community Fund.
A total of 14 deserving local groups will each receive a share of the almost £256,000 windfall available in the latest round of the Fund.
Since the Fund launched in 2016 over £1.75million has now been committed to community and environmental projects located in coastal communities of Cumbria and Lancashire, close to the Walney Extension offshore windfarm.
The 14 groups below join a list of 91 other community groups that have already benefitted from the Fund taking the number of projects now supported soaring past the 100 milestone.
The full list of organisations awarded grants from the seventh round of funding are as follows:
- Action for Children, Furness Child Contact Centre – £11,300
- ADHD North West, Morecambe Bay Support – £22,000
- Askam United Football Club – £18,000
- Barrow Celtic Football Club – £20,000
- Fleetwood Trust – £25,000
- Furness Education & Skills Partnership – £37,500
- Gregson Community Association, Gregson Centre – £4,894
- Kendal Windows on Art, Morecambe – £4,200
- N-Vision, The Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre Society for the Blind – £5,000
- SAFA Cumbria – £41,054
- Tara Project Lancaster CIC – £8,940
- Thornton Action Group, King George’s Playing Field – £16,220
- Walney Community Trust – £36,712
- Windermere, Ambleside and District Angling Association, Castlehead – £5,000
Imran Nawaz, Ørsted Stakeholder Adviser, said:
“We’re always impressed with the incredible array of community projects in the local area and it’s a privilege to be able to help them achieve their goals. The Walney Extension Community Fund was set up for exactly this reason and it’s great to see that we are helping to make a positive contribution in the area.”
A spokesperson for Walney Community Trust, said:
“Walney Community Trust were pleased to be awarded the grant from the Walney Extension Community Fund which will enable us to deliver City and Guilds courses in Maths and English to local people who, for whatever reason, missed out on a formal education. We have seen a big problem for people we support through the Trust, in accessing vital qualifications in an environment they feel comfortable in. Our informal setting has already proved very popular with our learners, who otherwise would not gain these valuable life skills. We were delighted to receive the funding to develop these functional skills courses for the next 12 months and are currently searching for funding to continue the project into year 2 and beyond.
“The effects of people receiving the learning is amazing, raising self-esteem, confidence, giving a hope and future to locals who never felt they could achieve. We are happy to enrol leaners of ages 12 and upwards, with adult only classes during the day and some evenings available. None of this would be achievable without the amazing support of Walney Extension Community Fund, recognising our project in their locality. We are extremely grateful to them.”
Nicki Smith, Kendal Windows on Art Programme Manager and Community Artist, said:
“The news of our grant award from the Walney Extension Community Fund is very exciting for the children in the Poulton community in Morecambe, as well as the Kendal Windows on Art (KWoA) creative team and local volunteers, as we all can’t wait to start our Widening Horizons’ children’s project!
“The children now have the chance to be in charge of their own project, helping to make decisions as they explore their aspirations. They will be considering who they are, what potential they have, who they want to be in the future and also how they want to creatively share their discoveries with their families and wider community. This funding provides a valuable ‘springboard’ – the children now have the opportunity to be heard and valued within their community.”
The Fund is made possible by Ørsted which has constructed the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm, Walney Extension, off the Walney Island coast in Cumbria. Each year, approximately £600,000 will be made available for community projects for the expected 25-year lifetime of the wind farm.
The Fund is being administered by national grant-making charity GrantScape and more details can be found at GrantScape’s website www.grantscape.org.uk or by calling 01908 247634. The next closing date for applications is 8 January 2020.