Twelve organisations around Liverpool Bay are celebrating the news that they have been awarded grants as part of the latest round of funding from Ørsted’s Burbo Bank Extension Community Fund.
The latest awards take the total number of projects supported to 160, with total funds awarded now standing at over £1.4million since the Fund launched in May 2015.
The global Covid-19 emergency has meant grant support is more important than ever, a need which was acknowledged by Ørsted back in June 2020 when they announced temporary changes to the Fund’s eligibility criteria to encourage applications to support communities through the crisis and on the road to recovery. The temporary criteria relaxations will still be in place for the next application deadline in April 2022.
The full list of organisations awarded grants under the latest round of the Community Benefit Fund are as follows:
- KidsOut, North Wales and English Coast Toy Boxes – £960
- Sussex Street Christian Centre, Rhyl – £20,000
- Wirral Youth Zone, Liscard Outreach Project – £14,000
- The Reach Mens Centre CIC – £4,160
- St. Asaph Bowling Club – £2,000
- Mersey Counselling and Therapy Centre, North Wirral – £4,950
- The Osborne Trust – £8,320
St Joseph’s Hospice Association – £4,918 - Venus Charity – £16,000
- Mencap Liverpool & Sefton – £14,000
Jon Egging - Trust – £4,996
- West Rhyl Young People’s Project – £19,819
Stuart Barnes, Chief Executive at Wirral Youth Zone said: “Young people in particular have been significantly impacted by Covid and never has youth work been more important. We are incredibly grateful to Ørsted for the support which will enable us to build on work in the Liscard area, providing young people with a range of positive activities, but more importantly support them to raise aspirations, enhance prospects, improve health and wellbeing and become the best possible versions of themselves.”
Imran Nawaz, Stakeholder Advisor & Community Benefit Fund Manager for Ørsted, said: “As the region continues to deal with the impacts of Covid, funding support for community projects is much needed. We are delighted to announce the latest grant winners and welcome other local groups and organisations to apply for the next round, which closes in April. It’s fantastic to see the incredible dedication from all the applicants and we look forward to seeing these projects take shape over the coming months.”
The Fund is being managed 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 closing date for the next funding round is 13 April 2022.
Each year for the expected 25 year lifetime of the Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm, approximately £225,000 will be made available for community projects, which will benefit the local area.
Ørsted’s Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm was officially opened in May 2017 and is capable of meeting the electricity demand of well over 230,000 homes. It was the first offshore wind farm in the world to commercially demonstrate the massive 8MW MHI Vestas turbines which stand at a staggering 195m, tall from sea-level to tip.