Bicker Fen Wind Farm Community Fund worth £1.5million now open

Community groups based within a five-mile radius of the new Bicker Fen Wind Farm can now apply for a share of £1.5million worth of funding.

Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm has officially launched its two-part community fund, with an initial £500,000 to support local community projects and priorities over the two years of onshore construction.

Once the wind farm, which includes an onshore substation at Bicker Fen, is in operation, a second fund worth £40,000 a year will support projects and initiatives put forward by communities that are closest to the site.

Projects in Donington, Quadring, Swineshead and Wigtoft could all benefit from the new fund and Triton Knoll project director Julian Garnsey, said: "I am really pleased to see the fund finally up and running.

"I am looking forward to seeing the first round of projects come into being because funding like this can be hugely important to small, local communities.

"It is really flexible and can be focused on the things that matter most to local people."

Lincolnshire Community Foundation, based in Sleaford, will be managing the fund and its chief executive officer Sue Fortune said: "The foundation is delighted to have been invited to deliver this fund and is looking forward to supporting organisations interested in applying for a grant.

Lincolnshire Community Foundation, based in Sleaford, will be managing the fund and its chief executive officer Sue Fortune said: "The foundation is delighted to have been invited to deliver this fund and is looking forward to supporting organisations interested in applying for a grant.

"The aim of the fund is to transform local communities and have a long-lasting impact on them."

"Staff will be available at every step of the process and so we would encourage groups to contact us to discuss their project before applying."

Support for the fund has also come from Matt Warman MP whose Boston and Skegness constituency includes Bicker.

Mr Warman said: "This is an important opportunity for communities to seek targeted funding to deliver important local projects and support local areas directly.

"It is targeted funding intended to support local areas directly and has been designed to address the issues and needs raised by the communities themselves.

"The fund will be managed locally and delivered locally so I would absolutely urge community groups to take the time to find out about the fund, look at what it can do and get involved.

"It is a great opportunity and I am looking forward to seeing the first projects come to fruition in the coming months."

For more information about the project, visit www.tritonknoll.co.uk