RWE Innogy UK has pledged further GBP 383,000 to north Wales communities from the community fund linked to the 576MW Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, bringing the total amount invested in the area from the wind farm to over GBP 500,000 since the fund was launched in June 2015.
30 not-for-profit groups have benefited directly from Gwynt y Môr Community Fund. So far GBP 65,000 of additional funding has also been unlocked thanks to the investments made via match funding, and this is expected to grow significantly as more and more pipeline projects are brought to the panel.
The fund is independently managed by Community & Voluntary Support Conwy (CVSC).
“In this latest round of awards, some really significant investments have been made that have huge potential for the area. It is an exciting time for us and the area to start seeing the first large grants being awarded,” Neil Pringle, Gwynt y Môr Community Fund Manager from CVSC, said.
“We know employment and training is a priority in North Wales, the fund is already starting to create real jobs. For example, Abergele Community Action Group have secured £141,191 from the Gwynt y Môr fund for a five year project, taking on a full time project manager to oversee and develop all aspects of its work supporting some of the most vulnerable people in the community. And they are recruiting now.”
Dangerpoint is another local charity helping to educate our young people about health and safety and keep them safe, it has secured GBP 164,560 to work with schools across the area of benefit to fund educational visits to the centre.
Katy Woodington, senior community investment officer for RWE Innogy UK, said: “We are now beginning to really see the positive impact Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm community fund is making locally and I think this will only continue to strengthen.”
Gwynt y Môr is the second largest operating offshore wind farm in the world, comprising 160 Siemens 3.6MW turbines. The wind farm will provide local communities with GBP 19 million in investments through the community fund over its lifetime.