Renewable energy company Drax Group has provided new funding for 25 community projects – and has saved at least one form closure.
That’s the Village Hall in North Yorkshire’s Henshall, where Drax cash has made possible a new boiler. Said Hall Treasurer David Hardaker: “The new boiler has been installed thanks to the generosity of the Drax Community Fund plus local support via a concert which raised £490.
“Without Drax’s support the outcome would have been so different. We are now looking forward to a warm space in the winter that will ensure that all our groups continue and hopefully expand. Until Drax intervened so generously we were looking at closure, without a doubt.”
The £35,200 from the company’s Community Fund, donated between April and June this year, has gone to projects that provide STEM education and skills development, enhance green spaces or improve communities.
Jane Breach, Drax UK Community Manager, said: “As part of Drax’s commitment to being a good neighbour in the communities where we operate, we are delighted to announce this quarter’s donations for 25 community-based organisations including Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Brayton Youth Connect.
“These groups make a tangible difference to people’s lives and help us make a positive impact on people, nature and the climate in our communities.”
In the previous quarter, Drax donated to groups including PlayStillingfleet, who look after the Stillingfleet playground, for new play equipment, and Hensall Village Hall, to help fund a new boiler. Both sites are in the vicinity of North Yorkshire’s Drax Power Station.
Ross Powell, Chair at PlayStillingfleet Community Group, said: “The funding has allowed us to successfully deliver the final phase of our playground project. The playground has quickly become a focal point for children and parents to come together and build the next generation of friendships in the village.”
Drax’s Community Fund provides donations of £500-£2,000 for community-led projects. In addition to the Drax Community Fund, Drax also provides larger grants of up to £50,000 through the Drax Foundation.
