ESB launches special COVID-19 emergency response wind farm community fund

Summary:

• The fund – amounting to almost €240,000 – is available to existing community-based not-forprofit and voluntary organisations in the vicinity of ESB’s operating wind farms across the island of Ireland and the UK.
• The aim of the fund is to deliver targeted services and support to the most vulnerable including the provision of essential supplies and educational material in response to the Covid-19 emergency.
• ESB already provides almost €1 million in annual funding to communities through its wind farm community benefit funds.

Detail:
ESB has announced that it is making available a special Covid-19 response emergency fund amounting to €238,000 for the communities surrounding its wind farms across the island of Ireland and the UK.

The aim of the fund is to deliver targeted services and support to the most vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic. ESB employees located in the vicinity of wind farms can also volunteer their services to support projects in their communities as part of its staff volunteer programme during these challenging times.

The emergency fund will be administered by SECAD Partnership, a local development company experienced in supporting communities to maximise the use of community funding. Applications are welcomed from local community groups 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.

Welcoming the fund, Frank Kelly, ESB Wind Operations Stakeholder Manager, 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 months and 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 wind farm community fund, we can help ensure that such good work can continue.”

Each year, ESB provides almost €1million 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 wind farm targeted emergency response fund is one of a number of initiatives being rolled out by ESB to support people and communities. It is currently working with Camara Education and Trinity Access to distribute refurbished laptops to students who urgently need them to continue to their studies. ESB has also added additional support to its Energy for Generation Fund to further support organisations and charities.

The fund is now open and interested organisations and individuals in the Republic of Ireland can learn more on SECAD’s website https://www.windfarmcommunityfunds.ie/ 

Media Enquiries: Grainne Burns, ESB Press Office, 087-9536640