Fund to help the jobless achieve their potential

As part of the development of the Moor House Wind Farm near Barmpton, Banks Renewables committed to providing around £15,000 every year to a fund to help local people access training and career development opportunities.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available to help cover costs including course fees, essential equipment, workwear and travel expenses to local training establishments.

The new fund will also offer a grant of up to £5,000 to one Darlington employer annually to support them in taking on new employees, who are expected to be local people who were previously unemployed or not in permanent work.

Revenues from the fund have been building up since the wind farm became fully operational at the start of 2018.

Around £30,000 is immediately available to applicants, with more to follow before the end of the year.

Decisions on which grant applications are accepted will be made by the Moor House community fund panel, which has members appointed by the local parish councils and Darlington Borough Council.

Darlington Borough Councillor, Brian Jones, who chairs the Moor House wind farm funding committee, said: "This is a great opportunity for local businesses and residents to benefit from Banks’ generosity and I’d urge them to grab it as quickly as they can.”

Council leader Heather Scott added: “This is excellent news for local people and for local businesses.

"Now, more than ever, our young people will be looking for routes into employment and we’re grateful to Banks for the opportunities this fund will create.”

Alongside the training fund, the wind farm provides a further £15,000 every year that local community groups, environmental projects and voluntary organisations can access for capital investment projects.

Lewis Stokes of the Banks Group, said this money has already had 'a substantial impact' on the local community.

For application details contact 0191-3786342 or visit www.banksgroup.co.uk/moorhouse