Wind Farm Pays Over £1m in Grants to Local Community
A wind farm located between Longtown and Gretna has recently reached a significant milestone by paying out more than £1m in grants to the local community. The nine turbines at Beck Burn have been generating electricity since 2017, providing enough power for 18,000 homes.
As part of the wind farm’s agreement with operator EDF Renewables UK, a grant fund of £155,250 per year was established for community projects within a 10-kilometre radius. This fund is administered by the Cumbria Community Foundation and has recently reached a significant milestone with a grant of £10,300 being awarded to the Springfield & Gretna Green Community Asset Trust. This grant will be used to replace windows at Stormont Hall in Gretna Green, bringing the total amount paid out to over £1m.
Simon Ling, Asset Manager for Beck Burn Wind Farm, expressed his excitement about the milestone, stating, “It’s wonderful to see such a significant milestone be reached. We are thrilled to see such worthy projects receive funding to enhance the lives of those living in and around Longtown and Gretna and look forward to hearing more over the coming months.”
The largest beneficiary of the grant fund is the Raydale Community Partnership, which has received a total of £85,000 since 2018. This not-for-profit organization was formed after the collapse of Gretna FC and has used the grants to purchase the club’s ground, Raydale Park, for community use. The funds have been used to create a 3G multi-discipline sports pitch, a fitness and leisure space, and new changing rooms. Stuart Rome, Facilities Manager at Raydale Community Partnership, expressed his gratitude for the support, stating, “Gretna has lacked a safe space for children and teenagers to participate in sports. We now have more than 250 users of our facilities. We’re grateful for EDF Renewables UK’s support for the mental and physical wellbeing of our community. We couldn’t have done what we’ve done without them.”
In Cumbria, the Longtown Memorial Hall and Community Centre has received £28,000 from the grant fund, with a further £20,000 recently awarded. Centre Manager Steph Graham explained how the funds will be used, stating, “Our reception area hasn’t been touched for around 40 years. With this grant, we’re going to open it up to make it much more welcoming with a community café and a seated area so people can come in, meet their friends and make use of the free wi-fi.”
The Beck Burn Wind Farm Community Fund prioritizes grants to volunteer-led or community groups within a five-kilometre radius, with the option for groups up to 10 kilometres away to apply if they deliver benefits within the five-kilometre area. These grants support charitable, community activities related to the environment, education, sports, and community development. Each award is typically between £1,000 and £20,000 and can be used for multiple years.
A portion of the fund is reserved for education and training grants for individuals over 16 living within the parish/community councils of Rockcliffe, Westlinton, Arthuret, Kirkandrews-on-Esk, Springfield and Gretna Green, Kirkpatrick Fleming and District, Canonbie and District, and Gretna and Rigg.
Lisa Blackwell, Grants and Programmes Officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, spoke about the importance of the fund for the community, stating, “This fund provides a valuable, long-term, sustainable and reliable source of income for local communities.”
For more information about the grant fund, please contact Lisa Blackwell at 01900 825760 or email grants@cumbriafoundation.org. More information can also be found on the community fund’s website at https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/beck-burn-wind-farm-community-fund/ and the education and training bursaries website at https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/beck-burn-wind-farm-community-fund-educational-bursaries/.
This news story was distributed by Pressat, a leading news distribution service based in the UK.
