Community Benefit Fund supports Teesside during Covid-19

22 May 2020

Two local organisations have been awarded funding by the Tees Valley Community Foundation through EDF Renewables Teesside Offshore Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

The funding will offer immediate relief during the Covid-19 pandemic and provide long term benefit to the communities.

The Marske Centre, a community centre in Redcar has received money to assist with essential maintenance during Covid-19. The busy centre is run by volunteers and provides room hire to various charities and organisations in the local community. Due to the worldwide pandemic it had to close its doors and without the funding the community hub could be forced to close permanently.  

Once the lockdown restrictions have been eased the grant of £1000 will allow essential maintenance to be carried out at the centre, ready to reopen to the whole community in the near future.

The second grant in Teesside is to the Alice House Hospice in Hartlepool, which has been awarded funding to bring in new technology, allowing patients to keep in touch with loved ones. The grant of £2682 will allow the hospice to buy Facebook portals and IPads for patients to speak to family and friends whilst lockdown restrictions are in place. 

Marske Centre, Ian Lowe said,

“Great news about the grant and thank you for your continued support in keeping our centre going especially at this time. Many of the residents old and young rely on the centre, it allows groups to get together and do what they love. It can also be the only place some of our older members go, so this is a lifeline for them.”

Alice House Hospice, Trust Fundraiser, Anita White said,

 “Thank you so much to EDF Renewables for this incredible generosity. By funding technology which will enable patients to see and interact with beloved family whenever they choose and remain connected to the world beyond Alice House Hospice, this gift will enhance many lives immeasurably both during and beyond this time of crisis.”

EDF Renewables, Director of Asset Operations, Piero Maggio said, “During this unprecedented time we recognise the importance of local organisations being able to continue to support local communities. It is great to see the Teesside Community Fund being accessed and used to support two very worthwhile projects.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

About EDF Renewables

EDF Renewables is part of one of the world’s largest electricity companies and our investment and innovation in the UK is bringing down costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits for communities.

With our operating portfolio of 36 wind farms and battery storage unit (almost 1GW) we are providing some of the much needed new affordable, low carbon electricity to the UK.

We have more than 2 GW of renewables projects in planning and development and half of those are consented. We also have offices in Edinburgh, Rainton Bridge near Durham in London and in Dublin.