Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Community Fund Launched
Norfolk Community Foundation is excited to announce that following a rigorous open tender process, we have been appointed as community investment stewards of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone Community Fund by RWE.
The Fund was officially launched on Tuesday 23rd September at The Enterprise Centre at UEA, one of the UK’s most sustainable buildings. Now open for its first round of applications, the fund marks an important milestone in empowering local communities to shape their own sustainable futures. This initial “discovery” round is aimed at gaining insights into the specific needs of communities, with a view to expanding the fund’s reach in future. Norfolk Community Foundation will continue to work closely with local stakeholders to ensure the fund addresses the evolving needs of the region, while creating lasting benefits for residents.
The Fund has emerged from over eight years of consultations with local communities. Projects funded will focus on improving community wellbeing and advancing environmental sustainability, offering long-term legacies for future generations. The Foundation, with over 20 years of experience working with local communities, will also recruit a decision-making panel of local representatives to steer the fund and make decisions, ensuring the people closest to the projects remain at the heart of decision-making.
Claire Cullens, Chief Executive of Norfolk Community Foundation, commented on the launch:
“At Norfolk Community Foundation, we recognise the passion and commitment of our local communities to create a greener Norfolk. With a wealth of innovative plans and ideas, our communities are poised to make significant environmental strides, given the right funding and support. Partnering with RWE presents us with a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn these ambitions into reality. We can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get started on this exciting journey together, towards a sustainable future for Norfolk.”
RWE’s Community Investment Manager, Katy Woodington, echoed this sentiment:
“We are delighted to appoint the Norfolk Community Foundation as our community investment steward for this fund. The tender process is something that we take really seriously. We want to work with an organisation that both we and the community can trust, and that we know has got rigorous governance in place. It was their passion for Norfolk, their understanding of the communities, but critically their grassroots, community-first approach; listening to and responding to communities and morphing what they do to work with those communities that really resonated with RWE’s approach to supporting the communities in which we operate.”
Once operational, RWE’s Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is set to be among the world’s most significant generators of clean, sustainable electricity for millions of homes across the UK each year.
These projects will play a pivotal role in establishing and preserving East Anglia’s status as a leader in the UK’s renewable energy sector, placing the region at the forefront of our country’s shift towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy. They are expected to create hundreds of jobs locally and will keep supporting local and regional skills development programmes.
RWE’s broader community fund initiatives across the UK have contributed over £38.5 million to date.
Published 25.09.2024]
