South Dartmoor Community Energy is pleased to announce that the Portworthy Community Benefit Fund is open for applications and local groups can apply for grants of up to £1,500.

The fund has been generated by the Portworthy Solar Array at Lee Moor, which became operational in December 2015 and produces enough electricity to power about 1,300 average homes per year.

£5,000 is available this year and groups can apply for grants of between £500-£1,500. The grants can be used to cover costs associated with projects that support the economic, social and/or environmental sustainability of the communities closest to the array i.e. in the parishes of Sparkwell, Cornwood and Shaugh Prior.

There must be clear community need and support for the project and the fund can cover capital costs such as equipment and promotional materials or revenue costs such as help towards staffing, insurance, volunteer expenses, where these are directly associated with the project.

Applications are welcome from the parish councils, registered charities, CIC’s, community benefit societies, schools and constituted voluntary groups that operate within the three parishes.

Katie Reville, director of SDCE commented: “The key aim of many community energy groups is to develop renewable energy projects that provide an income for local community initiatives. It’s great to be able to launch this fund and we hope to get lots of applications over the next few weeks.”

The application form and guidance notes can be downloaded from the website at www.southdartmoorcommunityenergy.org, or for a paper copy, please contact Katie Reville on 0800 112 3044, or email [email protected]. The closing date is Wednesday, May 31 and decisions will be made by the end of June.

The Portworthy Solar Array is currently owned by Bath and West Community Energy but they have asked South Dartmoor Community Energy to manage the community benefit fund, as their local partner.

South Dartmoor Community Energy is a community benefit society that aims to help local residents to save energy and money in their homes and to get involved in renewable energy projects.