- The fund – amounting to almost €240,000 - is available to organisations and charities in the vicinity of ESB’s operating wind farms across the island of Ireland and the UK
- Fund is aimed at delivering targeted services and support to the most vulnerable such as the provision of essential supplies and educational material
- ESB already provides almost €1m in annual funding to communities through its wind farm benefit fund
15 May 2020
ESB has today launched a special Covid-19 response fund for the communities surrounding 25 of its wind farms across the island of Ireland and the UK.
The aim of the fund – amounting to €238,000 – is to deliver targeted services and support to the most vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic. ESB staff located in the vicinity of our wind farms can volunteer their services to support projects as part of its staff volunteer programme during these challenging times.
Applications are welcome from community-based, not-for-profit and voluntary organisations involved in the current provision of supplies such as medicines, PPE and educational material. These projects should complement the support measures that are currently being rolled out by local authorities and others, such as The Community Call initiative.
The emergency fund will be administered by SECAD, a local development company experienced in supporting communities to maximise the use of community funding.
Welcoming the fund, Jim Dollard, ESB’s Executive Director, Generation & Trading, said: “At ESB, we want our wind farms to have clear and lasting benefits for all. Now, more than ever, we want to support our communities during these unprecedented times. As witnessed in recent weeks, people all over the country are working together to look after our most vulnerable through the provision of essential supplies and services. Through the establishment of this special Covid-19 emergency wind farm community fund, we can help ensure that this good work continues and further support such initiatives with our staff volunteers.”
Each year, ESB provides almost €1m in funding to community-based, not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the vicinity of its wind farms across the island of Ireland and the UK
This dedicated response wind farm fund is one of several initiatives currently being rolled out by ESB to support the people and communities it serves. It is currently working with Camara Education and Trinity Access to distribute refurbished laptops to students who urgently need them to continue their studies. ESB has also added additional support to its Energy for Generation Fund to further assist organisations and charities.
The fund is now open for applications and interested organisations in the Republic of Ireland can apply via SECAD’s website at https://www.windfarmcommunityfunds.ie/ while organisations in Northern Ireland can apply via GNI’s website at https://groundworkni-esb.com/ and organisations in the UK can apply via wind farm websites.
Ends
Media Enquiries: Grainne Burns, ESB Press Office, 087-9536640
ESB Wind Farms
- Black Banks Wind Farm (Co. Leitrim)
- Betws Wind Farm (Wales, UK)
- Cappawhite Wind Farm (Co Tipperary)
- Castlepook Wind Farm (Co Cork)
- Carnsore Wind Farm (Co Wexford)
- Carrane Hill Wind Farm (Co Sligo)
- Carrickatane Wind Farm (Co Derry)
- Crockahenny Wind Farm (Co Donegal)
- Crockdun Wind Farm (Co Tyrone)
- Crockagarran Wind Farm (Co Tyrone)
- Curryfree Wind Farm (Co Derry)
- Derrybrien Wind Farm (Co Galway)
- Eglish Wind Farm (Co Derry)
- Fullabrook Wind Farm (Devon, UK)
- Garvagh Glebe Wind Farm (Co Leitrim)
- Grousemount Wind Farm (Co Kerry)
- Grouselodge Wind Farm (Co Limerick)
- Hunter’s Hill Wind Farm (Co Tyrone)
- Mountain Lodge Wind Farm (Co Cavan)
- Mount Eagle Wind Farm (Co Kerry)
- Raheenleagh Wind Farm (Co Wicklow)
- Tullynahaw Wind Farm (Co Roscommon)
- West Durham Wind Farm West Durham, UK)
- Woodhouse Wind Farm (Co Waterford)
- **Oweninny Wind Farm (Co Mayo) This is a joint venture wind farm with Bord na Mona and its community wind farm fund is managed by Mayo County Council.