Gruig Wind Farm distributes annual wind fall for local community groups

Gruig Wind Farm, located near Corkey, Co Antrim has just provided an annual financial contribution towards three local community groups.  The wind farm managed by local renewable energy company, RES, on behalf of wind farm owners Glennmont Partners, supports three local groups:  Cloughmills Community Action Team, St Anne’s Support Group (Corkey) and the Loughgiel Community Association.

Since commencing operations in 2010, the wind farm has donated over £74,000 to the local community.  The fund has provided a number of activities and services within the local area, including contributing towards the Old Mill community allotment project in Cloughmills.  The facility provides a safe and friendly environment for members of the local community to come together and enjoy their passion for garden and all things horticultural.  From growing and preparing plants for hanging baskets, to raising hens, the allotments have grown from strength to strength in recent years.

St Anne’s Support Group uses their proportion of the Fund to provide additional support to St Anne’s Primary School, Corkey, Northern Ireland.  The Fund has provided additional teaching resources and assisted in extracurricular activities throughout the year, such as school trips.

Loughgiel Development Association continues to use their Gruig Wind Farm financial contribution towards ongoing running costs within the Millennium Centre and maintaining the valuable services which it has been providing the community in recent times, such as the playgroup service that enables parents to return to work.

Angela O’Hagan, The Millennium Centre Manager, stated, “The funding that we receive from Gruig Wind Farm is a great lifeline to us.  It allows us to maintain the services for the community that we have established over the years.  As there are no restrictions on how it can be used, we are also able to use some of the money to cover insurance and running costs that we just wouldn’t be able to get funding for anywhere else”.

Gruig Wind Farm, Community Relations Manager, Victoria Graham continues, “It is great to see and hear first-hand the difference that the Community Benefit Fund is making to local groups.  We have close links with the local villages and hope to continue building on relationships over the coming years through RES’ continued management and operations of Gruig Wind Farm.