Richfield Wind Farm community funding tops €334,000 in co. Wexford

Over €25,000 was presented to local groups in Co. Wexford in 2020 through the Richfield Wind Farm Community Fund Programme.

The 2020 Richfield Community Fund was operated by SSE Airtricity on behalf of sister company SSE Renewables - the country’s largest renewable energy developer, owner and operator which has been supporting local projects in Co. Wexford since 2007. This latest round of funding takes the total amount awarded to date in the county to over €334,000.

This year will see a change in the name of the funding programme. Previously promoted under the SSE Airtricity brand, the programme will now be known as the SSE Renewables Community Fund. The change is designed to better link annual funding award payments from SSE’s wind farms in Northern Ireland to SSE Renewables, which owns and operates each of the company’s wind farm sites.

The latest round of funding commenced in August 2020 with the launch of a Schools COVID-19 response fund to support local schools around Richfield Wind Farm in Co. Wexford. The funding was made immediately available, to enable schools open safely in compliance with COVID-19 measures in September.

Three schools were awarded funding of €9,000 for the rollout of COVID-19 response measures.

The remaining Local Community fund was opened in January and 11 groups were awarded funding totalling €16,000. Applications focused on rebuilding communities in the months ahead post COVID-19. In recognition of the impact of the pandemic on many community organisations, the funds in 2020 were repurposed to support running costs as groups were unable to generate the funds to cover these costs while Covid restrictions were in place.

The majority of recipient groups used their 2020 funding to implement COVID 19 measures, improving their energy efficiency and sustainable measures.

The funding will help the Stella Maris Centre in Kilmore Quay with their running costs for the centre and provide their meals on wheels service to the vulnerable elderly residents in the area this year.

"This funding will enable us to pay our insurance costs and run our meals on wheels programme in the coming year. It is essential that meals and the mobile storage units are pristine and hygienic to ensure food safety and meet with HSE requirements."

John Nunn Centre Manager

"This funding will enable us to purchase a mains wired disinfectant sprayer and battery sprayer, which will allows us to spray the food boxes and vehicles to deliver the meals to the correct standards. It is imperative that meals not only are prepared to regulation but also delivered to the same standard to our vulnerable and older meals recipients.”

Ivan Donoghue, Chairperson, Wexford Sub Aqua Club, commented:

“Covid-19 has had an adverse impact on sporting clubs and organisations throughout the county. Clubs have struggled to maintain memberships numbers. Club revenues have fallen while running costs have remained the same. The Richfield Wind Farm Community Fund Awards will greatly assist our club through 2021 by helping us meet our bills. It is our club’s fiftieth anniversary this year and we recognise the support that SSE Renewables has given to us over the years. We are confident we will be on and below the water soon and when that happens, we will mirror SSE Renewables’ green credentials by playing our small part in protecting the marine environment”.

This year’s Community Fund programme is also supporting energy-efficient lighting projects at Bridgetown Steering Group and electrical wiring of Bridgetown Men’s Shed.

Other initiatives include storage facilities at Kilmore United, to installing benches on walking trails and gardens for Barntown Heritage group and Ballymore Mayglass Development Group, to restoration work on Furlong’s Cottage for Forth Mountain Walking Group and resurfacing a walking track at St. Anne’s GAA Club.

"SSE Renewables is really proud to be making a difference in communities in Co. Wexford. We’ve been presenting communities here with funding since 2007 and this latest funding brings our total funding in the area to over €334,000."

Anne Reynolds Community Development Officer

"Through the financial assistance of over €25,000 awarded from Richfield wind farm within the last few months 11 community groups and 3 schools were able to deliver a range of community support reliefs. energy efficient and sustainable measures. Measures supported include delivery of food for vulnerable families and meals on wheels to the elderly to those unable to leave the house.  These were lifesaving services that where valued by each member of the community.   Importantly, funding was provided to allow community groups to purchase the necessary PPE to be able to provide the COVID-19 response measures and provide that level of safety to the volunteers and schools open safely.”

Richfield Wind Farm has a total generation capacity of 27MW and produces enough renewable energy to power over 15,000 homes in the region.

The next round of Richfield Wind Farm Community Fund will open on January 10, 2022 and close on January 28, 2022.

Full list of groups supported in 2020:

The following groups in Co. Wexford received funding from this year’s SSE Renewables COVID-19 Response Community Fund for a variety of COVID-19 measures, energy-efficient and sustainable projects.

Richfield Schools Covid Response