A COMMUNITY fund linked to Frodsham Windfarm has awarded more than £1m worth of grants to local causes.

The Marshes Community Benefit Fund (MCBF) awarded £111,934 to 12 community projects at its latest panel meeting on Monday (October 7), bringing the total value of grants awarded since its inception to more than £1m.

The Fund was created in 2016 by the Frodsham Windfarm Limited partners to invest £3,000,000 over 25 years in the region. This equated to £60,000 for the 2 funding cycles each year, as the fund was linked to inflation, the amount available to the panel has now increased considerably from the initial figures.

Over the last eight years, the fund has awarded grants across the region and has helped a large number of groups.

In total, 133 grants have been awarded, including:

  • £45,000 towards a 3G football pitch
  • £39,455 to the Green Gates Community project
  • £56,305 to create an outdoor multi-use games area at a local school
  • £22,356 for building work to develop a youth centre
  • £15,000 to fund a lift replacement at an arts centre
  • £10,000 to buy a minibus for a scout group
  • £4,500 to a gardeners association
  • £1,000 to a knitting club providing winter clothing for vulnerable people
  • £1,000 to a group providing transport to doctors appointments for the elderly and vulnerable

The Fund has also supported Christmas festivals, literary festival, the Coronation celebrations, as well as several sports clubs and dementia groups.

It has also purchased computers for libraries, defibrillators and sports equipment.

Chair of the MCBF, Andrew Jones, said: “Passing the £1,000,000 milestone is significant event for the Marshes Community Benefit Fund. The panel were proud to award £111,934 during the current funding cycle and we were delighted with the wide variety of groups who we were able to support.

"Although we have awarded over £1,000,000. There is still over £2,000,000 still available for us to award to local community groups over the coming years. The panel are keen to reach as many people as possible and I would encourage all groups of volunteers, sports clubs, Arts providers, community event organisers etc.. to visit our website and look at the funding available to them.

"I would like to thank all of the panel members, past and present, who have given up their free time to join the panel. This is a milestone that each and everyone of them should be proud of. A special mention must go to Mike Garvey and Will Cook who have been on the panel from the very start.

"The next round of funding closes on February 28, 2025 and full details are available on our website. We also have a number of vacancies on the panel, if anyone would like to join the panel they can visit our website for more details."

Alternatively, for more general information, visit: www.marshescbf.uk/.