Harwich-based voluntary and community organisations are being encouraged to apply for grants from innogy-operated offshore wind farm Galloper’s community fund to support their worthwhile local projects and activities.

• Local community groups encouraged to apply for £10,000 Galloper Community Fund
• Fund manager Essex Community Foundation to consider applications and award grants
• Applications open to groups until the end of April

The £50,000 Galloper Community Fund was established in 2018 to support communities around the location of the project’s operations & maintenance base in Harwich International Port, Essex. Each year until 2022, £10,000 will be awarded to assist local charitable, educational and environmental initiatives.

Galloper Operations & Maintenance Manager, Sean Chenery said: “We are based in Harwich, with our team of 60 working from our facility within Harwich International Port, and we see this fund as one of the ways we can support our local area by facilitating worthwhile community initiatives that otherwise may not have had the funding to be able to go ahead.”

The fund is managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF), an independent charitable trust that works alongside a panel comprising local residents to consider the applications received and then award grants.

Caroline Taylor, Chief Executive ECF said: “The panel is particularly interested in applications that seek to enhance the quality of life for local people, contribute to vibrant, healthy and sustainable communities and encourage positive community activity.”

“This fund is a wonderful resource to support the local community, so if you are involved with a community group or charity that is working in Harwich, we would encourage you to get in touch with ECF and tell us about your work.”

To date, the Fund has awarded grants totalling £10,000 to support four organisations:

– We are Music, which runs the rock school in Harwich, received £2,000 to help them keep student fees down.

– CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), received £3,000 to provide specialist one-to-one support for young people.

– Tendring CVS was awarded £2,500 to recruit a part time co-ordinator of a new health and wellbeing centre in the town.

– The Ark Family Resource Centre is using their grant of £2,500 to run a mental health project supporting vulnerable families and children.

Interested groups can apply for funding online at www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk or if individuals would like to discuss their projects prior to application submission, the Essex Community Foundation telephone number is 01245 356018.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 30 April 2019.