£50,000 from the Slieve Rushen Wind Farm Fund invested into local projects including tourist accommodation

17 organisations carrying out various local projects in the south west Fermanagh and Cavan area have been awarded funding totalling £50,000 from the Slieve Rushen Wind Farm Fund. Administered by the Fermanagh Trust, the fund awards grants to community projects located close to the Slieve Rushen Wind Farm, providing the local community with access to financial support.

 

(L-R) Lauri McCusker Director of the Fermanagh Trust and Sharon Howe from Swanlinbar Development Association

 

Initiatives receiving funding include playgroups, sports clubs, community associations, music and history groups and schools. Funding awarded will be used for a range of activities including a number of environmental projects. Local primary schools will use their grants to invest in their gardens, encouraging more outdoor learning. St Mary’s PS Killesher will be purchasing a polytunnel and St Nailes PS will be getting some suitable weather gear for the children to take part in the school gardening club.

Annagh Social Farm CIC will use their grant to provide an outdoor classroom in their newly established sensory garden for adults and children with learning disabilities. Kinawley Brian Boru Gaelic Football Club have been awarded a grant to invest in a solar system and heating upgrades which will benefit 15 football teams and 600 members plus other walking and running clubs.

Significant investment from the fund went to Swanlinbar Development Association. They will use their capital grant to provide hostel accommodation at Trivia House, Swanlinbar. Currently the House is used a community hub and cafe. The Association are driven in their vision to become sustainable through utilising their close location to the Geopark and Cuilcagh board walk to harness tourism into the social enterprise thereby regenerating the area. The ambitious project has won widespread support from local authorities and businesses.

Sharon Howe from Swanlinbar Development Association said “We are delighted with this support from the Slieve Rushen Wind Farm Fund and the Fermanagh Trust. Currently there is a lack of hostel accommodation in the area so we are very excited about getting started on this project. Thanks to funding like this we will hopefully see increased tourism which will have a wider effect on local business and community.”

Lauri McCusker from the Fermanagh Trust added “The Slieve Rushen Wind Farm Fund is helping make a positive contribution to these fantastic initiatives and it’s great to see such a range of community and educational based activity taking place. With such active community and voluntary spirit in this area, 17 organisations have been awarded grants but that will have a much wider impact and reach. It is once again a proven track record of the community benefit wind farms can bring.”

The fund will open again for applications again next year. For more information CLICK HERE