SSE Renewables presents over £30,000 to Tyrone community groups around Bessy Bell Wind Farm

SSE Renewables has presented over £30,000 to 21 community groups near the Bessy Bell 1 & 2 Wind Farms in County Tyrone. This year’s Community Fund brings the company’s overall contribution in the region to over £290,000 since 2009.

A total of 21 local groups benefited from the pay-out of £30,250, including schools, sports clubs and community organisations. Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Renewables makes annual contributions to community groups in the vicinity of its wind farms.

SSE Renewables is the leading developer and operator of renewable energy in Ireland and is the power behind leading greener energy provider and sister company SSE Airtricity.

This year marks a change in the name of the funding programme. Previously promoted under the SSE Airtricity brand, the programme will now be known as the SSE Renewables Community Fund. The change is designed to better link annual funding award payments from SSE’s wind farms in Northern Ireland to SSE Renewables, which owns and operates each of the company’s wind farm sites.

This year’s fund was repurposed to support local communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund provided support to volunteer-led community assistance which provided support for those most-in-need, the vulnerable, as well as providing funding for projects that will help rebuild our community in the months ahead.

This year, 21 local groups received funding, including schools, sports clubs and community associations.

Go Mental NI were awarded funding towards the provision of Counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Couple coaching to front line workers and their families who live within a 12 mile radius of Bessy Bell wind farm.

Michelle Donnelly, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, commented: “We’re always delighted to support the communities local to our wind farms however, this year it meant so much more. The COVID-19 pandemic presented huge challenges for communities but highlighted the care and support a community can provide. These groups rallied together to provide immediate rapid response to those most in need and really showed the true definition of community. To be able to provide financial support to those local groups closest to the wind farms in such times of need is something which SSE takes great pride in.”

21 groups benefit from Bessy Bell Wind Farm Community Fund

Full list of groups being supported: