One of the things inspiring us during these difficult times is how renewable energy projects across the UK have been setting up crisis funds. These funds are being used to support local communities in hardship as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, including aiding food banks, supporting access to online library facilities and offering pre-pay meter vouchers to those most in need.
Many of the projects leading this movement are owned by local community groups, showing how owning energy assets can make a real contribution to community resilience.
We have collated a few of these examples below:
- Communities for Renewables (CfR) – Four local energy enterprises have pulled together to mobilise £100,000 for a ‘Corona Crisis Fund’.
- Fullabrook CIC – Fullabrook CIC recently developed a package of support for voluntary and community groups that are supporting residents in their area during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Community Energy Scotland and Berwickshire Housing Association – Community benefits money from the 7.5MW Fishermen Three wind farm will be diverted to provide emergency grants to local families in hardship.
- Point and Sandwick Trust – The trust announced last week that it will use all its free income, generated from the wind farm at Beinn Ghrideag, to set up a pandemic support fund for the local community.
If you know of any other projects that are providing support during this time of hardship, please email Hannah at hstanley@regen.co.uk