Four Winds Energy Co-operative shows community spirit with donations totaling £7000 following urgent appeals from local hospices
Four Winds Energy Co-operative Ltd has made two donations totaling £7,000, split equally between Barnsley Hospice and Ashgate Hospicecare, Chesterfield after both hospices launched urgent appeals during the current Coronavirus pandemic.
Founded in 2013, Four Winds is a community-owned co-operative meaning members of the public own a stake in their local renewable energy source and thus benefit from the sale of green electricity over two sites in Duckmanton and Shafton.
After receiving the grant, Ian Muffett, Deputy CEO at Barnsley Hospice commented “Barnsley Hospice was delighted to receive this donation. In these difficult times we have had to curtail our patient visiting arrangements to protect both patients and our staff. This has meant that families cannot see each other as they would otherwise like. This donation will be used to improve technology provision, improving links for patients to enable them to keep in contact with family and friends whilst receiving high quality care here in the Hospice.”
Tina Croley, Trusts and Grants Fundraiser at Ashgate Hospicecare also said “We are incredibly grateful to the Four Winds Energy Co-operative Community Fund for helping us to continue to support our patients and their families during the Coronavirus outbreak by donating an amazing £3,500.
“Thank you so much to them and their members for their support which will enable us to reach our community at a time when our care is needed more than ever.”
Eddie Peat, Director of Four Winds Co-operative said “The Coronavirus crisis has caused considerable difficulties for most charitable organisations that rely on donations as well as income from their charity shops and other enterprises which have all closed.
“Four Winds makes annual donations to organisations local to its turbines at Shafton near Barnsley and Duckmanton near Chesterfield. We became aware of emergency appeals launched by both Ashgate and Barnsley Hospices and wanted to help them, both of which have continued to provide vital services to clients in their communities. As a result of this, the Four Winds Co-op Board very quickly approved and paid grants of £3,500 to each hospice in response to their emergency appeals. I think that this is a very good use of our community fund at a time of so much uncertainty and lack of funds for both organisations. I am really pleased that we have been able to make this contribution to the magnificent work that both hospices do in their communities.”
Any local community project that meets the criteria can apply for a donation from the Four Winds community fund; applications are considered on a quarterly basis. Further details and how to apply can be found on the Community Fund page at www.fourwinds.coop . A sample portfolio of projects assisted by Four Winds in the past are also located here.
Four Winds Co-operative are supported and assisted by Energy4All. Four Winds is one of the family of twenty seven community energy co-operatives developed by Energy4All, demonstrating the power of co-operation in the renewables sector.