SSE Renewables has donated over £8 million to community projects in Great Britain and Ireland in 2019/20. At a time when communities have faced unprecedented challenges SSE Renewables has invested to ensure their vital services and facilities are able to continue to thrive.
The publication of the community investment review highlights all donations made in 2019/20 and demonstrates that local people are responsible for deciding how funds are allocated in their own area. 1,102 projects have been supported.
Among them was the UNESCO New Lanark Heritage Site, which was awarded £140,000 to to invest in electric buses to transport increased visitor numbers in an environmentally sustainable way.
Jane Masters, Head of Heritage and Development of New Lanark Trust said: “The SSE Renewables and Clyde Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd funding will support our goal of reducing our carbon footprint, whilst enabling more visitors to access the outstanding heritage and visitor experiences offered.”
The report also highlights a focus on investing in the skills of young people including an award of £117,114 to apprentice programmes in the Highlands, and a further £22,675 to Young Enterprise Scotland to support a school enterprise programme in the Scottish Borders.
Geoff Leask, Chief Executive of Young Enterprise Scotland said: “Young Enterprise Scotland is very grateful for the generous support from SSE Renewables which will allow us to inspire young people to learn and succeed through enterprise”.
SSE Renewables recognise the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on communities and in addition to making £1 million available to communities for emergency responses at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 have committed to investing in communities in the years to come to help them build back stronger.
Jim Smith, Managing Director of SSE Renewables said: “SSE Renewables is committed to investing in communities as our renewables infrastructure continues to grow. We are thankful to community organisations for responding quickly to the coronavirus pandemic and we will continue to support communities as they recover from this difficult time.”