Wind Farm funding available for community groups in Drumquin and Killen - Closing date 6th Nov

Is your community organisation / project located within 5km of either the Cornavarrow or Slieveglass Wind Farm? If yes, your group may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Cornavarrow and Slieveglass Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds.

Leading wind farm owner and operator, Energia Group, set up the Teiges community benefit wind farm fund in 2018 to ensure that the wind farm, whilst having environmental benefits, will also provide significant social and economic benefits to the local community. They have committed to a £2.4 million fund over a 25year period.

The Castlederg & District No. 12 Credit Union in Garvetagh received a £4,000 grant to replace old and uneven flooring, which was covered with gaffer tape repairs and which was becoming a safety hazard for volunteers and members. The local Credit Union was set up nearly 30 years ago but has become more and more important to the village following the closure of three banks in nearby Castlederg. It now has over 600 members.

 

​Sheryl Patterson and Robert McKelvey from Castlederg & District No. 12 Credit Union

 

Director and volunteer, Robert McKelvey, said the Wind Farm Fund is helping to support the local rural community, “The wind farm fund has helped secure the future of a vital community service by covering essential maintenance costs at a time when charity funding is becoming harder to access. This local Credit Union makes our rural community less isolated by providing people with banking services on their doorstep at a time which suits them.  We cater for all ages and some of our members have limited mobility so providing safe and accessible facilities is a priority for us.”

 

Drumquin Healthy Living Partnership and Wolfe Tones GFC on the new community walkway

A joint application to the Cornavarrow Wind Farm Fund from Drumquin Healthy Living Partnership and Wolfe Tones GFC received a capital multi-annual grant totalling £50,000. The project involved upgrading the existing and often flooded car parking area for the village playing fields and the new community riverside walkway.  Planting hedging along the roadside and replacing dilapidated fencing has improved the entrance to Drumquin.

 

Paul McCusker, Chair of the Drumquin Healthy Living Partnership says the wind farm grant helped leverage match funding to complete the project: “The wind farm fund helped secure strategic investment from council and government sources.  We’ve been able to improve community facilities, address health and safety concerns and improve the visual impact of the approach into our village for both local people and visitors.”

Closing date for applications is Monday 6th November 2023. Funding is available for small one off grants, longer strategic programmes involving a number of organisations and also larger grants for strategic capital projects. For more information or to download an application form CLICK HERE or you can contact the Fermanagh Trust on Tel: 028 66 320 210 / E: edel@fermanaghtrust.org.