SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s leading green energy provider, has launched its new annual Community Fund for Tievenameenta Wind Farm, aiming to support community groups and projects close to the wind farm. The Community Fund will provide £86,000 this year, to community groups and local students.
Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity makes voluntary annual contributions to the communities near its wind farms in Northern Ireland. The programme recently passed a major milestone, with more than £1.5 million now awarded to local groups.
SSE Airtricity recently held an information evening in Killeter Heritage Centre, providing local community members with information on the Community Fund, and encouraged them to apply. As with all of SSE Airtricity’s Community Funds, applications will be accepted within a 12-mile radius of the wind farm, with special preference given to projects within 3 miles of the site. SSE Airtricity puts a particular emphasis on projects focused on energy efficiency, sustainability and safety, due to the lasting benefits they have for the community.
The company has so far provided funding to over 520 community groups in Northern Ireland, including schools, sports clubs and community associations, as well as supporting 76 local students with their third-level education fees, in counties Tyrone and Derry~Londonderry.
Anne Reynolds, Community Development Officer at SSE Airtricity, said:
“The recent information evening in Killeter showed the enthusiasm there is in the local area to develop projects that will bring lasting benefits to the community. We’re encouraging as many groups as possible to apply to the Community Fund before the Friday 23 February.
“At SSE Airtricity, we believe in making a positive difference to the communities in which we live and work. We’re proud of the impact our Community Fund programme has had so far in Northern Ireland, with over £1.5 million awarded to date, and we’re excited to see more important local projects come to life, with the fund for Tievenameenta Wind Farm now opening.”
The application period for the Tievenameenta Wind Farm Community Fund is now open and closes on Friday 23 February. To apply, visit ireland.sse.com/communityfund