RWE, the UK’s largest power generator and leading renewable energy company, unveils its 2023 Future Bright Report, produced annually the report showcases the powerful influence of community investment initiatives on local communities across the UK. Reflecting on the past year, RWE celebrates the remarkable transformations driven by community-driven projects, underscoring its commitment to empowering communities and fostering sustainability.
RWE's community fund programme has to date contributed over £38 million to communities across the UK, reinforcing the company's dedication to community development and resilience. Through targeted investments, the funds aim to create lasting legacies and support the UK's transition to net zero.
In 2023, RWE's community funds provided £5 million to local communities, leveraging £3.8 million in match funding. Additionally, these initiatives have helped to create 63 jobs, safeguarded 190 more, and offered 2,685 volunteering opportunities and 2,788 education or training opportunities.
Funding in Action:
- The Brighton Bike Hub, powered by volunteers and supported by Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Fund, transforms Brighton's streets into safer, greener, and healthier avenues for travel and living. Financial support from the fund covered staff expenses and facilitated the acquisition of essential resources.
- The Green Team Community Café & Garden, backed by Goole Wind Farms Community Fund, serves as a hub for community engagement and sustainability efforts. With the fund's support, the organisation expanded its operations, addressing logistical hurdles and ensuring future sustainability.
- The Education and Training Fund from Bad á Cheò Wind Farm in Caithness provides local residents with access to learning opportunities essential for securing jobs in key industries. Managed by Foundation Scotland, these funds empower individuals and ensure fair and effective distribution within the community.
"I am amazed at the transformative impact of community-driven initiatives in 2023. RWE's funding programmes offer local residents the power to shape and directly influence the development of their communities," says Katy Woodington, RWE Senior Community Investment Manager (UK & Ireland). "Ensuring that local voices remain at the helm of decision-making is a paramount priority for me."
"As RWE's renewable energy projects expand across the UK, we are excited about launching new projects in 2024, which means the introduction of additional community funds.”
RWE's Future Bright Report 2023 exemplifies the company's unwavering commitment to community empowerment, sustainability, and positive change. In the coming years the company will continue to foster partnerships, driving innovation, and creating brighter futures for communities across the UK.
Tom Glover RWE UK Country Chair said: “Supporting and working alongside the communities where we operate sits at the core of our business. This year, we’re thrilled to announce the community contribution from the projects we operate has reached £38 million, a testament not just to our commitment but more so to the local volunteers whose dedication, creativity, and effort breathe life into projects within their neighbourhoods.”
Community funds set up by RWE are managed directly by local independent organizations. Funding decisions are made by panels of local representatives who understand their communities best with the process designed to be flexible and easily accessible, allowing communities to drive their own development initiatives.
Innovative projects are funded by RWE's community funds supporting a wide range of initiatives and activities that bring communities together, have a lasting impact on improving health, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability, and contribute to a brighter future for all. To learn more about RWE's community fund programmes and the impactful projects supported by Future Bright, visit here, to read the Future Bright annual report visit here.
