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Schroders Greencoat renews Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant Power Fund agreement with North Kesteven District Council
Schroders Greencoat, which manages the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant on behalf of its investors, has renewed its Power Fund agreement with North Kesteven District Council for a further five years, till 2029. Since it was established in 2019, the Power Fund has made financial contributions, totaling £125,000 to 35 community projects and organisations in Sleaford and the surrounding area, and given its success Schroders Greencoat has voluntarily agreed to commit another £125,000 to the Power Fund over the next five years.
As part of the Power Fund agreement, North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) administers the grant application process, with an independent panel of local community representatives, NKDC councillors and representatives of Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant (SREP) determining the applications. Cllr Mervyn Head of NKDC chairs the Power Fund panel, with SREP’s Jo Simpson as its Deputy Chair.
The Power Fund supports projects and organisations that support the environment, sport, wellbeing and education, that can strengthen local communities and bring wider benefits as well.
A number of village/parish halls in the Sleaford area have received grants from the first Sleaford REP Power Fund – for example solar panels at Hale Magna, a new kitchen at Wilsford, roof repairs at Anwick’s Community Centre, and AV equipment for South Kyme’s Coronation Hall. Local sports clubs have also benefited from the first Power Fund, including Leadenham Hockey Club, Kesteven Community Football Club, Sleaford Bowls Club and the Sleaford Canoe & Kayak Club. Arts projects and Sleaford’s annual RiverLight Festival have also been among the beneficiaries of the Power Fund.
Hugh Unwin, co-head of Energy Transition at Schroders Greencoat – one of Europe’s largest investors in renewable energy - said: “Supporting local communities in areas where we operate is important to Schroders Greencoat and our investors. I’m delighted that our first Power Fund has benefited so many people in Sleaford and the local area, and with NKDC’s valuable support, our second Power Fund will make a positive difference to even more people in the area.”
Cllr Richard Wright, the Leader of NKDC said: “We’ve been really pleased to partner with Schroders Greencoat and Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant in supporting a broad range of community organisations within Sleaford and surrounding parishes, to access this Fund. We’ve seen that it has made an enormous difference in so many ways.”
“All of the Power Fund projects contribute so much to the users of the halls, groups, clubs and initiatives. They contribute to the vibrancy of our communities and deliver significant health, wellbeing and social benefits locally which, without the Fund might otherwise be unachievable. To extend that arrangement to a further £125,000 of investment through to 2029 is very welcome and I’ve no doubt be well applied in fulfilling some excellent schemes.”
“As such I encourage any community programmes which feel that they could be eligible, to explore ways through which a Power Fund grant of up to £5,000 – or indeed any of our community funding programmes – could help bring forward enhancement in their area or scope of work.”
For more details and how to apply for the Power Fund, please visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/communityfunding, or email [email protected]
We were delighted to once again be a category sponsor of the NK Community Champions Award 2024. The awards ceremony tool place on November 27th at the Sleaford Hub. The annual awards are organised by North Kesteven Council, and we have been a sponsor since 2016, after winning the Local Business category in the 2015 awards.
We sponsored the Climate Action Award, recognising “an individual, group, school, club or business whose actions contribute positively towards a carbon-neutral future, reduced energy use or greater environmental resilience.” There were five nominations, with three shortlisted for judging, with Washingborough Academy primary school winning.
Washingborough Academy, near Lincoln, wanted their staff and children (and their parents) to better appreciate the global food crisis and its impact on people and the environment. As well as work in the classroom to understand food issues, global warming and sustainability, the school has undertaken a series of initiatives:
- Growing their own food: the whole school - pupils across all years and staff, maintain a 300 sqm organic kitchen garden, a 72-meter-long polytunnel and an orchard. They also have individual class plots to learn about food and sustainability.
- Heritage and heirloom seeds: they’re committed to using these seeds to promote biodiversity.
- Parent and community involvement: plant sales organised by the school have encouraged parents and the local community to buy seedlings and grow their own food at home. Local businesses have sponsored trees in the school’s orchard.
- School kitchen collaboration: the food produced in the Academy's garden is used in school meals.
Many congratulations to all the Award nominess and winner and in particular to Washingborough Academy, who received their award from Jo Simpson, Sleaford REP's General Manager and on behalf of Schroders Greencoat, the owners of Sleaford REP.
Since 2020, the Power Fund has donated over £100,000 to community groups and projects in Sleaford and the surrounding area, with the village halls in Rauceby and Wilsford, and the Anwick Community Centre, among the latest beneficiaries. Each building will be improved thanks to the Power Fund: a new kitchen for Wilsford Village Hall, new chairs and blinds and other equipment for Rauceby Village Hall and repairs to the roof of Anwick Community Centre. The Power Fund supports local community projects and groups within a 5 mile radius of Sleaford REP.
At its recent meeting, the Power Fund (which is administered by North Kesteven District Council, on behalf of Schroders Greencoat, the owners of Sleaford REP) also awarded grants to the Heckington Players Amateur Dramatics Society to install stage lighting and sound system in Hale Magne Village Hall and the Heckington & District Radio Group which was set up last year to introduce the benefits of “hobby radio” to the area (licensed amateur radio, Citizen’s Band and Private Mobile Radio). Swaton Vintage Day, to be held this year on June 30th, also received a grant from the Power Fund to purchase tents, a portable generator and other equipment. The annual country show includes the World Egg Throwing Championships.
In total, the Sleaford REP Power Fund committed over £23,000 to the local area at its meeting earlier this month.
North Kesteven District Councillor Mervyn Head, who is Chair of the Sleaford REP Power Fund Panel, said: “Since its inception four years ago, the Power Fund has provided more than £100,000 to around 30 projects in the local area. The Power Fund is helping to improve the local environment, and supporting local sport, well-being and education as well as initiatives to help community cohesion. I’m delighted with the positive impact that the Power Fund is making and I urge community groups in the area to apply for funding in the future.”
Good causes, not-for-profit groups, and now local councils too are all invited to seek funding from the Power Fund for community projects.
The Sleaford REP Community Power Fund is £125,000 of grant money available up until 2025 to support community projects. The fund is delivered in partnership by Schroders Greencoat, owners of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant, and North Kesteven District Council which helps administer it.
Community projects that contribute to environmental sustainability, sport, wellbeing and education, in order to empower and foster community development are all eligible to apply, and are encouraged now to get their applications in.
Projects eligible for funding include – but are not limited to – enhancing green spaces, support for community groups, investments in community facilities and organising events or performances. The eligibility criteria for local councils differs slightly from other community groups. Local councils may only apply for capital projects and must provide 50% match funding.
The fund allocates £25,000 per year and grants up to £5,000 per application in a single year. Applications are reviewed quarterly by the Sleaford REP Community Fund panel, which is made up of representatives from the energy plant, North Kesteven District Council and the local community.
To qualify for funding, groups must be not-for-profit entities with a registered office located within five miles of the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant and posses a constitution or governing document, as well as a bank or building society account.
The locations eligible to apply for funding are; Anwick, Asgarby and Howell, Ashby de la Launde, Aswarby and Swarby, Aunsby and Dembledy, Burton Pedwardine, Cranwell, Culverthorpe and Kelby, Dorrington, Ewerby and Evedon, Great Hale, Heckington, Helpringham, Kirkby la Thorpe, Leasingham and Roxholm, Little Hale, North Kyme, North Rauceby, Osbournby, Ruskington, Scredington, Silk Willoughby, Sleaford, South Kyme, South Rauceby, Swaton, Threekingham and Wilsford.
Applicants should submit their proposals before midnight on the second Wednesday of the month before the quarterly meetings – the next deadline therefore being Wednesday 10 April 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified within five working days following the panel’s decision.
For further details on the eligibility criteria for the fund, application procedures and the documentation needed please visit NKDC's Community Funding webpage. You can also contact North Kesteven District Council’s Partnerships team call: 01529 414155 or email [email protected]
Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant regularly hosts visits from groups and students from the local area, giving them the opportunity to see first-hand how the power station generates renewable electricity. On October 25th, Greg Atebe, the assistant station manager, hosted a group from the Grantham U3A (University of the Third Age).
If you are involved with a local organisation and interested in visiting Sleaford REP, please contact us via email: [email protected]
Sleaford Bowls Club, Leadenham Hockey Club and the Hale Magna Village Hall are the latest beneficiaries from the Sleaford REP Community Power Fund. The £125,000 Fund was set up in 2020 to support community groups and projects - primarily in the areas of environment, sport, education and social well-being - within a five mile radius of the Sleaford power station. The Fund is provided by Schroders Greencoat, Sleaford REP's owners and one of the country's largest investors in renewable energy and resource efficiency.
Sleaford Bowls Club secured money for a green-keeping machine and equipment to help disabled people play bowls at the Club. Leadenham Hockey Club secured a grant for a gazebo, for use at their matches and the Village Hall secured money for solar panels.
Grants of up to £5000 are available so if you know of a group or a project that could benefit from the Power Fund, please visit n-kesteven.gov.uk/communityfunding for further information on how to apply.
A team from the Impact Investing Institute visited Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant on May 30th. Hosted by Hugh Unwin of Schroders Greencoat and Greg Atebe (Deputy Plant Manager), the team learnt more about how the plant supplies renewable energy to the national grid and how local communities in and around Sleaford are supported, whilst generating a financial return for investors.
The Impact Investing Institute was launched in 2019 with a mission to accelerate the growth and improve the effectiveness of the impact investing market in the UK and internationally, and an aim for capital markets to be fairer and work better for people and the planet, in order to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
